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1974 Notre Dame

10–⁠2, coached by Ara Parseghian, finished No. 6 in the AP poll.

Schedule and results

Notre Dame in 1974, game by game: won at Georgia Tech 31–7; won at Northwestern 49–3; lost vs. Purdue 20–31; won at Michigan State 19–14; won vs. Rice 10–3; won vs. Army 48–0; won vs. Miami 38–7; won vs. Navy 14–6; won vs. No. 17 Pittsburgh 14–10; won vs. Air Force 38–0; lost at No. 6 USC 24–55; won vs. No. 2 Alabama 13–11+48−31Won 31–7 at Georgia Tech+24Georgia TechWon 49–3 at Northwestern+46NorthwesternLost 20–31 vs. Purdue-11PurdueWon 19–14 at Michigan State+5Michigan StateWon 10–3 vs. Rice+7RiceWon 48–0 vs. Army+48ArmyWon 38–7 vs. Miami+31MiamiWon 14–6 vs. Navy+8NavyWon 14–10 vs. No. 17 Pittsburgh+4No. 17 PittsburghWon 38–0 vs. Air Force+38Air ForceLost 24–55 at No. 6 USC-31No. 6 USCWon 13–11 vs. No. 2 Alabama+2No. 2 Alabama
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below; orange marks an upset win.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 9atGeorgia TechW 31–⁠768%
Sep 21atNorthwesternW 49–⁠381%
Sep 28vsPurdueL 20–⁠3186%
Oct 5atMichigan StateW 19–⁠1464%
Oct 12vsRiceW 10–⁠384%
Oct 19vsArmyW 48–⁠092%
Oct 26vsMiamiW 38–⁠774%
Nov 2vsNavyW 14–⁠686%
Nov 16vs17PittsburghW 14–⁠1074%
Nov 23vsAir ForceW 38–⁠089%
Nov 30at6USCL 24–⁠5539%
Jan 1Bowls & playoffvs2AlabamaOrange BowlW 13–⁠1131%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Alabama 13–⁠11 in the Orange Bowl; No. 6 in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 36th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 131 on file).

AP poll, week by week

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

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 1974.

Heisman voteTom Clements, fourth

2 consensus All-AmericansPeter Demmerle, WR; Gerry DiNardo, OG

Record
10–⁠2
Conference
—
AP final
No. 6 peak No. 1
Points
318–⁠147
Coach
Ara Parseghian
Elo
1716 +33 this season
SP+ rating
17.4 No. 18 of 124; offense No. 28, defense No. 17
SRS
17.3 No. 10 of 129 major-college teams
Recruiting class
—
Captains
Tom Clements and Greg Collins
Defense
4–⁠3

Drafted in 1975

The 1975 draft
Rd 1Mike Fanning DTLos Angeles Rams
Rd 2Greg Collins LBSan Francisco 49ers
Rd 3Drew Mahalic LBDenver Broncos
Rd 5Kevin Nosbusch DTSan Diego Chargers
Rd 5Wayne Bullock RBSan Francisco 49ers