Notre Dame football: Most exciting 21 moments from the 2021 season

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: A closeup of a Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cowboys defeated the Fighting Irish 37-35. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: A closeup of a Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cowboys defeated the Fighting Irish 37-35. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football
Oct 23, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; The Notre Dame Leprechaun carries a Notre Dame football monogram flag after a Notre Dame touchdown in the fourth quarter against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

The Notre Dame football team put together an exciting 2021 college football season, and here are the top-21 moments of the campaign.

The 2021 season for the Notre Dame football team was a special one, as they navigated some rough play early on to become a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. Before the bye week, the Irish looked like a team that could be had on any given weekend, struggling to put away teams like Florida State, Toledo, and Purdue.

After a loss to Cincinnati, it was time for the Irish to pull together as a team, and after the bye week, they did just that. Notre Dame football revamped the offensive line and found their identity on the defensive side of the ball, reeling off seven straight victories to finish the regular season with an 11-1 record.

That was pretty impressive considering all the key players they lost to graduation and the NFL, but they were able to close the regular season out as the No. 5 team in the CFP rankings. Sure, they missed the playoff, but the fact that they rebounded after such a rough start was a testament to the players in that locker room.

As we turn our attention to spring, and the start of the 2022 team’s journey to a national title, let us look back at what was a fantastic 2021 season with the top-21 most memorable moments.