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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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1.  1977-the Green Jersey Game

Notre Dame 49, USC 19

The Irish poured out of the tunnel. They were hooting and hollering. They were wearing green jerseys, and pulling a Trojan War Horse. The Irish captains poured from the inside of the horse. The crowd went wild. USC should have just left then. There was no way Notre Dame would lose.

The Trojans stuck around and took their beating.

Notre Dame had come into the season ranked No. 3. Expectations were high for Dan Devine in his third season. Devine’s first two seasons were fine, but didn’t replicate the level that Parseghian had kept the program at.

The Irish stumbled in week 2 to an unranked Ole Miss team. After that, Notre Dame struggled to crack the top 10 again. Instead, they bounced back and forth between 11th and 14th.

USC came into South Bend ranked 5th. Like Notre Dame, they had a loss to a SEC school. Unlike losing to Ole Miss, losing to No. 1 Alabama didn’t cost USC much ground in the rankings. With some luck, the Trojans could still be Rose Bowl-bound and National Champions with a single loss.

Coming into the game, Joe Montana was just earning the job as starting quarterback at Notre Dame. He had been inconsistent, and struggled to keep the job. He’d be inconsistent against USC as well, but it wouldn’t hurt Notre Dame. The intangible momentum of those jerseys had won the game before the coin toss.

Ken MacAfee was clearly Montana’s favorite target on the day. The big tight end was a mismatch, and caught two touchdown passes.

USC actually tied the game on a scoop & score in the first half. Both teams played terrible games, riddled with turnovers. From there, Notre Dame devastated USC. They scored four touchdowns in quick succession. The game was as good as over. USC wasn’t able to make up the deficit.

Ted Bergmeier said, “It was the best win of my career.”

The game propelled Notre Dame forward, from scoring 18.2 points per game before they donned the green jerseys, and 45.2 points per game after.

Notre Dame would not lose again, earned a spot in the Cotton Bowl against Texas. At the time Texas was No. 1, and Notre Dame No. 5. The Irish won 38-10, and got a boost to No. 1 in the polls.

Those green jerseys created a green machine, and propelled Notre Dame towards a National Championship.

Next. The Play the Changed Everything vs. BGSU. dark

For USC, the green jerseys beat them twice. They dropped a game they shouldn’t have to Cal, and again to Washington only a few weeks later. They would neither win the PAC-8, nor go to the Rose Bowl. Instead, they won the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl over Texas A&M.

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