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1989 Notre Dame

12–⁠1, coached by Lou Holtz, finished No. 2 in the AP poll.

Schedule and results

Notre Dame in 1989, game by game: won vs. Virginia 36–13; won at No. 2 Michigan 24–19; won vs. Michigan State 21–13; won at Purdue 40–7; won at Stanford 27–17; won at No. 17 Air Force 41–27; won vs. No. 9 USC 28–24; won vs. No. 7 Pittsburgh 45–7; won vs. Navy 41–0; won vs. SMU 59–6; won at No. 17 Penn State 34–23; lost at No. 7 Miami 10–27; won vs. No. 1 Colorado 21–6+53−17Won 36–13 vs. Virginia+23VirginiaWon 24–19 at No. 2 Michigan+5No. 2 MichiganWon 21–13 vs. Michigan State+8Michigan StateWon 40–7 at Purdue+33PurdueWon 27–17 at Stanford+10StanfordWon 41–27 at No. 17 Air Force+14No. 17 Air ForceWon 28–24 vs. No. 9 USC+4No. 9 USCWon 45–7 vs. No. 7 Pittsburgh+38No. 7 PittsburghWon 41–0 vs. Navy+41NavyWon 59–6 vs. SMU+53SMUWon 34–23 at No. 17 Penn State+11No. 17 Penn StateLost 10–27 at No. 7 Miami-17No. 7 MiamiWon 21–6 vs. No. 1 Colorado+15No. 1 Colorado
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below; orange marks an upset win.
DateOpponentResultElo
Aug 31vsVirginiaW 36–⁠1372%
Sep 16at2MichiganW 24–⁠1951%
Sep 23vsMichigan StateW 21–⁠1375%
Sep 30atPurdueW 40–⁠784%
Oct 7atStanfordW 27–⁠1780%
Oct 14at17Air ForceW 41–⁠2763%
Oct 21vs9USCW 28–⁠2469%
Oct 28vs7PittsburghW 45–⁠778%
Nov 4vsNavyW 41–⁠095%
Nov 11vsSMUW 59–⁠694%
Nov 18at17Penn StateW 34–⁠2367%
Nov 25at7MiamiL 10–⁠2747%
Jan 1Bowls & playoffvs1ColoradoOrange BowlW 21–⁠658%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Colorado 21–⁠6 in the Orange Bowl; No. 2 in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 4th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 131 on file).

AP poll, week by week

  1. Wk 1: 2
  2. Wk 2: 1
  3. Wk 3: 1
  4. Wk 4: 1
  5. Wk 5: 1
  6. Wk 6: 1
  7. Wk 7: 1
  8. Wk 8: 1
  9. Wk 9: 1
  10. Wk 10: 1
  11. Wk 11: 1
  12. Wk 12: 1
  13. Wk 13: 1
  14. Wk 14: 5
  15. Wk 15: 4
  16. Wk 16: 4
  17. 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 1989.

Heisman voteTony Rice, fourth

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardTony Rice, QB

2 consensus All-AmericansChris Zorich, DT; Todd Lyght, DB

Record
12–⁠1
Conference
—
AP final
No. 2 peak No. 1
Points
427–⁠189
Coach
Lou Holtz
Elo
1829 +125 this season
SP+ rating
31.1 No. 1 of 103; offense No. 6, defense No. 3
SRS
25.3 No. 3 of 106 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
—
Offensive coordinator
Jim Strong
Defensive coordinator
Barry Alvarez
Captains
Ned Bolcar, Anthony Johnson and Tony Rice
Most valuable player
Tony Rice
Offense
Wishbone triple option
Defense
5–⁠2

Drafted in 1990

The 1990 draft
Rd 2Anthony Johnson RBIndianapolis Colts
Rd 2Tim Grunhard CKansas City Chiefs
Rd 2Jeff Alm DTHouston Oilers
Rd 2Pat Terrell DBLos Angeles Rams
Rd 4Mike Brennan OTCincinnati Bengals
Rd 5Stan Smagala DBLos Angeles Raiders
Rd 6Ned Bolcar LBSeattle Seahawks