Tag: 2017 notre dame

Photos from last Notre Dame-USC game with both teams ranked

Do you remember this game?

When Notre Dame and USC are both ranked, the Irish have an all-time series lead, 17-14-2. Not counting Saturday’s meeting, that has happened only twice since 2007. One was in 2009, when an Irish fourth-quarter rally came up just short in a 34-27 loss. The most recent such occurrence before Saturday was in 2017, which was a 49-14 Irish victory to kick off the four-game winning streak that was brought into the 2022 contest.

[autotag]Josh Adams[/autotag] was the star of the show, running for 191 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. [autotag]Brandon Wimbush[/autotag] threw two touchdown passes but also ran in for two scores himself while picking up 106 yards on the ground. [autotag]Te’von Coney[/autotag] paced the Irish’s defense with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The Irish went on to win the Citrus Bowl over future Brian Kelly employer LSU, while the Trojans fell to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. Perhaps this game was an omen of how both programs’ season would end. In any case, here are some memories of that night at Notre Dame Stadium:

Photos from last time Notre Dame got knocked out of AP Top 25

This one didn’t sting quite as badly.

It’s been a while since we’ve had to think about Notre Dame not being in the AP Top 25. Yet that’s exactly what happened after a brutal 26-21 home loss to Marshall. The Irish had been in the AP Top 25 for 80 consecutive weeks, one of the longest active streaks in the country. To think of the last time a loss knocked the Irish out of that poll, you have to go back to their 2017 game against Georgia, which was a 20-19 decision.

To be fair, this defeat didn’t come for an Irish team with expectations that were absurdly high. They weren’t ranked to open the season, but they ascended to 24th after a blowout win over Temple in their first game. They wouldn’t be down for long as back-to-back road wins over Boston College and Michigan State right after put them right back in the poll. That’s where they would stay until the Herd shocked everybody this past weekend.

Here are some photos from the last time an Irish loss pushed them out of the rankings:

Former Notre Dame wide receiver on the move again

Kevin Stepherson was a receiver who made an instant impact for Notre Dame during his freshman year in 2016.  Although the wins weren’t there for the team, Stepherson impressed with 25 receptions for over 400 yards and five touchdowns.

Kevin Stepherson was a receiver who made an instant impact for Notre Dame during his freshman year in 2016.  Although the wins weren’t there for the team, Stepherson impressed with 25 receptions for over 400 yards and five touchdowns.

A year later he again found the end zone five more times while he hauled in another 359 yards.  But that would be it for Stepherson in a Notre Dame uniform as multiple arrests for possession of marijuana and attempting to steal a pair of sweatpants from Macy’s ended things.

Stepherson got back into football, spending 2019 at Jacksonville State where he hauled in 36 receptions for 479 yards and six scores.  Wednesday brought news that Stepherson has entered the transfer portal as he looks to find where he’ll use his final year of eligibility.

Stepherson was listed at 6-1, 185 pounds last season with Jacksonville State.  Here’s to hoping he has put his past issues in the rear view mirror and can stay on the right track in his final year of eligibility.

69 days until Notre Dame football returns!

We’re under 10 weeks until Notre Dame football returns! Check out how we’re counting it down today as the countdown moves to 69 days….

Is it Labor Day weekend yet?

Alright, after the way 2020 has started for so many I won’t try and end everyone else’s summers, but nonetheless, it’s just 69 days from now, under 10 weeks officially until Notre Dame and Navy strap it up and kickoff the 2020 college football season.

We’re counting down the days until Notre Dame football returns each day here at Fighting Irish Wire, linking the days to go with a number related to Notre Dame football – historically or current day.

Saturday remembered the last time Notre Dame scored 70 points in a game.  If you didn’t read it, you’ll probably be surprised to know just how long it has actually been since it happened.  Now we move another day down the list, to 69 days.

69: Yardage in Julian Love’s pick-six against North Carolina State in 2017

Leading 21-14 early in the second half with the Wolfpack driving, but facing a third and long, Love stepped in front of a desperation heave from Ryan Finley and returned in to put the Irish up two scores.  They No. 9 Fighting Irish would prevail, 35-14.

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Notre Dame would move to 7-1 with the win and appeared to be threatening for a College Football Playoff appearance, but a disaster a couple weeks later in Miami would end all that.

Nonetheless, a memorable moment from a season that brought Notre Dame football back from a disastrous 2016.

Related: Way Too Early Score Predictions for Notre Dame’s 2020 Season