Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Rivalries - Other Big Ten Rivals

Other Big Ten Rivals

Notre Dame has traditionally played Division I-A football independent from any conference affiliation. In its early years joining a conference, in particular the geographically-contiguous Big Ten Conference, would have provided stability and scheduling opportunities. Conferences have periodically approached Notre Dame about joining, most notably the Big Ten in 1999. Notre Dame elected to keep its independent status in football, feeling that it has contributed to Notre Dame's unique place in college football lore. Even so, many Big Ten teams appear on the Fighting Irish's schedule. In fact, Notre Dame has faced every Big Ten team at some point in its history. In recent years, an average of three Big Ten opponents appear on the Fighting Irish schedule each season, but it has varied by as few as two (1983–84) to as many as five (1962, 1968).

Northwestern It began in 1889, one of the oldest in Fighting Irish football annals. It has been suggested that the nickname, "Fighting Irish," originated during that first meeting when Northwestern fans chanted, "Kill those Irish! Kill those fighting Irish!" at halftime. Northwestern University and Notre Dame had a yearly contest from 1929–48, with the winner taking home a shillelagh, much like the winner of the Notre Dame–USC contest now receives. The Northwestern-Notre Dame shillelagh was largely forgotten by the early 1960s. Northwestern ended the series after 1948, as did several other schools who were getting tired of being beaten year in and year out by Notre Dame, and the two schools would not meet again until 1959. By then, Ara Parseghian was coaching the Wildcats, who notched four consecutive victories over Notre Dame between 1959–62. After Ara came to Notre Dame, he posted a 9–0 docket against his old team. In fact, the Fighting Irish did not lose to Northwestern again until their most recent meeting in September 1995, which was the beginning of a Rose Bowl season for the Wildcats. The series will be renewed in 2014 when the Wildcats will travel to South Bend for the first time in nearly 20 years and the Irish will repay the visit in 2018 when they will travel to Evanston. Notre Dame holds a 37-8-2 edge against the Wildcats

Nebraska The Fighting Irish and Nebraska Cornhuskers first met in 1915 and played each other annually through 1925. During the years of Notre Dame's famed Four Horsemen backfield from 1922–24, the Fighting Irish compiled a record of 27-2-1, with their only losses coming to Nebraska in Lincoln (1922 & 1923). The Fighting Irish won in 1924 in South Bend and Nebraska won in 1925 in Lincoln, evening up the series at 5–5–1 (the 0-0 tie occurring in 1918). The Huskers were replaced on Notre Dame's schedule with USC. They met twice during the Frank Leahy era in 1947 and 1948 (with the Fighting Irish winning 31–0 and 44–13, respectively) and squared off in the 1973 Orange Bowl, a game in which the Huskers handed the Fighting Irish their worst defeat under Ara Parseghian, 40–6. More recently, there was a home-and-home series in 2000-01 (with the Huskers winning 27–24 and 27–10, respectively). The 2000 game was a memorable one, as #1 Nebraska escaped a Fighting Irish defeat in overtime on a touchdown run by Heisman winner Eric Crouch. Nebraska leads the series 8–7–1.

Penn State Notre Dame and Penn State first met in 1913. After subsequent games in 1925, 1926 and 1928, the two schools would not meet again until the 1976 Gator Bowl, by which time an annual home-and-home series beginning in 1981 had been agreed upon. The Fighting Irish held a 4–0–1 edge going in to 1981, but the Nittany Lions proceeded to win 6 of the next 7. The coaches were one source of the rivalry. Lou Holtz and Joe Paterno were both long serving and successful coaches. Their friendly rivalry helped expand the Notre Dame–Penn State rivalry to new dimensions. The series ended after the 1992 season, coinciding with formerly independent Penn State's affiliation with the Big Ten. It had been scheduled to continue through 1994 and Notre Dame approached Penn State about extending it even further, but Penn State's admittance to the Big Ten in 1990 made it more difficult to fit the games on the schedule. However the Fighting Irish and Nittany Lions recent successes and other factors led to the renewal of the rivalry in 2006–07, in which the teams split both games. The series stands at 9–8–1 in favor of Notre Dame. Penn State did win in 2007, but due to NCAA sanctions in 2012, the win was vacated.

Wisconsin Notre Dame and Wisconsin first met in 1900 with the Badgers prevailing, 54-0. When they met again four years later, Wisconsin put it to the Irish again, 58-0. In the process, they became the only team ever to score 50 points against Notre Dame twice. They played each other sporadically through the 1920s, 30s and 40s and have not met since 1964, in Ara Parseghian's debut as head coach. In that game, the Notre Dame defense set a still-standing school record as they held Wisconsin to minus 51 yards rushing in a 31-7 victory. Notre Dame leads the series, 8-6-2.

Iowa The Irish and Hawkeyes first met in 1921. They met annually from 1945 through 1962, then the 1963 contest was canceled when President Kennedy was assassinated the day before. The 1953 game was notable in that both of Notre Dame's touchdowns came after a player had faked an injury, a widely used ploy in those days. The current rule that bans faked injuries was adopted in response to that game. Traditionally the Hawkeyes were the next-to-last opponent on the Irish schedule. They were scheduled to meet in that slot through 1966, then in 1960 Iowa dropped the Irish after 1964. Needing a tenth game to fill out their 1965 and 1966 schedules, Notre Dame added Michigan State, setting the stage for their memorable 1966 meeting. The Irish and Hawkeyes met in 1967 and again in 1968 and have not played each other since. Notre Dame leads the series, 13-8-3.