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Notre Dame Football: 20 biggest wins of the Brian Kelly era

By Daniel Morrison

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 12: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly looks on during a game against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 12: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly looks on during a game against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Armando Allen. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Armando Allen. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame Football: 20 biggest wins of the Brian Kelly era

20. Notre Dame 23, Purdue 12 (2010)

In many ways, Notre Dame beating Purdue to start the 2010 season was inconsequential. For Notre Dame, it wouldn’t be the difference between making a bowl game or not. Purdue, meanwhile, was frankly not that good in 2010, as the Boilermakers would go 4-8, in the second and worst season of the Danny Hope era.

So, why does this game make the list at all? It was Brian Kelly’s first win at Notre Dame, and that is a worthy enough milestone to make this list. It was a quick monkey off the back for Kelly and the Irish.

It also preceded three straight losses to Michigan, Michigan State, and Stanford, which would have meant Kelly was facing a disastrous 0-4 start to his career without the win. In reality, this game was never close, as the Irish scored first and second, while never giving up the lead throughout the entire game.

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