1985 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1985 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Independent 5–6 Gerry Faust 5th A. J. Christoff 2nd Allen Pinkett Tony Furjanic Mike Larkin Allen Pinkett Tim Scannell Notre Dame Stadium The 1985 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth and final year under head coach Gerry Faust, the Irish compiled a 5–6 record, were outscored by a total of 234 to 230, and were unranked for the fifth consecutive year in the final AP and UPI polls.1985 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1985-schedule.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 25, 2026Irish Eye, vol. 6, No. 1 University of Notre Dame Sports Information Department May 1, 1986 https://archives.nd.edu/Football/Football-1985.pdf Notre Dame Archives Guard Tim Scannell received first-team honors from Scripps-Howard on the 1985 All-America college football team. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Steve Beuerlein (1,335 passing yards), running back Allen Pinkett (1,100 rushing yards, 66 points scored), Tim Brown (25 receptions, 397 receiving yards), and linebacker Tony Furjanic (147 tackles).1985 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1985.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 25, 2026Irish Eye, p. 64. The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Schedule 1985 AP Eastern September 14 2:30 p.m. l y 13 Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry CBS 12–20 105,523 U-M defense bogs down Irish, 20–12 Detroit Free Press Tommy George September 15, 1985 D1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4093344/um_defense_bogs_down_irish/ September 21 7:30 p.m. w Michigan State Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ESPN 27–10 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-notre-dame-easily-overc/170218270/ The Saginaw News Notre Dame easily overcomes handicapped MSU September 22, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 12:00 p.m. l y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry TBS 17–35 69,338 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-purdues-everett-p/170218358/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Purdue's Everett puts frown on Notre Dame fans September 29, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 3:30 p.m. l y Air Force 17 Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO rivalry ABC 15–21 52,153 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-air-force-uses-bl/170218449/ The Grand Rapids Press Air Force uses blocked field goal to keep Notre Dame in tailspin October 6, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 12:00 p.m. w Army 19 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry USA, WGN 24–10 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-notre-dame-puts-end/170218552/ The Spokesman-Review Notre Dame puts end to Army's win streak October 20, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 2:00 p.m. w USC Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 37–3 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette-irish-whip-usc-37/170218631/ The Billings Gazette Irish whip USC, 37–3 October 27, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 3:30 p.m. w Navy Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ABC 41–17 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-andrysiak-answers-ca/170217594/ The Courier-Journal Andrysiak answers call, leads Irish rout of Navy November 3, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 12:00 p.m. w Ole Miss Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN USA, WGN 37–14 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-notre-dame-crushes-o/134624147/ The Courier-Journal Notre Dame crushes Ole Miss November 10, 1985 November 4, 2023 Newspapers.com November 16 3:30 p.m. l y Penn State 1 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ABC 6–36 84,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-no-1-oenn-st-bl/170218725/ Democrat and Chronicle No. 1 Oenn St. blasts Notre Dame, 36–6 November 17, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 12:00 p.m. l LSU 17 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN USA, WGN 7–10 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-tigers-attack-iris/134630581/ The Indianapolis Star Tigers attack Irish November 24, 1985 November 4, 2023 Newspapers.com November 30 3:30 p.m. l y Miami (FL) 4 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL rivalry CBS 7–58 49,236 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-hurricanes-finally-put-it/170218868/ Florida Today Hurricanes finally put it all together December 1, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com Irish Eye, p. 64 (attendance figures). Game summaries at Michigan Notre Dame at Michigan No. 13 Fighting Irish 3 6 3 0 Wolverines 0 3 14 3 September 14 Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI 3:30 pm 105,523 Brent Musburger (play-by-play) and Ara Parseghian (analyst) CBS yes 1 ND John Carney 34-yard field goal ND 3–0 2 3 ND John Carney 37-yard field goal ND 6–0 Mich Mike Gillette 21-yard field goal ND 6–3 ND John Carney 47-yard field goal ND 9–3 3 3 Mich Jim Harbaugh 10-yard run (Gillette kick) Michigan 10–9 ND John Carney 25-yard field goal ND 12–10 Mich Gerald White 3-yard run (Gillette kick) Mich 17–12 4 5:12 Mich Mike Gillette 22-yard field goal Mich 20–12 yes 1985 Michigan Wolverines football team Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry Michigan State 1985 Michigan State Spartans football team Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry At Purdue 1985 Purdue Boilermakers football team at No. 17 Air Force 1985 Air Force Falcons football team NOTRE DAME KICKS ONE AWAY TO AIR FORCE https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-10-06-8503080086-story.html Chicago Tribune October 6, 1985 January 19, 2020 Army Cadets 0 7 3 0 Notre Dame 14 0 7 3 Saturday, October 19 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 59,075 yes 1 ND Pernell Taylor 1-yard run (John Carney kick) ND 7-0 1 ND Tim Brown 19-yard pass from Steve Beuerlein (John Carney kick) ND 14-0 2 ARMY Bill Lampley 4-yard run (Craig Stopa kick) ND 14-7 3 ARMY Craig Stopa 22-yard field goal ND 14-10 3 ND Allen Pinkett 1-yard run (John Carney kick) ND 21-10 4 6:23 ND John Carney 21-yard field goal ND 24-10 yes 1985 Army Cadets football team "Irish upset No. 19 Army to answer critics." Gainesville Sun. 1985 Oct 20. USC Notre Dame played the first half in navy blue jerseys and changed into green jerseys for the second half. USC at Notre Dame Trojans 0 0 3 0 Fighting Irish 14 13 3 7 October 26 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN Source: yes 1 ND Pinkett 2-yard run (Carney kick) ND 7-0 1 ND Beuerlein 6-yard run (Carney kick) ND 14-0 2 ND Carney 26-yard field goal ND 17-0 2 ND Stams 5-yard run (Carney kick) ND 24-0 2 ND Carney 33-yard field goal ND 27-0 3 USC Shafer 39-yard field goal ND 27-3 3 ND Carney 43-yard field goal ND 30-3 4 ND Williams 8-yard pass from Andrysiak (Carney kick) ND 37-3 yes 1985 USC Trojans football team Navy 1985 Navy Midshipmen football team Ole Miss Notre Dame finally had the opportunity to exact revenge on the Rebels for a 20–13 loss at Jackson eight years earlier. Ole Miss at Notre Dame Rebels 0 0 0 14 Fighting Irish 3 14 14 7 November 9 Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, Indiana yes 1 ND Carney 41-yard field goal Notre Dame 3-0 2 ND Pinkett 1-yard run (Carney kick) Notre Dame 10-0 2 ND Brown 14-yard pass from Beuerlein (Carney kick) Notre Dame 17-0 3 ND Pinkett 2-yard run (Carney kick) Notre Dame 24-0 3 ND Redher 22-yard pass from Beuerlein (Carney kick) Notre Dame 31-0 4 MISS Meyers 10-yard pass from Osgood (Owen kick) Notre Dame 31-7 4 MISS Cleveland 1-yard run (Owen kick) Notre Dame 31-14 4 ND Southall 7-yard run (Carney kick) Notre Dame 38-14 yes 1985 Ole Miss Rebels football team Gainesville Sun. 1985 Nov 10. at No. 1 Penn State Notre Dame at Penn State Fighting Irish 0 0 0 6 No. 1 Nittany Lions 7 13 10 6 November 16 Beaver Stadium, College Pennsylvania, PA 84,000 Keith Jackson (play-by-play), Frank Broyles (analyst), and Tim Brant (sideline) ABC 1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football team PENN STATE TROUNCES NOTRE DAME TO STAY UNBEATEN https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/17/sports/penn-state-trounces-notre-dame-to-stay-unbeaten.html The New York Times November 17, 1985 January 19, 2020 No. 17 LSU Ironically, Gerry Faust's last game in Notre Dame Stadium was against the same school he faced in his first game as Irish coach four years earlier. LSU at Notre Dame No. 17 Tigers 0 3 0 7 Fighting Irish 7 0 0 0 November 23 Notre Dame Stadium,South Bend, Indiana 12:30 p.m. EST 59,075 33 degrees, cloudy with snow flurries Raymond Bower Harry Kalas and Jack Ham USA yes 1 9:26 ND Tim Brown 18-yard run (John Carney kick) ND 7–0 2 0:00 LSU Matt DeFrank 27-yard field goal ND 7–3 4 3:26 Garry James 2-yard run (Ron Lewis kick) LSU 10–7 yes 1985 LSU Tigers football team Wickersham Passes LSU to 10-7 Victory Over Irish https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-24-sp-1813-story.html Los Angeles Times November 24, 1985 January 18, 2020 at No. 4 Miami (FL) Notre Dame at Miami (FL) Fighting Irish 0 7 0 0 No. 4 Hurricanes 13 14 10 21 November 30 Miami Orange Bowl, Miami 3:30 p.m. EST Brent Musburger and Ara Parseghian CBS yes 1 MIA Greg Cox 39-yard field goal MIA 3-0 1 MIA W. Williams 6-yard run (Greg Cox kick) MIA 10-0 1 MIA Greg Cox 47-yard field goal MIA 13-0 2 MIA Bennie Blades 61-yard interception return (Cox kick) MIA 20-0 2 ND Allen Pinkett 3-yard run (John Carney kick) MIA 20-7 2 MIA Melvin Bratton 7-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Cox kick) MIA 27-7 3 MIA Greg Cox 48-yard field goal MIA 30-7 3 MIA Michael Irvin 15-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Greg Cox kick) MIA 37-7 4 MIA Vinny Testaverde 1-yard run (Greg Cox kick) MIA 44-7 4 MIA Andre Brown 17-yard pass from Geoff Torretta (Seelig kick) MIA 51-7 4 4:44 MIA Bill Hawkins recovered blocked punt in end zone (Greg Cox kick) MIA 58-7 yes 1985 Miami Hurricanes football team FAUST ERA AT NOTRE DAME ENDS IN 58-7 HUMILIATION https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/01/sports/faust-era-at-notre-dame-ends-in-58-7-humiliation-testaverde-leads-miami.html The New York Times December 10, 1985 January 19, 2020 Roster 1985 Notre Dame Fighting Irish f 2 So Terry Andrysiak QB y 7 Jr Steve Beuerlein QB y 81 So Tim Brown Tim Brown (American football) WR y 20 Sr Allen Pinkett RB y 30 Fr Frank Stams FB y 40 Sr Pat Ballage SS y 43 Sr Rick DiBernardo LB y 71 Sr Eric Dorsey DE y 48 So Cedric Figaro LB y 58 Sr Tony Furjanic LB 18 Jr John Carney John Carney (American football) K y *Gerry Faust Awards and honors Allen Pinkett finished 8th in voting for the Heisman Trophy.http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/nd-m-footbl-archive.html/ NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH - Football 2008-12-30 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081217101247/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/nd-m-footbl-archive.html 2008-12-17 Guard Tim Scannell received first-team honors from Scripps Howard News Service on the 1985 All-America college football team.Scripps Howard All-America Team The Pittsburgh Press November 29, 1985 D4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5310609/scripps_howard_allamerica_team/ Former Fighting Irish players Paul Hornung and Jim Martin were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame 1986 NFL draft 1986 NFL draft The following Notre Dame players were selected in the 1986 NFL draft: 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Player Position Round Pick NFL club Eric DorseyDefensive end119NY GiantsAllen PinkettRunning back361Houston OilersTony FurjanicLinebacker8202Buffalo BillsMike PerrinoTackle8209San Diego ChargersPro Football Reference 1986 NFL Draft https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1986/draft.htm November 22, 2019 References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football