Ranking Brian Kelly’s 100 Notre Dame Wins: 50-41
We break into the top half of Brian Kelly’s 100 career wins at Notre Dame in this next section that sees the quality of opponent start to take a bit of a step compared to what you’ve seen on this list so far.
50. Navy 2011: 56-14 win didn’t come over a great Navy team by any means but did turn the tide of the series that Notre Dame had lost three of the previous four contests in.
49. Pitt 2015: 42-30 win was never really in doubt against a solid 6-2 Pitt squad as DeShone Kizer threw for five touchdowns.
48. Purdue 2012: 20-17 win was secured for the perhaps jet-lagged Irish returning from Ireland as Tommy Rees guided a last minute drive to set up Kyle Brindza’s game winning field goal with just seven seconds to play.
47. Florida State 2018: 42-13 win on Senior Night was more significant in that starting quarterback Ian Book was out after getting beat up the week before at Northwestern and Brandon Wimbush stepped in to lead the Irish to their tenth straight win.
46. USC 2013: 14-10 win ended Notre Dame’s five game home losing streak against the Trojans as Ed Orgeron was coaching them in an interim role that evening.
45. Louisville 2019: 35-17 came as Notre Dame weathered an early Cardinals storm and allowed just three points over the final three quarters to start the season with a win.
44. BYU 2012: 17-14 win with regular starter Everett Golson out at quarterback came as the defense pitched a second half shutout to help move Notre Dame to 7-0.
43. Boston College 2010: 31-13 win was desperately needed for the Irish who entered 1-3 and losers of three straight.
42. Texas 2015: 38-3 season opening rout came against a big-name opponent and set the tone for a Notre Dame team that would come within one stop of a likely College Football Playoff appearance.
41. Rutgers 2013:29-16 win in the Pinstripe Bowl came largely because of Kyle Brindza’s right leg that split the uprights on five field goals for the Irish that day in the Bronx.
Next Up: 40-31…