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1973 Notre Dame

11–⁠0, coached by Ara Parseghian, finished No. 1 in the AP poll.

Schedule and results

Notre Dame in 1973, game by game: won vs. Northwestern 44–0; won at Purdue 20–7; won vs. Michigan State 14–10; won at Rice 28–0; won at Army 62–3; won vs. No. 6 USC 23–14; won vs. Navy 44–7; won at No. 20 Pittsburgh 31–10; won vs. Air Force 48–15; won at Miami 44–0; won vs. No. 1 Alabama 24–23+59Won 44–0 vs. Northwestern+44NorthwesternWon 20–7 at Purdue+13PurdueWon 14–10 vs. Michigan State+4Michigan StateWon 28–0 at Rice+28RiceWon 62–3 at Army+59ArmyWon 23–14 vs. No. 6 USC+9No. 6 USCWon 44–7 vs. Navy+37NavyWon 31–10 at No. 20 Pittsburgh+21No. 20 PittsburghWon 48–15 vs. Air Force+33Air ForceWon 44–0 at Miami+44MiamiWon 24–23 vs. No. 1 Alabama+1No. 1 Alabama
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below; orange marks an upset win.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 22vsNorthwesternW 44–⁠080%
Sep 29atPurdueW 20–⁠759%
Oct 6vsMichigan StateW 14–⁠1076%
Oct 13atRiceW 28–⁠070%
Oct 20atArmyW 62–⁠379%
Oct 27vs6USCW 23–⁠1448%
Nov 3vsNavyW 44–⁠786%
Nov 10at20PittsburghW 31–⁠1072%
Nov 22vsAir ForceW 48–⁠1582%
Dec 1atMiamiW 44–⁠077%
Dec 31Bowls & playoffvs1AlabamaSugar BowlW 24–⁠2338%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Alabama 24–⁠23 in the Sugar Bowl; No. 1 in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 18th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 131 on file).

AP poll, week by week

  1. Wk 1: 8
  2. Wk 2: 8
  3. Wk 3: 8
  4. Wk 4: 7
  5. Wk 5: 8
  6. Wk 6: 9
  7. Wk 7: 8
  8. Wk 8: 8
  9. Wk 9: 5
  10. Wk 10: 5
  11. Wk 11: 5
  12. Wk 12: 5
  13. Wk 13: 5
  14. Wk 14: 3
  15. 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 1973.

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

2 consensus All-AmericansDave Casper, TE; Mike Townsend, DB

Record
11–⁠0
Conference
—
AP final
No. 1 peak No. 1
Points
382–⁠89
Coach
Ara Parseghian
Elo
1775 +163 this season
SP+ rating
28.1 No. 5 of 123; offense No. 10, defense No. 10
SRS
29.8 No. 5 of 129 major-college teams
Recruiting class
—
Defensive coordinator
Joe Yonto
Captains
Dave Casper, Frank Pomarico and Mike Townsend
Offense
Wing T
Defense
4–⁠3

Drafted in 1974

The 1974 draft
Rd 2Dave Casper TEOakland Raiders
Rd 4Mike Townsend DBMinnesota Vikings