Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State only 51 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 by the numbers some of the most notable names, dates, moments and memories related to the past and present of Notre Dame football.
Today, with 51 days remaining until kickoff, we look at the 51-0 whitewash of USC in the 1966 season finale that clinched an undefeated record and the first of two national titles for Ara Parseghian.
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One for the ages
One week after No. 1 Notre Dame played No. 2 Michigan State to an epic 10-10 tie in the Game of the Century, the Irish traveled to Los Angeles to finish the 1966 season.
Notre Dame was not playing in bowl games at the time so the matchup against the No. 10 Trojans that Thanksgiving weekend was the last chance for the still top-ranked Irish to make a statement as the nation’s best team.
Mighty Alabama had claimed the two previous two titles in 1964 and 1965, and the Crimson Tide was again undefeated and untied in 1966. So, anything other than a dominating performance against USC would’ve likely cost the Irish a shot at the title.
Wasn’t going to happen.
Starting in place of the injured Terry Hanratty, backup quarterback Coley O’Brien hit USC with three touchdown passes and 255 yards. Two of those scoring tosses went to three-time All-American wide receiver Jim Seymour.
The Irish defense added two interception returns for touchdowns and Notre Dame left LA with a 51-0 win. It remains the biggest blowout in the history of this rivalry and the largest margin of defeat in USC history.
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Championship controversy
The 1966 National Championship was a three-horse race. No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Michigan State were unbeaten with a tie between the two of them. No. 3 Alabama, under head coach Bear Bryant, was unbeaten and untied and had played one game all season decided by fewer than 10 points.
Emphasizing the tie between Notre Dame (9-0-1) and Michigan State (9-0-1), Alabama (11-0) lobbied hard for championship honors after the season.
But the 51-point blowout of a top-10 opponent kept the pollsters from shuffling Notre Dame out of the top spot in the final rankings.
And make no mistake, no matter what some historical accounts and Alabama fans might suggest about title worthiness in 1966, Notre Dame was no slouch.
The Irish beat three top-10 teams that season. It pitched six shutouts in 10 games and recorded its nine wins by a combined score of 352-28.
Not many notable Irish players have ever donned the No. 51.
But the rivalry and title riches brought by the 51-0 blowout of USC in 1966 make this number one for the ages.
