Notre Dame football: 5 best seasons in Fighting Irish history

Ranking the five best seasons in Notre Dame football history.

Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz. It is hard not to think of Notre Dame football and not think of the Hall of Fame coaches who walked the sidelines in South Bend, Indiana. The Fighting Irish are one of the storied programs in college football history.

The Irish began playing football at the turn of the 20th century under James McWeeny. It was not until Rockne took over coaching duties in 1918 that the program began to soar. It was under Rockne when they claimed their first national title.

The Irish claim 11 national titles and have 11 more unclaimed with their last coming in 1988 under Holtz. In addition to their national titles, the Irish have seven Heisman Trophy winners in their history as well. To top off their long list of accomplishments, the Irish have had 102 Consensus All-Americans in their history.

One of the most interesting aspects of Notre Dame football’s ability to remain independent. Never in their 113 years of playing football have the Irish ever played in a conference. Most teams that are independent have played in a conference at some level.

It does not hurt that the Irish are the only football program in the country with its own independent national television deal. Beginning in 1991, the Irish began its almost 30-year relationship with NBC.

Notre Dame is firmly entrenched as a football blue-blood as it is one of the most polarizing programs in the country. No matter what fans think of the Irish, no one can deny what they’ve meant to the college football landscape.

The Irish have had many great seasons in their history. Of all of the great seasons they’ve had, here are five of the most important seasons in Notre Dame history.