Notre Dame Fighting Irish football facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
2025 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
First season	1887; 138 years ago
Athletic director	Pete Bevacqua
Head coach	Marcus Freeman 3rd season, 33–10 (.767)
Stadium	Notre Dame Stadium (capacity: 77,622)
Field	Notre Dame Stadium
Year built	1930
Field surface	Natural grass (1930–2013) FieldTurf (2014–present)
Location	Notre Dame, Indiana
NCAA division	Division I FBS
Conference	Independent
Past conferences	ACC (2020)
All-time record	958–338–42 (.732)
Bowl record	22–21 (.512)
Playoff appearances	3 (2018, 2020, 2024)
Playoff record	3–3
Claimed national titles	11 (1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988)
Unclaimed national titles	12 (1919, 1920, 1927, 1938, 1953, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1989, 1993, 2012)
National finalist	2 (2012*, 2024) *vacated by NCAA
Rivalries	Army (rivalry) Boston College (rivalry) Michigan (rivalry) Michigan State (rivalry) Navy (rivalry) Northwestern (rivalry) Pittsburgh (rivalry) Purdue (rivalry) Stanford (rivalry) USC (rivalry)
Heisman winners	Angelo Bertelli – 1943 Johnny Lujack – 1947 Leon Hart – 1949 Johnny Lattner – 1953 Paul Hornung – 1956 John Huarte – 1964 Tim Brown – 1987
Consensus All-Americans	109
Current uniform
Colors	Blue and Gold
Fight song	Notre Dame Victory March
Mascot	Notre Dame Leprechaun
Marching band	Band of the Fighting Irish
Outfitter	Under Armour

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is a college football team that plays for the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. Their home games are played at Notre Dame Stadium, which can hold 77,622 fans. Notre Dame is one of only three schools that plays as an Independent team in the top level of college football, the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). However, they play five games each year against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which Notre Dame is a member of for most other sports.

The Fighting Irish are known as one of the best college football teams ever. Since their first season in 1887, Notre Dame has won 11 national championships. Seven Notre Dame players have won the famous Heisman Trophy. Notre Dame has won 948 official games, though some wins were later removed by the NCAA. The team has had 22 seasons where they didn't lose any games, including 12 perfect seasons. Since 1991, all Notre Dame home games have been shown on NBC.

History of the Fighting Irish

Early Days (1887–1917)

Football at Notre Dame started with a tough loss on November 23, 1887, when they fell to Michigan 8–0. Their first win came in 1888, beating Harvard Prep School of Chicago 20–0. By 1899, Notre Dame had a record of 31 wins, 15 losses, and 4 ties. They played against many different teams, from high schools to other universities.

In 1894, James L. Morrison became Notre Dame's first head football coach. He helped the team become more serious and respected. He once told his players, "They want to smoke, and when I told them that they would have to run and get up some wind, they thought I was rubbing it in on them."

In 1909, Notre Dame beat Michigan for the first time, 11–3. After this, Michigan refused to play Notre Dame for 33 years. By 1912, Notre Dame had won 108 games.

Jesse Harper became head coach in 1913. He coached for five years, playing only against other colleges. He scheduled games against strong teams like Texas, Penn State, and Army. This helped Notre Dame become known across the country.

A famous game happened on November 1, 1913, when Notre Dame beat Army 35–13. Quarterback Gus Dorais and end Knute Rockne used a new way of throwing the forward pass. Instead of waiting for the ball, Rockne caught it while running. This changed how the forward pass was used in football forever.

The Knute Rockne Era (1918–1930)

Irish assistant Knute Rockne became head coach in 1918. During his 13 years, the Irish won three national championships. They also had five seasons where they didn't lose any games. Famous players like George Gipp and the "Four Horsemen" played for him.

Rockne's first game as coach was a 26–6 win against Case Tech in 1918. The 1919 team went undefeated.

George Gipp, a star player, died at age 25 in 1920. He got sick after giving punting lessons. Rockne famously told his team, "Win one for the Gipper," using Gipp's last words to inspire them.

The 1924 team won a national championship and included the "Four Horsemen" backfield: Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley, and Elmer Layden. The team also had a strong offensive line called the "Seven Mules." They finished a perfect 10–0 season by beating Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

In 1926, Notre Dame lost to Carnegie Tech, which likely cost them another national title. Coach Rockne was away writing newspaper articles, and Carnegie Tech used his absence to motivate themselves to a 19–0 win.

The 1929 and 1930 teams both went undefeated and won national championships. The 1929 team played all its games away from home while the new Notre Dame Stadium was being built. In 1930, "Jumping Joe" Savoldi scored the first touchdown in the new stadium.

Rockne coached his last game on December 14, 1930. He died at age 43 in a plane crash on March 31, 1931. Rockne had the highest winning percentage of any football coach in the NCAA's top division, with 105 wins, 12 losses, and 5 ties.

Heartley Anderson (1931–1933)

After Rockne's death, Heartley "Hunk" Anderson became head coach. He had played for Rockne and was an assistant coach. He led the team to 16 wins, 9 losses, and 2 ties. In 1931, Notre Dame's 26-game unbeaten streak ended with a close loss to USC. The 1933 season was tough, with the team finishing 3–5–2, their first losing season since 1888. Anderson then left to coach at NC State.

Elmer Layden (1934–1940)

Elmer Layden, one of Rockne's "Four Horsemen," took over as coach. In 1935, his team had one of the greatest wins in school history, coming back to beat Ohio State 18–13 in a game called the "Game of the Century."

Layden helped fix the relationship with Michigan, scheduling games after they hadn't played since 1909. He coached for seven years, with a record of 47 wins, 13 losses, and 3 ties. He then became the Commissioner of the National Football League.

Frank Leahy Era (1941–1953)

Frank Leahy, another former Irish player from the Rockne era, became head coach in 1941. He had already led Boston College to a national championship share. Leahy brought a new period of success to Notre Dame.

His 1943 team went 9–1 and won Notre Dame's fourth national championship. Quarterback Angelo Bertelli became Notre Dame's first Heisman Trophy winner. Leahy served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1944 to 1945. During this time, assistant coaches Edward McKeever and Hugh Devore filled in.

When Leahy returned in 1946, Notre Dame recruited many returning veterans. This helped the team go four seasons without a loss after World War II, winning national championships in 1946, 1947, and 1949. The 1946 game against Army was a 0–0 tie between two amazing teams. The 1948 team almost won a national championship but tied USC in their final game. In 1949, Notre Dame went undefeated again, led by Heisman Trophy winner Leon Hart.

Leahy retired in 1954 due to health reasons. He has the second-highest winning percentage of any college coach in history. He led the Irish to 87 wins, 11 losses, and 9 ties, including a streak of 39 games without a loss.

Terry Brennan (1954–1958)

Terry Brennan, a 25-year-old assistant coach and former player under Leahy, took over in 1954. His first two seasons were good, but 1956 was tough, with only two wins. However, Paul Hornung won the Heisman Trophy that year, even though the team had a losing record.

In 1957, the Irish bounced back with a 7–3 record. They famously upset Oklahoma, ending their record 47-game winning streak. Brennan was fired after the 1958 season, finishing with 32 wins and 18 losses.

Joe Kuharich (1959–1963)

Joe Kuharich became head coach in 1959. His time was one of the worst for the program, including a school-record eight-game losing streak in 1960. Many felt he struggled to adjust from pro football to college football. He resigned in 1963. Kuharich had a 17–23 record, the only coach with a losing record at Notre Dame.

Ara Parseghian Era (1964–1974)

In 1964, Ara Parseghian became head coach. He quickly brought the team back to success, similar to Rockne and Leahy. Parseghian's teams never won fewer than seven games or lost more than three.

In his first year, 1964, the Irish improved to 9–1, led by Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte. Parseghian won coach of the year awards.

The 1966 team went undefeated and won the national championship. They had six shutout wins. A famous game was the 10–10 tie against #2 Michigan State, known as the "Game of the Century."

Under Parseghian, Notre Dame also started playing in bowl games again in 1969, after a 40-year break. They won their second national championship under Parseghian in 1973, beating #1 Alabama 24–23 in the Sugar Bowl. Parseghian retired after the 1974 season due to health issues.

He finished with a record of 95–17–4 and two national championships. His teams were always ranked high, never lower than #14.

Dan Devine Era (1975–1980)

Dan Devine took over as head coach in 1975. He was already a successful coach. He led the Irish to 53 wins, 16 losses, and a tie.

His biggest achievement was leading the 1977 Notre Dame team to a national championship. Before a game against USC, Devine changed the team's jerseys from blue to kelly green and gold. This became known as the "green jersey game," and they won 49–19. The championship season ended with a 38–10 win over previously top-ranked Texas in the 1978 Cotton Bowl Classic.

In 1978, the Irish had a famous comeback win against Houston in the Cotton Bowl. They came back from 22 points down in the fourth quarter to win 35–34. This game was called the "Chicken Soup Game" because quarterback Joe Montana ate chicken soup at halftime while sick. Devine announced he would leave Notre Dame after the 1980 season.

Gerry Faust Era (1981–1985)

Gerry Faust was a surprising choice for head coach in 1981. He had been a very successful high school coach. However, his success at Notre Dame was mixed. In his first season, the Irish finished 5–6. His best years were 1983 and 1984, with 7–5 records and bowl game appearances. His final record was 30–26–1. Faust resigned at the end of the 1985 season.

Lou Holtz Era (1986–1996)

Lou Holtz became head coach in 1986. He was known as a great motivator and strict leader. His first season, 1986, was a losing one at 5–6. But after that, he led the team to a 95–24–2 record over the next ten seasons.

In 1987, Tim Brown won the Heisman Trophy, becoming Notre Dame's seventh Heisman winner.

The 1988 season was special. The Irish beat the reigning national champion Miami Hurricanes 31–30 in a game known as "Catholics vs. Convicts." Holtz also made a bold move by leaving two star players at home for the final regular season game against USC, but the Irish still won. Holtz was named national coach of the year. A win over West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl secured Notre Dame's 11th national championship. This was Notre Dame's most recent undefeated season.

In 1989, the Irish went 12–1, with their 23-game winning streak ending against Miami. They finished #2 in the AP poll. The 1990 season also saw a big win over Miami, ending their series until 2010.

In 1993, the Irish had another great season, finishing 11–1. They beat undefeated #1 Florida State 31–24 in a classic game. However, a last-second loss to Boston College ended their national championship hopes.

Holtz retired from Notre Dame after the 1996 season. He led the team to one undefeated season, nine straight New Year's Day bowl games, and five top-10 finishes.

Bob Davie Era (1997–2001)

Bob Davie, who was Holtz's defensive coordinator, became head coach in 1997. His time saw three bowl game losses. A highlight was a 36–20 upset win in 1998 over #5 Michigan, the defending national champions. Davie's final record was 35–25.

Tyrone Willingham Era (2002–2004)

The school then hired Tyrone Willingham, making him the first African American head coach in Notre Dame football history. Willingham led the 2002 team to a 10–2 regular season record, starting 8–0 with wins over #7 Michigan and #11 Florida State. This strong start was the main highlight of his time. The team struggled in the next two seasons, going 11–12. Willingham was let go after the 2004 season.

Charlie Weis Era (2005–2009)

Charlie Weis left the New England Patriots (where he won three Super Bowls) to become Notre Dame's head coach in 2005. He was the first Notre Dame graduate to be the head coach in a long time.

In his first season, 2005, Weis led the Irish to two road wins against ranked teams. A famous game was against USC, where USC won 34–31 in a play known as the "Bush Push." The Irish finished 9–3 and #9 in the AP poll. Quarterback Brady Quinn broke many team passing records.

The 2006 season saw the Irish finish 10–2. However, the 2007 season was tough, with the most losses in a single year (9). Navy also beat Notre Dame for the first time since 1963, ending Notre Dame's NCAA-record 43-game win streak against them.

In 2008, the Irish broke their NCAA bowl losing streak by beating Hawaii 49–21. Weis was fired on November 30, 2009.

Brian Kelly Era (2010–2021)

In 2009, Brian Kelly became the 31st head coach. In his first season, 2010, he led the Irish to an 8–5 record. The team won their last three games, including a win over USC.

In 2012, Notre Dame had a historic season. They started 7–0, including wins over ranked rivals. They became #1 in the nation after reaching 11–0 for the first time since 1993. They finished the regular season 12–0 and played in the BCS National Championship Game, but lost to Alabama 42–14. The defense was very strong, led by Manti Te'o, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting.

In 2013, the team finished 9–4. The 2014 season started with 6 wins, but they lost to #2 Florida State. They finished 8–5 after winning the Music City Bowl.

The 2015 team started 10–1 but lost a close game to Stanford, finishing 10–2. The 2016 season was Kelly's worst at Notre Dame, with a 4–8 record.

The 2017 season was much better, with a 10–3 record. The 2018 team had its first undefeated regular season since 2012, going 12–0. They were ranked #3 and played in the College Football Playoff semifinal, losing to Clemson. Kelly was named AP Coach of the Year.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Notre Dame joined the ACC for one season. They won all ten of their games, including a double-overtime win against top-ranked Clemson. They qualified for the College Football Playoff as the #4 seed but lost to Alabama.

On November 29, 2021, Kelly resigned to become head coach at LSU. He left as the program's all-time winningest head coach.

Marcus Freeman Era (2021–present)

On December 3, 2021, Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, became the new head coach. He is the second African American head coach in the program's history. Freeman coached the team in their Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State.

In 2022, Freeman became the first Notre Dame coach to start with three losses. However, his team bounced back to finish 8–4, including an upset win over #5 Clemson. They won the Gator Bowl against South Carolina.

In 2023, Freeman led the team to a 10-win season. Safety Xavier Watts won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the best defensive player. The team won the Sun Bowl against Oregon State.

The 2024 season saw a surprising home loss to Northern Illinois. However, the Irish finished the regular season 11–1 and made it to the College Football Playoffs. They beat Indiana, then Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and Penn State in the Orange Bowl to reach the National Championship Game. They lost the championship game to Ohio State.

Championships and Awards

National Championships

Notre Dame has won 11 national championships. They are often credited with more, but the school officially recognizes 11.

• Notre Dame won the Dickinson System national championship in 1924, 1929, and 1930.
• They have won eight wire service national championships (from the AP Poll or Coaches Poll), which is the second most in that era.

Notre Dame's 11 claimed national championships are:

Year	Coach	Selector	Record	Bowl	Final AP	Final Coaches
1924	Knute Rockne	Dickinson System	10–0	Won Rose	–	–
1929			9–0	–	–	–
1930			10–0	–	–	–
1943	Frank Leahy	AP	9–1	–	No. 1	–
1946			8–0–1	–		–
1947			9–0	–		–
1949			10–0	–		–
1966	Ara Parseghian	AP, Coaches	9–0–1	–		No. 1
1973		AP	11–0	Won Sugar		No. 4
1977	Dan Devine	AP, Coaches	11–1	Won Cotton		No. 1
1988	Lou Holtz		12–0	Won Fiesta
National Championships			11

After playing in the 1925 Rose Bowl, Notre Dame did not play in a bowl game for 44 years. The university believed bowl games were just "glorified exhibitions" and took away from players' studies.

Heisman Trophy Winners

Seven Notre Dame football players have won the Heisman Trophy, which is given to the most outstanding player in college football. This ties them for the second most winners with the University of Oklahoma.

Heisman Trophy Winners
Year	Name	Position
1943	Angelo Bertelli	QB
1947	Johnny Lujack	QB
1949	Leon Hart	End
1953	Johnny Lattner	HB
1956	Paul Hornung	QB
1964	John Huarte	QB
1987	Tim Brown	WR

Other Awards and Distinctions

• Notre Dame has one of the highest winning percentages in college football history.
• They have produced the most players drafted into the National Football League (NFL).
• Notre Dame is fourth in total wins among top-level college football programs.
• They have the second-fewest losses of any NCAA Division I program playing for over 100 years.
• Notre Dame has had 112 winning seasons and only 15 losing seasons.
• They have produced more 1st Team All-Americans than any other college program.
• 50 former Notre Dame players and 6 coaches are in the College Football Hall of Fame, which is the most of any university.
• 12 former players are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, tied for the most.
• Notre Dame holds the NCAA record for the Most consecutive wins over one opponent, beating the US Naval Academy 43 times in a row before losing to them in 2007.
• They also ended the Oklahoma Sooners' NCAA record 47-game winning streak in 1957.
• Notre Dame is one of only two Catholic universities with a team in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Uniforms

Notre Dame's home jerseys are navy blue with white numbers and gold outlines. The away jerseys are white with navy numbers and gold outlines. These uniforms usually have a small "ND" logo on the sleeves.

The Irish usually do not have player names on their jerseys for regular season games. However, they have used names for bowl games since 2008.

Notre Dame's helmets are solid gold with gray facemasks, representing the University's famous "Golden Dome." The gold particles used on the helmets come from the re-gilding of the Golden Dome in 2007.

In 2011, the helmet paint changed to a more reflective gold. For special "Shamrock Series" games, Notre Dame wears unique alternate uniforms.

Green Jerseys

Notre Dame has sometimes worn green jerseys instead of blue for home games. They first wore green in 1926, and it became an official alternate color in 1942.

Today, green jerseys are saved for special occasions. Sometimes, the team will warm up in blue and then switch to green before kickoff. This tradition started in 1977 before the USC game. Notre Dame has also changed jerseys at halftime, like in 1985 against USC. The current green jersey is kelly green with gold numbers and white outlines. As of 2023, Notre Dame's record in green jerseys is 42-15-1.

Facilities

Notre Dame Stadium

Notre Dame Stadium is the home of the Fighting Irish football team. It is located on the university's campus and is one of the most famous college football venues. The stadium is used for football and graduation ceremonies.

The stadium did not have permanent lights until 1997, paid for by NBC, which has televised all Notre Dame home games since 1991. In 2014, the grass field was replaced with a FieldTurf synthetic surface. A large stadium expansion project, called the Crossroads Campus Project, was finished in 2017.

Guglielmino Athletics Complex

Known as "The Gug," this complex is the football team's main headquarters. It has offices for staff, an auditorium, a weight room, a training room, and other spaces for the team.

Irish Athletic Center

This indoor practice facility has a synthetic turf field and a video board. It also has a recruiting lounge for visitors. The building is very large, with a high ceiling.

Rivalries

Notre Dame has many rivalries, even though they play as an Independent team. They play regularly against teams like Army, Boston College, Michigan, Michigan State, Navy, Purdue, Stanford, and USC.

Miami (FL)

Notre Dame and the Miami Hurricanes first played in 1955. They met often from 1971 to 1990. Notre Dame usually won in the 1970s, but Miami became very strong in the 1980s. Both teams were top contenders, and their games were very intense. The 1988 game, known as "Catholics vs. Convicts," was a famous 31–30 win for Notre Dame. The rivalry ended after 1990, but they are scheduled to play again in 2025.

Michigan

The first game between Notre Dame and Michigan was in 1887. They have played 44 times. Both schools are among the top in all-time winning percentage.

Michigan State

Notre Dame and Michigan State first played in 1897. They compete for the Megaphone Trophy. A famous game was the "Game of the Century" in 1966. Notre Dame leads the series 48–28–1.

Navy

Navy and Notre Dame played every year from 1927 to 2019. Notre Dame had a 43-game winning streak against Navy, the longest in NCAA history between two teams that play every year. This streak ended in 2007. The series continued in 2021 after a break in 2020. Notre Dame leads the series 83–13–1.

USC

USC is Notre Dame's main rival. They play every year for the Jeweled Shillelagh trophy. This rivalry is considered one of the best in college football. It has featured many national championships and Heisman Trophy winners. Famous games include the 1977 "Green Jersey" game and the 2005 "Bush Push" game. Notre Dame leads the series 50–37–5.

Game Day Traditions

Notre Dame football has many unique traditions:

• The team's helmets are painted with 23.9 karat gold particles. These particles come from the re-gilding of the Notre Dame dome.
• Before home games, the team used to attend Mass and then walk through a line of fans to the stadium. Now, Mass is on Friday night, and the walk starts from The Gug. In 2022, Coach Freeman brought back the tradition of Mass before home games.
• The Band of the Fighting Irish trumpet section plays "Notre Dame, Our Mother" and the "Notre Dame Victory March" under the Golden Dome.
• Players slap the famous "Play Like a Champion Today" sign when they leave the locker room. This sign was started by coach Lou Holtz in 1986.
• Before kickoff, a song called "Here Come The Irish" is played, followed by "I'm Shipping Up To Boston."
• Between the third and fourth quarters, the band plays music, and the crowd waves their arms in the shape of the coach's first initial. For Coach Freeman, they make an "F."
• From 1960 to 2015, Sergeant Tim McCarthy of the Indiana State Police would give a driving safety announcement during the fourth quarter. The crowd would listen quietly to hear his message, which always ended with a funny pun.
• After every home game, the team salutes the student section by raising their helmets. Then, the band plays the Alma Mater, "Notre Dame, Our Mother," and fans sing along.

Irish in the NFL

Since the NFL started drafting players in 1936, 495 Notre Dame football players have been chosen by NFL teams. 65 players have been selected in the first round, including five who were the very first pick overall. Many former Notre Dame players have won multiple Super Bowls.

Pro Football Hall of Fame

13 former Notre Dame players and one non-player alumnus have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This ties Notre Dame for the most with USC.

• Curly Lambeau (1963)
• Johnny "Blood" McNally (1963)
• George Trafton (1964)
• Wayne Millner (1968)
• George Connor (1975)
• Paul Hornung (1986)
• Alan Page (1988)
• Joe Montana (2000)
• Nick Buoniconti (2001)
• Dave Casper (2002)
• Jerome Bettis (2015)
• Tim Brown (2015)
• Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. (2016)
• Bryant Young (2021)

Media Coverage

The Fighting Irish are the only team, college or professional, to have all their games broadcast nationally on the radio and their home games on television. Notre Dame made a special deal with NBC in 1990 to broadcast its home games.

Radio

Skyview Networks broadcasts Notre Dame games on the radio.

Current Radio Team

• Paul Burmeister (play-by-play)
• Ryan Harris (color commentator)
• Jack Nolan (studio host)

Television

NBC has been showing Notre Dame home football games since 1991. NBC also has websites and a streaming service, Peacock, that cover Notre Dame football. Their contract with Notre Dame will continue through the 2029 season.

Current TV Team

• Dan Hicks (lead play-by-play)
• Jason Garrett (lead color commentator)
• Zora Stephenson (lead sideline reporter)
• Noah Eagle (primetime play-by-play)
• Todd Blackledge (primetime color commentator)
• Kathryn Tappen (primetime sideline reporter)
• Ahmed Fareed (primetime sideline reporter)