CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

1990 Notre Dame

9–⁠3, coached by Lou Holtz, finished No. 6 in the AP poll.

Schedule and results

Notre Dame in 1990, game by game: won vs. No. 4 Michigan 28–24; won at No. 24 Michigan State 20–19; won vs. Purdue 37–11; lost vs. Stanford 31–36; won vs. Air Force 57–27; won vs. No. 2 Miami 29–20; won at Pittsburgh 31–22; won vs. Navy 52–31; won at No. 9 Tennessee 34–29; lost vs. No. 18 Penn State 21–24; won at No. 18 USC 10–6; lost vs. No. 1 Colorado 9–10+30−5Won 28–24 vs. No. 4 Michigan+4No. 4 MichiganWon 20–19 at No. 24 Michigan State+1No. 24 Michigan StateWon 37–11 vs. Purdue+26PurdueLost 31–36 vs. Stanford-5StanfordWon 57–27 vs. Air Force+30Air ForceWon 29–20 vs. No. 2 Miami+9No. 2 MiamiWon 31–22 at Pittsburgh+9PittsburghWon 52–31 vs. Navy+21NavyWon 34–29 at No. 9 Tennessee+5No. 9 TennesseeLost 21–24 vs. No. 18 Penn State-3No. 18 Penn StateWon 10–6 at No. 18 USC+4No. 18 USCLost 9–10 vs. No. 1 Colorado-1No. 1 Colorado
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below; orange marks an upset win.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 15vs4MichiganW 28–⁠2465%
Sep 22at24Michigan StateW 20–⁠1959%
Sep 29vsPurdueW 37–⁠1190%
Oct 6vsStanfordL 31–⁠3688%
Oct 13vsAir ForceW 57–⁠2781%
Oct 20vs2MiamiW 29–⁠2052%
Oct 27atPittsburghW 31–⁠2270%
Nov 3vsNavyW 52–⁠3191%
Nov 10at9TennesseeW 34–⁠2951%
Nov 17vs18Penn StateL 21–⁠2468%
Nov 24at18USCW 10–⁠650%
Jan 1Bowls & playoffvs1ColoradoOrange BowlL 9–⁠1050%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to Colorado 10–⁠9 in the Orange Bowl; No. 6 in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 22nd-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: 2
  3. Wk 3: 1
  4. Wk 4: 1
  5. Wk 5: 1
  6. Wk 6: 1
  7. Wk 7: 8
  8. Wk 8: 6
  9. Wk 9: 3
  10. Wk 10: 2
  11. Wk 11: 1
  12. Wk 12: 1
  13. Wk 13: 7
  14. Wk 14: 7
  15. Wk 15: 5
  16. 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 1990.

Heisman voteRaghib Ismail, second

Walter Camp AwardRaghib Ismail, WR/RS

Lombardi AwardChris Zorich, DT

4 consensus All-AmericansRaghib Ismail, WR/RS; Chris Zorich, DT; Michael Stonebreaker, LB; Todd Lyght, DB

Record
9–⁠3
Conference
—
AP final
No. 6 peak No. 1
Points
359–⁠259
Coach
Lou Holtz
Elo
1762 +43 this season
SP+ rating
23.7 No. 7 of 104; offense No. 10, defense No. 18
SRS
17.1 No. 13 of 107 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
—
Defensive coordinator
Gary Darnell
Captains
Mike Heldt, Chris Zorich, Todd Lyght and Ricky Watters
Most valuable player
Rocket Ismail
Offense
Wishbone triple option
Defense
4–⁠3

Drafted in 1991

The 1991 draft
Rd 1Todd Lyght DBLos Angeles Rams
Rd 2Ricky Watters RBSan Francisco 49ers
Rd 2Chris Zorich DTChicago Bears
Rd 3Bob Dahl DTCincinnati Bengals
Rd 4Raghib Ismail WRLos Angeles Raiders
Rd 5Tim Ryan OGTampa Bay Buccaneers
Rd 7Andre Jones LBPittsburgh Steelers