Fansided

Each state’s nominee for America’s Team

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys former player George Teague carries an American Flag on to the field before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys former player George Teague carries an American Flag on to the field before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish players huddle during warmups prior to their game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish players huddle during warmups prior to their game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Indiana

Notre Dame Fighting Irish football

This one is kind of a no-brainer. Sure, there are countless college football fans that hate Notre Dame, and many those have spent months laughing at 4-8 jokes following last season’s disappointing campaign. However, the Fighting Irish still hold a special place in the hearts of millions across the country.

Because of its close ties to the Roman Catholic Church, many Catholics across the country have long identified with Notre Dame, regardless of whether or not they attended school in South Bend. The term Subway Alumni grew from a group of Fighting Irish fans in the New York City area, but spread to major metropolitan areas across the country, particularly those with large Catholic populations.

Of course, regardless of religious affiliation, nothing does more to grow a fanbase than winning. And few college football programs have won more than Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish claim 11 national championships, the first coming in 1924 under the direction of the legendary Knute Rockne. Notre Dame ranks second among FBS programs in all-time wins (874) and winning percentage (.733). Seven Notre Dame players have won the Heisman Trophy (more than any other school, though Ohio State has seven trophies to its credit won by six players), and 81 different Fighting Irish football players have been voted consensus All-Americans, 33 of them unanimous selections – more than any school in the country.

As an independent, Notre Dame has the flexibility to play schools from all across the country, and often does with USC, Stanford, Michigan, Michigan State, Navy and Boston College among the program’s many rivals. However, the Fighting Irish have regularly beaten the other big-time universities from Indiana. Notre Dame is a combined 81-30-3 against Indiana and Purdue all-time, has beaten the Hoosiers six straight times and the Boilermakers seven in a row.

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