1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football Independent 6 6 9–3 Lou Holtz 5th Wishbone triple option Gary Darnell 1st 4–3 Rocket Ismail Mike Heldt Chris Zorich Todd Lyght Ricky Watters Notre Dame Stadium Orange Bowl L Lost 9–10 vs. Colorado The 1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth year under head coach Lou Holtz, the Irish compiled a 9–3 record, outscored opponents by a total of 350 to 249, and were ranked No. 6 in the final AP and UPI polls. Ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP poll, the Irish dropped to No. 8 after losing to unranked Stanford, but regained the No. 1 spot after defeating No. 1 Miami (FL). They then lost two of the last three games, including a loss to No. 1 Colorado in the Orange Bowl.1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1990-schedule.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 27, 20261990 Football Review The Notre Dame Scholastic https://archives.nd.edu/Football/Football-1990s.pdf Notre Dame Archives Senior nose tackle Chris Zorich won the Lombardi Award and was selected as the team's most valuable player. Wide receiver and return specialist Rocket Ismail finished second in the Heisman trophy voting. Zorich, Ismail, linebacker Michael Stonebreaker, and defensive back Todd Lyght were consensus first-team picks on the 1990 All-America college football team. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Rick Mirer (1,824 passing yards), running back Rodney Culver (710 rushing yards), Ismail (1,723 all-purpose yards), and Stonebreaker (95 tackles).1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/notre-dame/1990.html Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 20261990 Football Review, p. 51. The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Schedule 1990 AP Eastern September 15 8:00 p.m. w 1 Michigan 4 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry CBS 28–24 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-irish-rally-past-u/175657580/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Irish rally past U-M, hold onto No. 1 ranking September 16, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com September 22 2:30 p.m. w y 1 Michigan State 24 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry ABC 20–19 80,401 https://www.newspapers.com/article/troy-daily-news-luck-gets-irish-around/175657672/ Troy Daily News 'Luck' gets Irish around Spartans September 23, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com September 29 12:00 p.m. w 1 Purdue Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry SportsChannel 37–11 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-purdue-no-test-f/175657733/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Purdue no test for Irish September 30, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com October 6 12:00 p.m. l 1 Stanford Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 31–36 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-stanford-sho/175657803/ The Knoxville News-Sentinel Stanford shocks No. 1 Notre Dame October 7, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com October 13 12:00 p.m. w 8 Air Force Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 57–27 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-irish-rebound-and/175657885/ The South Bend Tribune Irish rebound and await Miami October 14, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com October 20 2:30 p.m. w 6 Miami (FL) 2 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry CBS 29–20 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-notre-dame-roll/175657972/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Notre Dame rolls past Miami 29–20 October 21, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com October 27 6:45 p.m. w y 3 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry ESPN 31–22 56,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-third-ranked-notre/175642811/ The Indianapolis Star Third-ranked Notre Dame ho-hims past Pittsburgh, 31–22 October 28, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com November 3 12:00 p.m. w y 2 Navy Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ rivalry 52–31 70,382 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-irish-outgun-navy-5231/175653833/ The Star-Ledger Irish outgun Navy, 52–31 November 4, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com November 10 2:30 p.m. w y 1 Tennessee 9 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN CBS 34–29 97,123 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-notre-dame-watters-in-f/135065814/ Chicago Tribune Notre Dame, Watters in flow November 11, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com November 17 4:00 p.m. l 1 Penn State 18 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ESPN 21–24 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-penn-state-shocks-irish/175657262/ The State Penn State shocks Irish November 18, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com November 24 8:00 p.m. w y 7 USC 18 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA rivalry ABC 10–6 91,639 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-defense-reigns-as/175658067/ The Indianapolis Star Defense reigns as Irish edge Trojans November 25, 1990 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1991, 1991 8:00 p.m. l y 5 Colorado 1 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL Orange Bowl NBC 9–10 77,062 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-colorado-makes-1-str/175658142/ The Palm Beach Post Colorado makes 1 strong case January 2, 1991 June 30, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries Michigan Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2; text-align:center collapsed #4 Michigan Wolverines (0–0) at #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0–0) September 15 8:05 p.m. EST Michigan 3 7 14 0 Notre Dame 14 0 0 14 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana 59,075 Box Score First quarter ND – Rick Mirer 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 11:28. Notre Dame 7–0. MICH – J.D. Carlson 38-yard field goal, 7:01. Notre Dame 7–3. ND – Reggie Brooks 2-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 1:59. Notre Dame 14–3. Second quarter MICH – Desmond Howard 25-yard pass from Elvis Grbac (J.D. Carlson kick), 3:56. Notre Dame 14–10. Third quarter MICH – Allen Jefferson 1-yard run (J.D. Carlson), 7:49. Michigan 17–14. MICH – Desmond Howard 25-yard pass from Elvis Grbac (J.D. Carlson kick), 7:33. Michigan 24–14. Fourth quarter ND – Rodney Culver 1-yard run (Craig Hentrich kick), 12:59. Michigan 24–21. ND – Adrian Jarrell 18-yard pass from Rick Mirer (Craig Hentrich kick), 1:40. Notre Dame 28–24. Top passers MICH – Elvis Grbac – 17/30, 190 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT ND – Rick Mirer – 14/23, 165 yards, TD Top rushers MICH – Jon Vaughn – 22 rushes, 201 yards ND – Rodney Culver – 19 rushes, 95 yards, TD Top receivers MICH – Desmond Howard – 6 receptions, 133 yards, 2 TD ND – Raghib Ismail – 4 receptions, 42 yards Michigan State #1 Notre Dame at #24 Michigan State Fighting Irish 7 0 0 14 Spartans 0 12 7 0 September 22 Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI 3:30 p.m. EST Keith Jackson and Bob Griese ABC Source: yes 1 ND Watters 5 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 7-0 2 MSU Langeloh 42 yard field goal ND 7-3 2 MSU Safety, blocked punt out of end zone ND 7-5 2 MSU Hickson 1 yard run (Langeloh kick) MSU 12-7 3 MSU Duckett 1 yard run (Langeloh kick) MSU 19-7 4 13:13 ND Watters 2 yard run (Hentrich kick) MSU 19-14 4 0:34 ND Culver 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 21-19 yes 1990 Michigan State Spartans football team Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry The Immaculate Deflection - Rick Mirer's 24-yard completion to Adrian Jarrell, which bounced off hands of MSU LB Todd Murray up and into Jarrell's arms at MSU 2. Three plays later, Culver scored. "There's definitely somebody looking out for us. There's somebody on our side," said Mirer. Notre Dame's 60th victory as No. 1 ranked team & 5-0-1 vs. MSU when ranked #1 Purdue 1990 Purdue Boilermakers football team Notre Dame–Purdue football rivalry Stanford Stanford at #1 Notre Dame Cardinal 7 8 14 7 Fighting Irish 7 17 7 0 September 22 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 59,075 Source: yes 1 ND Mirer 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 7-0 1 Sta Milburn 9 run (Hopkins kick) Tied 7-7 2 ND Hentrich 29 yard field goal ND 10-7 2 ND T. Smith 11 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) ND 17-7 2 ND T. Smith 15 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) ND 24-7 2 Sta Vardell 1 yard run (Palumbis to McCafferty pass) ND 24-15 3 Sta Vardell 1 yard run (Hopkins kick) ND 24-22 3 ND Culver 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 31-22 3 Sta Vardell 1 yard run (Hopkins kick) ND 31-29 4 Sta Vardell 1 yard run (Hopkins kick) Sta 36-31 yes 1990 Stanford Cardinal football team Notre Dame–Stanford football rivalry Air Force 1990 Air Force Falcons football team Miami (FL) #2 Miami (FL) at #6 Notre Dame Hurricanes 10 7 0 3 Fighting Irish 10 6 6 7 October 20 Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN 2:40 p.m. EST 59,075 Dick Burleson Jim Nantz and Tim Brant CBS yes Q1 4 12:17 MIA McGuire 1-yard run (Huerta kick) MIA 7–0 6:51 ND Hentrich-25 yard field goal MIA 7–3 1:43 MIA Huerta 23-yard field goal MIA 10–3 ND Ismail 94-yard kickoff return (Hentrich kick) Tie 10–10 Q2 3 11:48 ND Hentrich-44 yard field goal ND 13–10 8:10 MIA Erickson-1 yard run (Huerta kick) MIA 17–13 4:16 ND Hentrich-34 yard field goal MIA 17–16 Q3 2 5:24 ND Hentrich-36 yard field goal ND 19–17 1:45 ND Hentrich 35-yard field goal ND 22–17 Q4 2 14:01 MIA Huerta 25-yard field goal ND 22–20 6:16 ND Culver 21-yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) ND 29–20 yes 1990 Miami Hurricanes football team Gainesville Sun. 1990 Sep 21. Retrieved 2018-Oct-06. Pittsburgh 1990 Pittsburgh Panthers football team Notre Dame–Pittsburgh football rivalry Navy #2 Notre Dame vs. Navy Fighting Irish 7 3 21 21 Midshipmen 0 10 7 14 November 3 Giants Stadium EST 70,382 yes Q1 ND Bettis 1 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 7–0 Q2 NAVY Pace 1 yard run (Schenk kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 ND Hentrich 31 yard field goal ND 10–7 Q2 NAVY Schenk 27 yard field goal Tie 10–10 Q3 ND Culver 7 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 17–10 Q3 ND Watters 2 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 24–10 Q3 ND Mirer 30 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 31–10 Q3 NAVY Grizzard 6 yard run (Schenk kick) ND 31–17 Q4 ND Brooks 3 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 38–17 Q4 NAVY Berghutt 19 yard pass from Grizzard (Schenk kick) ND 38–24 Q4 ND Ismail 54 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) ND 45–24 Q4 NAVY Mason 7 yard pass from Grizzard (Schenk kick) ND 45–31 Q4 ND Lyght 53 yard kickoff return (Hentrich kick) ND 52–31 yes 1990 Navy Midshipmen football team Navy–Notre Dame football rivalry Gainesville Sun. 1990 Nov 4. Retrieved 2018-Dec-15. Tennessee #1 Notre Dame at #9 Tennessee Fighting Irish 7 3 7 17 Volunteers 6 0 14 9 November 10 Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN 3:30 p.m. EST Jimmy Harper Jim Nantz and Tim Brant CBS Source: yes 1 TEN Burke 46 yard field goal TEN 3-0 1 ND Culver 59 yard pass from Mirer (Hentrich kick) ND 7-3 1 TEN Burke 22 yard field goal ND 7-6 2 ND Hentrich 26 yard field goal ND 10-6 3 TEN Thompson 10 yard run (Burke kick) TEN 13-10 3 ND Watters 68 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 17-13 3 TEN Harper 32 yard pass from Kelly (Burke kick) TEN 20-17 4 ND Hentrich 20 yard field goal Tied 20-20 4 TEN Burke 45 yard field goal TEN 23-20 4 ND Watters 10 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 27-23 4 ND Ismail 44 yard run (Hentrich kick) ND 34-23 4 TEN Harper 23 yard pass from Kelly (pass failed) ND 34-29 yes The Irish traveled to Knoxville and pulled off a thrilling 34–29 victory over the 9th-ranked Tennessee Vols. The Irish built a 4th quarter lead and held off a furious late comeback by Tennessee.1990 Tennessee Volunteers football team Penn State 1990 Penn State Nittany Lions football team USC 1990 USC Trojans football team Notre Dame–USC football rivalry Colorado (Orange Bowl) #5 Notre Dame vs. #1 Colorado Fighting Irish 0 6 3 0 Buffaloes 0 3 7 0 January 1 Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, FL 77,062 Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh NBC yes Q2 2 CU Jim Harper 22-yard field goal CU 3–0 7:32 ND Ricky Watters 2-yard run (PAT blocked) ND 6–3 Q3 2 ND Craig Hentrich 24-yard field goal ND 9–3 CU Eric Bieniemy 1-yard run (Harper kick) 'CU 10–9 yes Notre Dame lost a heartbreaker to top-ranked Colorado in the Orange Bowl, 10–9. The Irish were undone by three third-quarter turnovers and a controversial penalty flag that negated a late punt return touchdown by Ismail. Colorado would go on to win a share of the national championship.1991 Orange Bowl 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team Top-Ranked Colorado Holds Off Notre Dame The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/02/sports/top-ranked-colorado-holds-off-notre-dame.html January 2, 1991 December 30, 2018 FLAG WIPED THE EGG OFF MCCARTNEY The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1991/01/03/flag-wiped-the-egg-off-mccartney/4e1840f4-06ee-46be-9c7e-9a9207013fc2/ January 3, 1991 December 30, 2018 Roster 1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish f 6 Fr Jerome Bettis FB y 40 Jr Tony Brooks Tony Brooks (American football) RB y 86 Jr Derek Brown Derek Brown (tight end) TE y 5 Jr Rodney Culver RB y 87 Fr Lake Dawson WR y 25 Sr Raghib Ismail Raghib "Rocket" Ismail WR y 10 So Adrian Jarrell WR 65 Jr Lindsay Knapp T y 4 So Dorsey Levens RB y 80 Fr Oscar McBride TE y 76 Jr Gene McGuire T y 3 So Rick Mirer QB y 52 Sr Tim Ryan Tim Ryan (American football, born 1968) G y 12 Sr Ricky Watters WR y 9 Fr Jeff Burris S y 32 Fr Willie Clark Willie Clark (American football) CB y 29 Fr John Covington CB y 93 Sr Bob Dahl DT y 31 So Demetrius DuBose LB y 42 Jr Michael Stonebreaker LB y 1 Sr Todd Lyght CB y 89 So Karmeeleyah McGill LB y 46 So Brian Ratigan LB y 21 Jr Rod Smith Rod Smith (defensive back) CB y 97 Fr Bryant Young DT y 50 Sr Chris Zorich DT y 28 So Craig Hentrich K, P y 16 Sr Jim Sexton P https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~E8AAOSwjKFZTBSy/s-l1600.jpg *Lou Holtz Gary Darnell (Defensive coordinator) Skip Holtz (Wide receivers) Robert McFarland (Graduate assistant) Awards and honors Junior flanker Rocket Ismail received numerous awards and honors: Finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy.http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/nd-m-footbl-archive.html NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH - Football und.cstv.com 15 January 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20080106231937/http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/nd-m-footbl-archive.html 6 January 2008 dead Received the Walter Camp Awardhttp://waltercamp.org/index.php/teams_and_awards/awards/P200/ Walter Camp Football Foundation Awards (Page 3) The Walter Camp Foundation 2008-01-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20080905204119/http://waltercamp.org/index.php/teams_and_awards/awards/P200 2008-09-05 dead Named The Sporting News Player of the Year Voted by teammates at Notre Dame's most valuable player Consensus first-team All-America, with first-team honors from Associated Press (AP), Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football News (FN) 1990 Football Review, pp. 52-53. Senior defensive tackle Chris Zorich also received numerous awards and honors: Won the Lombardi Awardhttp://www.rotarylombardiaward.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=25&Itemid=59 Winners & Finalists Rotary Club of Houston 2008-01-02 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090108234922/http://www.rotarylombardiaward.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=25&Itemid=59 2009-01-08 Consensus first-team All-Americam with first-team honors from AP, WCFF, FWAA, AFCA, and FN Athlon defensive player of the year Outland Trophy semifinalist Named Notre Dame Lineman of the Year Orange Bowl MVP Invited to play in Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl Senior inside linebacker Michael Stonebreaker was a consensus first-team All-American with first-team honors from AP, WCFF, FWAA, and AFCA. He was also a finalist (finished third) for the Butkus Award and was invited to play in the Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl. Senior cornerback Todd Lyght received first-team All-America honors from the WCFF and AFCA. He was also a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and was invited to play in the Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl. Senior center Mike Heldt received first-team All-America honors from FN and was invited to play in the Hula Bowl. Sophomore kicker/punter Craig Hentrich received Chevrolet MVP designations for the Miami and USC games. He set a Notre Dame single-game record with five field goals in six attempts versus Miami. 1991 NFL draft Despite being drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders, the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League signed Raghib Ismail to a four-year contract worth 18 million dollars in April 1991. Drake Stephen Weird Facts about Canadian Football: Strange, Wacky and Hilarious Stories 2009 OverTime Books 978-1-897277-26-3 59 The Ismail signing included four million dollars upfront. Drake Stephen Weird Facts about Canadian Football: Strange, Wacky and Hilarious Stories 2009 OverTime Books 978-1-897277-26-3 114 References Notre Dame Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football