1944 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1944 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Independent 9 8–2 Edward McKeever 1st Pat Filley Notre Dame Stadium The 1944 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1944 college football season. With head coach Frank Leahy serving in the Navy during World War II, Edward McKeever took over as head coach. In their only season under McKeever, the Irish compiled an 8–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 340 to 69, and were ranked No. 9 in the final AP poll. The Irish their first five games before losing consecutive games to No 6 Navy and No. 1 Army.1944 Notre Dame Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 15, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1944-schedule.html The loss to Army, by a 59–0 score, was the worst in Notre Dame history. Halfback Creighton Miller was selected as a consensus first-team player on the 1955 All-America college football team. Guard Pat Filley was the team captain and received second-team All-America honors from the United Press (UP). Halfback Bob Kelly received second-team honors from the UP and International News Service. The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Schedule 1944 AP September 30 w y Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 58–0 46,069 October 7 w Tulane Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 26–0 32,909 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99511333/powerful-notre-dame-eleven-triumphs-over/ The Palladium-Item Powerful Notre Dame eleven triumphs over Tulane, 26–0 October 8, 1944 April 10, 2022 Newspapers.com October 14 w y 1 Dartmouth Fenway Park Boston, MA 64–0 38,167 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1944-schedule.html 1944 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results College Football at Sports-Reference.com October 21 w 1 Wisconsin Notre Dame Stadium South Bend, IN 28–13 36,086 October 28 w y 1 Illinois 14 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 13–7 57,122 November 4 l y 2 Navy 6 Municipal Stadium Baltimore, MD rivalry 13–32 60,938 November 11 l y 5 Army 1 Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY rivalry 0–59 74,437 Army Outclasses Notre Dame, 59 To 0: 74,437 See Irish Meet Worst Gridiron Defeat New York Daily News November 12, 1944 20 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98964854/army-outclasses-notre-dame-59-to-0/ Newspapers.com November 18 w 11 Northwestern Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 21–0 39,701 November 25 w y 18 Georgia Tech 10 Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 21–0 28,662 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-irish-outclass-georg/132748292/ The Birmingham News Irish outclass Georgia Tech Jackets, 21–0 November 26, 1944 October 1, 2023 Newspapers.com December 2 w 9 Great Lakes Navy 12 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 28–7 36,900 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1944-schedule.html 1944 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results Rankings 1944 college football rankings AP 1 9 1 (34) 1 (59.67) 1 (40) 2 (15) 5 11 18 9 9 References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football