Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State only 92 days away
To preview one of the most anticipated games for Notre Dame this century and the official start of the Marcus Freeman era, BlueandGold.com is counting down the days to the matchup against Ohio State on Sept. 3.
This daily series of 99 stories celebrates some of the most notable names, dates, moments and memories related to the past and present of Notre Dame football.
Snow in South Bend, Ind., is as synonymous with historic late-game heroics on the football field from the Fighting Irish. Nov. 14, 1992, had a bit of both.
The afternoon started with standard northern Indiana cold temperatures for the time of year. No snow. Then it started coming down, and with the precipitation came a back-and-forth brawl of a game between Lou Holtz’s Irish and Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions.
As was commonly the case between the two programs in that era, it was a ranked matchup. Notre Dame was No. 5. Penn State was No. 22. The Irish were fresh off a 54-7 drubbing of No. 9 Boston College. Wins over Penn State, USC and a bowl game opponent would give Notre Dame a 10-win season for the third time in Holtz’s tenure to that point.
There was a lot to play for.
PROMOTION: Sign up for just $1 for your first year at Blue & Gold
So when Notre Dame fell behind 16-9 with roughly four minutes left, with most of the snow having stopped but the remnants of the storm still lingering on the field, the nearly 60,000 fans in attendance and those watching at home got the sense the Irish were going to give it everything they had to sneak away with a win.
Top 10
- 1New
Lincoln Riley
UCF looking at USC coach
- 2
Oregon flips 5-star QB
Cal pledge commits to Ducks
- 3
Ryan Day on future
Ohio State HC gives blunt answer
- 4
Lane Kiffin scorched earth
CFP committee, Miami in crosshairs
- 5Live
National Signing Day Show
Live updates and news on nation's top recruits
Quarterback Rick Mirer was the catalyst. He had help from running backs Jerome Bettis and Reggie Brooks. The former caught a touchdown pass from Mirer on fourth and goal from inside the five-yard line with 20 seconds left. Not wanting to tie, Holtz left the offense on the field for a two-point conversion attempt. Mirer dropped back and surveyed the end zone for quite some time before letting the ball fly toward the right corner of the end zone.
A sprawling Brooks laid out and reeled it in.
The Irish won, 17-16, in what is still one of the best finishes ever at Notre Dame Stadium. The 1992 campaign is arguably one of the best seasons in Notre Dame history that did not end in a national title, too. The Irish finished No. 4 in the final Associated Press Poll. They rattled off four ranked victories in a row to end the year, including a 28-3 beatdown of No. 4 Texas A&M.
A 17-17 tie against Michigan in the second game of the season and a 33-16 loss to Stanford prevented Notre Dame from competing for the program’s 12th national championship. The Irish made sure there wouldn’t be two ties — or losses, for that matter — on the ledger, though, and now the program has an all-time moment to reflect upon as a result.
