Notre Dame Football: 20 biggest wins of the Brian Kelly era
![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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/a1a1526f81ed9decc5a3ad910688f19e5a25aed5f248500a02398edc27ec6102.jpg)
Notre Dame Football: 20 biggest wins of the Brian Kelly era
16. Notre Dame 33, Miami 17 (2010)
Winning Catholics vs. Convicts is always a good win, but doing it in a bowl game, even the Sun Bowl, is even better. This was also the first bowl win under Brian Kelly, and in many ways, it signaled that he was turning the program around from how things had been under Charlie Weis.
Tommy Rees showed off just how explosive he could be with two first-quarter touchdown passes to Michael Floyd. Cierre Wood would add a touchdown run in the second quarter, along with two David Ruffer field goals.
Miami, meanwhile, only managed three points in the first half. 27-3 and nothing to see in the second half. Miami would make it a bit closer in junk time, but this was a blowout from start to finish.
No, this game hasn’t had any profound effect on the program, but it was a big win in a bowl game over a team that the fanbase hates and that is a good win.