Notre Dame football: 3 biggest wins all-time against Alabama

1973 Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23

With Notre Dame at 10-0 and Alabama at 11-0, the 1973 Sugar Bowl was sure to determine the National Champion that season. It would be Ara Parseghian’s second title, and Bear Bryant’s fourth, though based on their 1966 claim it could also be seen as his fifth potential National Championship.

Alabama was riding high off a 35-0 Iron Bowl win, which was their fourth shutout on the season and their eighth game with at least 35 points scored. Cal and Virginia Tech had been their worst victims, at 66-0 and 77-6 respectively.

The Irish, meanwhile, had just beaten Miami 44-0, which was the same score they beat Northwestern by to open the season. No-one had scored more than 15 points all season on Notre Dame’s elite defense, who also put up three shutouts. The Irish offense wasn’t a slouch, either, having scored 30 or more points in six games.

The game lived up to the billing. It was a back and forth battle, which opened with a Wayne Bullock touchdown run. Alabama replied in the second quarter with their own touchdown run, but the Irish took the ensuing kickoff return for a touchdown.

Alabama would then end the first half with a field goal to make it 14-10, Notre Dame. Wilbur Jackson took the lead for Alabama to start the second half on a five-yard touchdown run before Notre Dame took back the lead at the end of the third quarter, which was followed by a touchdown catch by quarterback Richard Todd, and a Notre Dame field goal to make the score 24-23.

A late throw to Robin Weber, who played tight end across Dave Casper, made the game-winning catch that let the Irish kill the clock.

Despite losing to the Irish, Alabama claimed a National Championship. It’s one of many questionable claims they’ve made over the years, with the Irish generally being recognized as the more legitimate National Champion.