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5 Biggest Notre Dame Wins Over USC

By Daniel Morrison

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 22: Members of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defense line up against the offense of the University of Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 22, 2011 in South Bend, Indiana. USC defeated Notre Dame 31-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 22: Members of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defense line up against the offense of the University of Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 22, 2011 in South Bend, Indiana. USC defeated Notre Dame 31-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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3. 1966-a beautifully timed blowout

Notre Dame 51, USC 0

Oddly enough, Michigan State’s season was a big part of why 1966 was such an important season for the Notre Dame-USC rivalry.

The week before the two met, Notre Dame played Michigan State. That’s not unique. Michigan State, like USC, is a trophy game rival for Notre Dame. They tend to play a lot. What was unique is that Notre Dame was ranked No.1, and Michigan State was ranked No. 2.

It was a defacto National Championship game.

It was a tie. It was a tie that Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian infamously played for. Notre Dame killed the clock, instead of risking a disaster, knowing the polls would go in their favor for the National Championship.

The polls would go in Notre Dame’s favor, as long as they were able to travel into the LA Coliseum and beat 10th ranked USC. USC would be excited to upset their rival, ruin Notre Dame’s season, and salvage their own. The Trojans had lost 2 out of 3 going into their game with Notre Dame.

Notre Dame’s Coley O’Brien was 21 of 31, for 255 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was a shockingly strong effort from a backup quarterback. He had help from Jim Seymour. Seymour was a 3-time All-American at wide receiver who grabbed 11 catches and 2 touchdowns over the course of the game.

When it was all over, USC’s spirit was broken. Notre Dame was the National Champion. And, the score was 51-0, the biggest margin of defeat in USC history. It was also the 7th time that Notre Dame had ever shut out the Trojans.

The 1966 National Championship was a three horse race. Notre Dame and Michigan State were unbeaten, with a tie between the two of them. Alabama, in Bear Bryant’s 9th season, was also unbeaten. The Crimson Tide had been dominant, only playing a single game that was within one possession of an opponent.

In the rankings, they trailed Notre Dame and Michigan State all season. That didn’t sit well with Alabama, who had won the past two National Championships. They lobbied hard for the top spot. Notre Dame needed an emphatic win to fend off Alabama and Michigan State from overtaking them in the rankings.

51-0 is the type of performance that solidifies a ranking. Notre Dame were National Champions no matter how much Bear Bryant complained.

USC didn’t have an awful season in the end. They lost the Rose Bowl to Purdue. It’s not as nice as a National Championship, but it’s not an awful consolation prize either.

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