1946 Notre Dame

8–⁠0–⁠1, coached by Frank Leahy, finished No. 1 in the AP poll. Share

Schedule and results

Best winBeat No. 16 USC 26–⁠6Nov 30
Over the best-ranked team it beat, at home.

Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.

Date	Opponent	Result
Sep 28	atIllinois	W 26–⁠6	59%
Oct 5	vsPittsburgh	W 33–⁠0	82%
Oct 12	vsPurdue	W 49–⁠6	78%
Oct 26	at17Iowa	W 41–⁠6	68%
Nov 2	atNavy	W 28–⁠0	63%
Nov 9	vs1Army	T 0–⁠0	39%
Nov 16	vsNorthwestern	W 27–⁠0	79%
Nov 23	atTulane	W 41–⁠0	79%
Nov 30	vs16USC	W 26–⁠6	78%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat USC 26–⁠6; No. 1 in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 24th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 131 on file).

AP poll, week by week

Wk 1: 3
Wk 2: 2
Wk 3: 2
Wk 4: 2
Wk 5: 2
Wk 6: 2
Wk 7: 2
Wk 8: 2
Final: 1

Players on this team

Before 2004 our records hold honors and the draft; these are the players whose college years here, from their Wikipedia articles or their honors, include 1946.

National championsNo. 1 in the final AP poll, and a title the school claims

Heisman voteJohnny Lujack, third

Outland TrophyGeorge Connor, OT

2 consensus All-AmericansGeorge Connor, OT; Johnny Lujack, QB

Record: 8–⁠0–⁠1
Conference: —
AP final: No. 1 peak No. 1
Points: 271–⁠24
Coach: Frank Leahy
Elo: 1758 +138 this season
SP+ rating: —
SRS: 38.3 No. 1 of 120 major-college teams
Recruiting class: —

Offense: T formation

Drafted in 1947

The 1947 draft

Rd 3	John Mastrangelo OT	Pittsburgh Steelers
Rd 6	George Sullivan E	Boston Yanks
Rd 1	George Sullivan OT	Chicago Rockets (AAFC)
Rd 2	Gerry Cowhig B	Cleveland Browns (AAFC)
Rd 5	John Mastrangelo OG	Buffalo Bills (AAFC)
Rd 6	Jack Zilly E	San Francisco 49ers (AAFC)