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1970 Notre Dame

10–⁠1, coached by Ara Parseghian, finished No. 2 in the AP poll.

Schedule and results

Notre Dame in 1970, game by game: won at Northwestern 35–14; won vs. Purdue 48–0; won at Michigan State 29–0; won vs. Army 51–10; won at No. 18 Missouri 24–7; won vs. Navy 56–7; won vs. Pittsburgh 46–14; won vs. Georgia Tech 10–7; won vs. No. 7 LSU 3–0; lost at USC 28–38; won vs. No. 1 Texas 24–11+49−10Won 35–14 at Northwestern+21NorthwesternWon 48–0 vs. Purdue+48PurdueWon 29–0 at Michigan State+29Michigan StateWon 51–10 vs. Army+41ArmyWon 24–7 at No. 18 Missouri+17No. 18 MissouriWon 56–7 vs. Navy+49NavyWon 46–14 vs. Pittsburgh+32PittsburghWon 10–7 vs. Georgia Tech+3Georgia TechWon 3–0 vs. No. 7 LSU+3No. 7 LSULost 28–38 at USC-10USCWon 24–11 vs. No. 1 Texas+13No. 1 Texas
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below; orange marks an upset win.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 19atNorthwesternW 35–⁠1475%
Sep 26vsPurdueW 48–⁠062%
Oct 3atMichigan StateW 29–⁠070%
Oct 10vsArmyW 51–⁠1084%
Oct 17at18MissouriW 24–⁠755%
Oct 31vsNavyW 56–⁠791%
Nov 7vsPittsburghW 46–⁠1487%
Nov 14vsGeorgia TechW 10–⁠780%
Nov 21vs7LSUW 3–⁠064%
Nov 28atUSCL 28–⁠3860%
Jan 1Bowls & playoffvs1TexasCotton BowlW 24–⁠1139%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Texas 24–⁠11 in the Cotton Bowl; No. 2 in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 21st-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 131 on file).

AP poll, week by week

  1. Wk 1: 6
  2. Wk 2: 6
  3. Wk 3: 6
  4. Wk 4: 4
  5. Wk 5: 3
  6. Wk 6: 3
  7. Wk 7: 3
  8. Wk 8: 3
  9. Wk 9: 2
  10. Wk 10: 1
  11. Wk 11: 2
  12. Wk 12: 4
  13. Wk 13: 6
  14. Wk 14: 6
  15. Final: 2

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 1970.

Heisman voteJoe Theismann, second

2 consensus All-AmericansTom Gatewood, E; Larry DiNardo, OG

Record
10–⁠1
Conference
—
AP final
No. 2 peak No. 1
Points
354–⁠108
Coach
Ara Parseghian
Elo
1768 +130 this season
SP+ rating
30.9 No. 1 of 117; offense No. 6, defense No. 3
SRS
32.2 No. 2 of 123 major-college teams
Recruiting class
—
Captains
Larry DiNardo and Tim Kelly
Most valuable player
Joe Theismann and Tim Kelly

Drafted in 1971

The 1971 draft
Rd 4Joe Theismann QBMiami Dolphins
Rd 5Tim Kelly LBNew England Patriots
Rd 7Larry DiNardo OGNew Orleans Saints