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Notre Dame Football: 5 biggest ‘What If’ losses in Irish history

By Daniel Morrison

CLEMSON, SC - OCTOBER 03: DeShone Kizer #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish walks to the sidelines against the Clemson Tigers during their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - OCTOBER 03: DeShone Kizer #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish walks to the sidelines against the Clemson Tigers during their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – AUGUST 30: The mural at the Hesburgh Library, commonly known as “Touchdown Jesus” is seen on the campus of Notre Dame University before a game between the Norte Dame Fighting Irish and the Rice Owls at Notre Dame Stadium on August 30, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

5.  1964: Notre Dame 17, USC 20

Notre Dame entered the 1964 season unranked. By the end of the season, they had spent more weeks ranked No. 1 than they spent unranked. From Week 5 until the end of the regular season, the Irish were never ranked worse than second. However, they weren’t the National Champions of the 1964 season. That’s because they lost to arch-rival USC in the last week of the season.

The honor of Consensus National Champion went to Alabama instead. That’s probably because they finished 10-1, instead of 9-1 like the Irish did.

This Notre Dame team was a shocking success. It was Ara Parseghian’s first season at the helm for Notre Dame. The year before, Notre Dame went 2-7. So, while the season was a success and set up Notre Dame for a string of success that lasted into the 1990s, it still took away a National Championship from Notre Dame. Unfortunately, at the same time, it gave another reason for Alabama fans to brag about never having an incontestable National Championship.

As for the game itself, Notre Dame overlooked USC. Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte said, “We got to California and we figured we’d just roll over ‘SC.” This arrogance that Notre Dame came in with was only exacerbated by taking a 17-0 lead into the half.

Unfortunately, Notre Dame fell like Icarus. USC stormed back, being helped by a questionable holding call, to win the game by three points.

In a rivalry game, anything can happen. What happened was a massive comeback, and an embarrassing loss to USC. This time, it kept Notre Dame from adding another National Championship to its collection.

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