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Notre Dame football bowl history: Every bowl game the Fighting Irish have played in

By Josh Yourish

Slap the Sign presents the definitive Notre Dame football all-time Lou Holtz team, spanning from the 1986 season to his departure from South Bend in 1996 Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Slap the Sign presents the definitive Notre Dame football all-time Lou Holtz team, spanning from the 1986 season to his departure from South Bend in 1996 Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports /
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Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) looks to pass against Notre Dame during the 3rd quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T stadium in Arlington, TX Saturday, December 29, 2018.Clemson Notre Dame Goodyear Cotton Bowl
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) looks to pass against Notre Dame during the 3rd quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T stadium in Arlington, TX Saturday, December 29, 2018.Clemson Notre Dame Goodyear Cotton Bowl /

Cotton Bowl (5-3)

1970: Texas 21 Notre Dame 17

1971: Notre Dame 24 Texas 11

1978: Notre Dame 38 Texas 10

There was chaos at the top of college football in 1977, and heading into the Cotton Bowl, Notre Dame was ranked No. 5 against No. 1, undefeated Texas. Joe Montana and the Fighting Irish knocked off the Longhorns, so five teams finished with a one-loss record, and Notre Dame was named the national champion, jumping from five to one.

No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 4 Michigan lost the Orange Bowl and the Rose Bowl respectively, and despite No. 3 Alabama’s 35-6 win over No. 9 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, Notre Dame leapfrogged the Crimson Tide for the title.

1979: Notre Dame 35 Houston 34

Joe Montana and the Fighting Irish returned to the Cotton Bowl the very next season after winning a National Championship and this time faced 9-2 Houston. It was an unusually cold day in Dallas after an ice storm and Notre Dame went into the half trailing 20-12.

Joe Montana, who was dealing with the flu, had to remain in the locker room at the start of the third quarter because he was now battling hypothermia. The Notre Dame medical staff covered Montona in blankets and fed him a bowl of chicken soup. Eventually, Montana returned and threw two interceptions on his first two drives back, and then facing a fourth-quarter deficit of 34-12 led the Fighting Irish all the way back, scoring 23 unanswered points.

Montana needed every second to be the hero, throwing a touchdown pass to Kris Haines as time expired. Notre Dame finished the season 9-3 and ranked 7th in the AP Poll.

1988: Texas A&M 35 Notre Dame 10

1993: Notre Dame 28 Texas A&M 3

1994: Notre Dame 24 Texas A&M 21

The Fighting Irish faced the Aggies in the Cotton Bowl for the second straight season and entered the game at 10-1 with a potential shot at the national championship on the line. Notre Dame won a close one but finished the year ranked second in the country at 11-1.

2018: Clemson 30 Notre Dame 3

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