Fansided

College football’s 15 most tortured fan bases of all time

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 17, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys take the field for the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys take the field for the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 10, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Julian Love (27) defensive lineman Jerry Tillery (99) and the Notre Dame leprechaun celebrate after Notre Dame defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack 39-10 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Julian Love (27) defensive lineman Jerry Tillery (99) and the Notre Dame leprechaun celebrate after Notre Dame defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack 39-10 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

There may not be a more overrated team heading into each season than the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Every year, they’re expected to be one of the best teams in the nation and to make a run to the national title. But it hasn’t happened since 1988.

Notre Dame fans have suffered through plenty of heartbreak over the years, and to make matters worse, some of that suffering is self-inflicted. If the Fighting Irish had joined a conference over the past decade, there’s a good chance they would have another national title or two under their belts.

Just how bad has it been for the Irish? Besides not being able to cheer for a conference title — ever — the Fighting Irish have had one true shot at a national crown in the past couple of decades, going to the 2013 BCS National Championship.

The Manti Te’o fake-girlfriend scandal took a lot of attention away from the game itself, which may have been a good thing for Notre Dame fans, as their team lost to Alabama 42-14.

The Fighting Irish are one of the most successful teams in college football, but things have gone seriously downhill since 1990. They haven’t won a title for almost 30 years and have had to put up with a string of high-profile, but ultimately disappointing coaches. Oh yeah, and Notre Dame is off to a 1-3 start to the 2016 season after beginning the year ranked No. 10.

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