Last week, we talked about Notre Dame’s forgotten rivalry with Nebraska. How, at one point, it was one of the most intense rivalries in college football. How it appeared that Notre Dame and Nebraska playing each other would become a tradition. Yet, due to scheduling conflicts and the Irish pursuing other rivals, the series just fizzled out.
This got me thinking about other programs Notre Dame has a history with but doesn’t have a “rivalry” with. When you’ve been playing football for over 100 years, you’re bound to have historic moments with every team you’ve played. On Notre Dame’s Wikipedia page, there is a section dedicated to significant series. Teams that aren’t rivals but have played Notre Dame a lot and whose matchup has a lot of history behind it.
In this significant series section, many teams have engrained themselves in Irish history. Their matchups, or a series of games played against each other, are so important that you can’t talk about the history of the program without bringing them up. Because of how important they are, it would be beneficial for Notre Dame to try to build a traditional rivalry with them. Here are who the Fighting Irish should build a rivalry with.
Miami
The Fighting Irish’s most significant non-rival opponent is the University of Miami (FL). In the 1980s, no school Irish fans hated more than Miami. It started in 1985 when Jimmie Johnson and Miami beat Notre Dame 58-7. While the blowout was embarrassing, fans took exception to Miami running the score up in the fourth quarter. The Hurricanes were up 37-7 going into the fourth. Rather than showing sportsmanship and taking their foot off the gas, they proceeded to run the score up. A move many Irish fans found disrespectful.
This led to the infamous 1988 game. The game was already highly anticipated because it was the number one-ranked Miami vs. the number four-ranked Notre Dame. However, some Irish fans threw a little extra gas on the fire by creating the iconic Catholics vs. Convicts shirt. The Fighting Irish got their revenge, beating Miami 31-30 on their way to the National Championship. It’s one of the most famous games in Notre Dame history, so much so it got its own 30 for 30.
Since that game, the rivalry has all but died. After the 1988 game, they only played six more times, with the last matchup coming in 2017. The two plan to meet again in 2025 and four times in the 2030s. This will hopefully reignite the rivalry and make the two teams play more often.
Notre Dame vs Penn State
The first time Notre Dame and Penn State played was in 1913 when the Irish won 14-7. After that, it took 63 years before the two met again in the 1976 Gator Bowl. This game led to the two starting to meet annually starting in 1981. This annual meeting, along with Lou Holtz and Joe Paterno developing a friendly rivalry, helped the two schools develop a competitive series. Although the annual meeting ended in 1992 when Penn State joined the Big 10, the two continue to try and schedule each other.
The rivalry was reignited this past season when the two met in the semi-final of the College Football Playoffs. At first, it seemed like a regular college football game, with most of the tension coming from the fact that both teams wanted to make their first national championship appearances in the playoff era. However, it became a statement game after Penn State criticized the Irish not being in a conference and the way he talked toward Marcus Freeman. Due to this, Irish fans wanted to win just to prove Franklin wrong.
In a thrilling game that came down to the wire, Notre Dame edged out Penn State 27-24. A statement win for the Irish and a way to make Franklin’s comments look bad. After this game, the hatred between the two sides is the highest it’s been in years. The two schools should capitalize on this and look to schedule each other more often. Adding more chapters to a budding rivalry.
Notre Dame vs Clemson
While Notre Dame and Clemson don’t have the long history that the other two schools do, it has become one of the Irish biggest opponents over the past few years. The first meeting between the schools came in 1977, and they met again just two years later. However, after that, the two sides wouldn’t play again until 2015. It was the first time both teams were matched, and it proved to be an exciting matchup. Although Clemson stormed out to a 21-3 lead, the Irish scored three touchdowns in the fourth to make it 24-22. But, Notre Dame would miss the two-point conversion that would’ve sent the game to overtime.
As the playoff era started, the match-up between the two sides only got more intense. In 2018, the two met in the semi-finals of the college football playoffs. Despite both teams being undefeated, Clemson dominated 30-3. However, 2020 is when this matchup reached new heights. It started when Notre Dame upset Clemson, who was the number-one team in the country. This helped the Irish get into the ACC Championship game, the only time they ever played for a conference championship and a rematch against the Tigers. Things didn’t go as well this time for Notre Dame, as they lost 34-10.
This has the making to be Notre Dame’s rival of the 21st century. The two don’t have to worry about scheduling each other because of the Irish’s agreement with the ACC. According to the contract, Notre Dame has to play five ACC opponents every season, thus keeping a spot open for Clemson every few years. Even if there is a change in the contract or the conference, Notre Dame is committed to playing the Tigers. Pete Bevacqua, ND’s athletic director, has said he wants to schedule Clemson annually. It seems the best is yet to come from this rivalry.
Brian Germinaro is a sportswriter for Belly Up Sports. Follow him on Twitter/X for more sports coverage and Belly Up Sports for even more college football content. Feature image credit: Icon Sportswire.
