Notre Dame’s Last National Championship: 1988

Notre Dame’s football program is one of the most storied in college football history, with a tradition that stretches back to its founding in 1887. Over the decades, the Fighting Irish have earned a reputation for producing some of the most legendary players and teams in the sport’s history. Their most recent national championship came in 1988, a year that remains a high-water mark for the university’s football program.

The 1988 Season: A Year of Dominance

Under the leadership of head coach Lou Holtz, Notre Dame had one of its most dominant seasons in school history in 1988. Holtz had taken over as head coach in 1986 and immediately instilled a sense of discipline, toughness, and mental fortitude into the program. By 1988, Notre Dame was ready to contend for the national championship, but there were several challenges that they had to overcome.

The 1988 season was highlighted by the team’s incredible resilience. The Fighting Irish finished the regular season with an undefeated record of 11-0, overcoming several tough opponents along the way. The team was built around a combination of offensive and defensive stars, including quarterback Tony Rice, running back Ricky Watters, and linebacker Michael Stonebreaker. Rice, in particular, was a key player in Notre Dame’s success, combining his abilities as both a passer and a runner to keep opposing defenses on their heels.

Perhaps the most memorable moment of the season came when Notre Dame faced off against the defending national champions, the Miami Hurricanes. The game, which took place on November 19, 1988, at Notre Dame Stadium, is considered one of the greatest games in college football history. Miami had been the dominant team of the 1980s, winning national titles in 1983 and 1987 and boasting a roster full of future NFL stars. However, Notre Dame’s defense, led by standout linebacker Michael Stonebreaker, shut down Miami’s high-powered offense, and the Irish came away with a dramatic 31-30 victory. The win helped solidify Notre Dame’s place at the top of the college football rankings.

The regular season also featured big wins over teams like Michigan, Michigan State, and USC. Each of these victories reinforced the notion that Notre Dame was one of the most complete teams in the country.

The 1989 Sugar Bowl: The Climax of the Season

Notre Dame’s perfect regular season set the stage for a showdown in the 1989 Sugar Bowl against the heavily favored West Virginia Mountaineers. Led by quarterback Major Harris, West Virginia had an explosive offense and had gone 11-0 during the regular season. Many analysts believed that West Virginia would have the upper hand, particularly after Notre Dame’s defense had been slightly exposed in previous games.

However, the Irish defense, led by players like Stonebreaker, remained tough, and the offense did its job. Tony Rice played one of the best games of his career, throwing for 202 yards and rushing for 61 yards, contributing to the team’s dominant performance. Ricky Watters and the running backs carried the load in the second half, helping the Irish extend their lead and secure a 34-21 victory. The win not only clinched the national championship for Notre Dame but also solidified Lou Holtz’s legacy as one of the most successful coaches in the program’s history.

In the final Associated Press (AP) poll, Notre Dame finished No. 1, earning the national championship. The team had not won a title since 1977, and the victory in 1988 was a reaffirmation of Notre Dame’s dominance in college football.

The Legacy of the 1988 National Championship

The 1988 national championship was a culmination of years of hard work, recruiting, and development under Holtz. It marked the Fighting Irish’s 11th national title in their history and ended a drought that had lasted more than a decade. The team’s success was not just a reflection of individual talent, but also of the cohesive nature of the team. Holtz had created a program that was greater than the sum of its parts, and the championship run proved it.

The victory also further cemented Notre Dame’s status as a premier college football program. Although the program would face challenges in the years that followed, including struggles in the 1990s and early 2000s, the 1988 championship remains a cornerstone of the university’s football legacy.

The success of that team had a lasting impact on the university as well. It helped Notre Dame recruit top-tier players for years to come, keeping the program among the top in college football. Holtz’s leadership was instrumental in the program’s revival during the 1980s, and the 1988 national championship was the pinnacle of his tenure at Notre Dame.

Ohio State’s Last National Championship: 2014

While Notre Dame’s most recent national championship came in 1988, Ohio State University’s football program has had more recent success on the national stage. The Buckeyes won their most recent national title in 2014, under head coach Urban Meyer. The victory in the 2015 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game was the culmination of a remarkable season for Ohio State.

The 2014 Season: A Year of Unexpected Triumph

The 2014 season began with high expectations for Ohio State, but no one could have predicted the series of events that would unfold. Urban Meyer, who had led the Buckeyes to an undefeated regular season in 2012 before losing in the bowl game, entered the year with a team brimming with talent. Ohio State boasted one of the most talented rosters in the country, led by star players such as quarterback Braxton Miller, running back Ezekiel Elliott, and defensive stars like Joey Bosa.

However, Ohio State’s season took a dramatic turn before the start of the season. Braxton Miller, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, was injured in fall camp, forcing him to miss the entire season. This left the quarterback position in the hands of J.T. Barrett, a redshirt freshman who had yet to start a game at the collegiate level.

Despite the uncertainty at quarterback, Ohio State came out of the gate strong, with Barrett leading the offense to an undefeated regular season. Barrett was sensational in his first season as a starter, throwing for 2,834 yards and rushing for 938 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, disaster struck once again in the final game of the regular season, as Barrett suffered a season-ending injury in a game against Michigan. This left Ohio State with its third-string quarterback, Cardale Jones, who had only appeared in limited action during the season.

With Jones at the helm, Ohio State’s chances of making a playoff run appeared slim. Yet, Jones would go on to defy all expectations.

The 2015 College Football Playoff: Ohio State’s Road to the Title

Ohio State was selected as the No. 4 seed in the inaugural College Football Playoff, a new system that replaced the BCS (Bowl Championship Series). The Buckeyes were set to face off against the top-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl, a matchup that many believed would be a one-sided affair given Alabama’s dominant defense and the relative inexperience of Jones at quarterback.

However, Cardale Jones played the game of his life. He threw for 243 yards and a touchdown, and Ohio State’s defense stifled Alabama’s high-powered offense. The Buckeyes won the game 42-35, sending them to the National Championship Game against the Oregon Ducks, who had defeated Florida State in the Rose Bowl.

In the National Championship Game, Ohio State’s offense, led by Jones and running back Ezekiel Elliott, put on a clinic. Elliott rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns, including a 33-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory. Ohio State defeated Oregon 42-20, securing the Buckeyes’ eighth national championship in school history.

The Legacy of the 2014 National Championship

Ohio State’s 2014 national championship was an unexpected triumph, one that solidified Urban Meyer’s legacy as one of the greatest coaches in college football. The victory was also a testament to the depth and resilience of the Ohio State program, as the team had overcome significant adversity, including the loss of two starting quarterbacks, to capture the title.

For Ohio State, the 2014 national championship represented the pinnacle of the Meyer era, and it was a crowning achievement for a program that has been among the most successful in college football history. The victory also marked the beginning of a new era of college football, as the College Football Playoff system was introduced to determine the national champion, replacing the controversial BCS system.

Ohio State’s success in 2014 also set the stage for continued success in the years to come. Meyer’s ability to recruit top-tier talent and build championship-caliber teams kept the Buckeyes among the nation’s elite programs, and the victory in the College Football Playoff was a confirmation that Ohio State was once again on top of the college football world.