1976 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1976 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Independent 12 12 9–3 Dan Devine 2nd Merv Johnson 2nd Willie Fry Mark McLane Notre Dame Stadium Gator Bowl champion Gator Bowl W Won 20–9 vs. Penn State The 1976 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their second year under head coach Dan Devine, the Irish compiled a 9–3 record, outscored opponents by a total of 274 to 149, and were ranked No. 12 in the final AP and UPI polls. In five games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 9 Pittsburgh and No. 3 USC, and defeated No. 19 South Carolina, No. 10 Alabama, and No. 20 Penn State, the latter in the Gator Bowl.1976 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1976-schedule.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 23, 2026February 7, 1977 The Notre Dame Scholastic 1976 Notre Dame Football Review https://archives.nd.edu/Football/Football-1976s.pdf Notre Dame Archives Defensive end Ross Browner won the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in college football. Browner and tight end Ken McAfee were consensus first-team picks on the 1976 All-America college football team.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 10 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf Defensive back Luther Bradley also received first-team All-America honors from the Football News and Walter Camp Football Foundation. Quarterback Joe Montana separated his shoulder before the season began and did not play.Somogyi Lou 2012-09-21 The Right Combination https://fightingirish.com/the-right-combination/ 2026-04-06 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Athletics The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Rick Slager (1,281 passing yards), running back Al Hunter (1,058 rushing yards), and Dan Kelleher (24 receptions for 522 yards).1976 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1976.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 23, 2026 The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Schedule 1976 AP Eastern September 11 4:20 p.m. l 11 Pittsburgh 9 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ABC 10–31 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/staten-island-advance-pitt-dorsett-crus/180957279/ Staten Island Advance Pitt, Dorsett crush Notre Dame, 31–10 September 12, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 2:30 p.m. w Purdue Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 23–0 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-burgmeiers-stel/180957381/ The Des Moines Register Burgmeier's stellar defense play helps Irish spill Purdue, 23–0 September 19, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 2:30 p.m. w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 48–0 44,396 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vincennes-sun-commercial-slager-iri/180957431/ The Vincennes Sun-Commercial Slager, Irish bomb Wildcats September 26, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 1:30 p.m. w y 18 Michigan State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 24–6 77,081 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-notre-dame-too-tou/180957488/ Battle Creek Enquirer & News Notre Dame too tough for State 24–6 October 3, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 2:30 p.m. w 14 Oregon Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 41–0 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-notre-dame-head-hu/180957554/ The Indianapolis Star Notre Dame head hunters drop flock of lame Ducks October 17, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 1:10 p.m. w y 12 South Carolina 19 Williams–Brice Stadium Columbia, SC 13–6 56,721 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-3-brothers-irish/139628979/ The Charlotte Observer 3 brothers, Irish stop Gamecocks October 24, 1976 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 30 1:00 p.m. w y 11 Navy Municipal Stadium Cleveland, OH rivalry 27–21 61,172 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-notre-dame-edges-gallan/180898790/ The Plain Dealer Notre Dame edges gallant Middies October 31, 1976 September 11, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 1:30 p.m. l y 11 Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry 14–23 50,079 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-advance-georgia-tech-stuns/139629384/ The Lynchburg News Georgia Tech stuns Irish November 7, 1976 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com November 13 12:50 p.m. w 18 Alabama 10 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN ABC 21–18 59,075 Steve Martin Tide rally falls short, Irish win https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=okYgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8Z0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5462%2C2305968 1A The Tuscaloosa News November 13, 1976 September 1, 2014Associated Press Notre Dame air attack too much for Alabama https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gtsvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v_oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6902%2C3055724 5C The Ledger November 13, 1976 September 1, 2014 November 20 1:30 p.m. w 13 Miami (FL) Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 40–27 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pensacola-news-journal-irish-scalp-m/180897455/ The Pensacola News-Journal Irish scalp Miami November 21, 1976 September 11, 2025 Newspapers.com November 27 4:00 p.m. l y 13 USC 3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry ABC 13–17 76,561 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-usc-trips-irish-1713/180957606/ The Times Recorder USC trips Irish 17–13 November 28, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com December 27 9:00 p.m. w y 15 Penn State 20 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL Gator Bowl, rivalry ABC 20–9 67,827 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald-notre-dame-upends-n/180956222/ The Bradenton Herald Notre Dame upends Nittany Lions December 28, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1976-schedule.html 1976 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results Game summaries Pittsburgh January 2021 Purdue Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2; text-align:center collapsed Purdue Boilermakers (1–0) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–1) September 18 Purdue 0 0 0 0 Notre Dame 3 7 7 6 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana 59,075 Recap/Box First quarter ND – Dave Reeve 39-yard field goal, 0:47. Notre Dame 3–0. Drive: Second quarter ND – Mark McLane 33-yard pass from Al Hunter (Dave Reeve kick). Notre Dame 10–0. Drive: Third quarter ND – Rick Slager 1-yard run (Dave Reeve kick). Notre Dame 17–0. Drive: Fourth quarter ND – Al Hunter 2-yard run (kick failed). Notre Dame 23–0. Drive: 49 yards. Top passers PUR ND Top rushers PUR ND Top receivers PUR ND Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Sept 19. Pg. 14B. Retrieved 2021-Jan-11. At Northwestern 1976 Northwestern Wildcats football team January 2021 At Michigan State January 2021 Oregon January 2021 At South Carolina January 2021 Vs. Navy Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2; text-align:center collapsed Navy Midshipmen (1–6) vs. #11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5–1) October 30 Notre Dame 3 21 0 3 Navy 0 14 0 7 Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio 61,172 Recap/Box Score First quarter ND – Dave Reeve 47-yard field goal. Notre Dame 3–0. Drive: Second quarter NAVY – Dave King 17-yard pass from Bob Leszcyznski (Bob Tata kick). Navy 7–3. Drive: NAVY – Larry Klawinski 1-yard run (Bob Tata kick). Navy 14–3. Drive: ND – Dan Kelleher 58-yard pass from Rick Slager (Dave Reeve kick). Navy 14–10. Drive: ND – Al Hunter 5-yard run (Dave Reeve kick). Notre Dame 17–14. Drive: 60 yards. ND – Al Hunter 28-yard pass from Rick Slager (Dave Reeve kick). Notre Dame 24–14. Drive: Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter NAVY – Reggie Thompson 1-yard run (Bob Tata kick). Notre Dame 24–21. Drive: ND – Dave Reeve 24-yard field goal. Notre Dame 27–21. Drive: Top passers ND NAVY – Bob Leszcyznski – 21/45, 294 yards, TD, INT Top rushers ND NAVY Top receivers ND – Dan Kelleher – 7 receptions, 162 yards, TD NAVY Eugene Register-Guard. 1976 Oct 31. At Georgia Tech January 2021 Alabama January 2021 Miami (FL) January 2021 At USC Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2; text-align:center collapsed #13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8–2) at #3 USC Trojans (9–1) November 27 Notre Dame 0 0 0 13 USC 0 7 7 3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California 76,561 ABC Keith Jackson, Ara Parseghian Recap/Box First quarter No scoring Second quarter USC – Shelton Diggs 6-yard pass from Rob Hertel (Glen Walker kick). USC 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 67 yards. Third quarter USC – Randy Simmrin 63-yard pass from Vince Evans (Glen Walker kick), 13:30. USC 14–0. Drive: Fourth quarter ND – Vagas Ferguson 17-yard pass from Rusty Lisch (Dave Reeve kick), 14:06. USC 14–7. Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards. USC – Glen Walker 46-yard field goal. USC 17–7. Drive: ND – Rusty Lisch 1-yard run (two-point conversion failed). USC 17–13. Drive: 76 yards. Top passers ND USC – Vince Evans – 6/14, 106 yards, TD Top rushers ND USC – Ricky Bell – 21 rushes, 75 yards Top receivers ND USC – Randy Simmrin – 6 receptions, 121 yards, TD Rick Slager started the game but was replaced by Rusty Lisch after Slagler injured his shoulder.Notre Dame Football Review - USC. Retrieved 2021-Jan-07. Penn State—Gator Bowl January 2021 Roster 1976 Notre Dame Fighting Irish f Willard Browner RB 83 Sr Doug Buth TE Mike Carney OL Tom Domin RB 87 Jr John Driscoll TE 40 Jr Terry Eurick RB Vagas Ferguson RB y Gary Forystek QB 82 So Kris Haines WR y Speedy Hart WR 30 So Jerome Heavens RB y Ted Horansky OL 25 Jr Al Hunter RB 62 So Dave Huffman OT y 65 Jr Ernie Hughes OG y 80 Sr Dan Kelleher WR 21 Jr Dan Knott RB Fr Rusty Lisch QB y y 81 Jr Ken MacAfee TE y 71 Jr Steve McDaniel OT Mark McLane RB C 60 So Howard Meyer OG 3 So Joe Montana QB y 57 Sr Elton Moore OG 14 Jr Steve Orsini RB Steve Schmitz RB 11 Rick Slager QB y 50 Jr Bob Tull OT Harry Woebkenberg OL Doug Becker LB 20 Jr Luther Bradley S y 33 So Jim Browner S 89 Jr Ross Browner DE y Ted Burgmeier DB Mike Calhoun DL 28 Jr Ross Christensen S 24 Jr Nick DeCicco LB 72 Jr Ken Dike DT 41 Sr John Dubenetzky S 42 Sr Tom Eastman LB 94 Jr Willie Fry DE y C 55 So Bob Golic LB y 10 Jr Randy Harrison S 58 So Steve Heimkreiter LB 51 Jr Pete Johnson LB 54 Sr Marv Russell LB Fr Dave Waymer DB y 74 Jr Jeff Weston DT Tony Zappala   Dave Reeve K 7 So Joe Restic P *Dan Devine https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1976-roster.html 2021-Jan-07 References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Category:Gator Bowl champion seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Category:Long stubs with short prose