SOUTH BEND, Ind. — We've seen so many magical things from Notre Dame football, in a century filled with history and Heismans and, yes, Lou Holtz. We saw Joe Montana and all those comebacks and Tony Rice’s clever consistency and steadfast success. And we at least saw film of Paul Hornung and pictures of the Four Horsemen.
But what Notre Dame is putting on the field now is something quite possibly miraculous and almost certainly unprecedented: an underrated team.
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“I try not to pay much attention to rankings, to being overrated or underrated,” quarterback Brandon Wimbush said after Notre Dame's 49-14 win over USC on Saturday. “Coming out here week after week and doing the things we’re taught to do, and playing Notre Dame football, will tell its tale as we come closer to the end of the season.”
Saturday’s destruction of Pac-12 Conference leader USC already is generating conversation about the possibility of Notre Dame clawing its way into consideration for a position in the College Football Playoff field. Twitter means never having to wait for the Sunday morning paper.
This game was about much more, though. It was a declaration that, if the Fighting Irish find their way into that quartet, they will be more than just a name on the marquee. They will be a threat.
“It’s our rival. We won the (Jewelled Shillelagh) back. That’s an important thing. We like trophies,” coach Brian Kelly said. “But I will say this: We want to be unique. Unique means that this is not the crown jewel for us, if you will. We want more.”
Running back Josh Adams, possibly the best back in the nation not named Saquon, rushed to within 33 yards of his first 1,000-yard season with a dazzling, 191-yard display that included an 84-yard sprint late in the third quarter that all but assured this game’s margin would be historically decisive. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush executed the read option with such command that his nine completions included two beautiful touchdown throws. He also rushed for 106 yards.
The defense squeezed three turnovers from the Trojans and turned them all into touchdowns.
“What I was really pleased with was the mental performance of this football team,” Kelly said. “That was the best mental performance that we’ve had, where we went out just from a mental standpoint … we wanted to dominate our opponent tonight, and they came out with that kind of mindset. That’s as good as I’ve seen — not just here, anywhere I’ve been — in terms of their mental preparation.”
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The Irish came into this game ranked No. 13 by the Associated Press, and we can tell you with near-100 percent certainty there are not 12 better teams than Notre Dame. That’s because one of those ranked higher was USC, which was so far behind by halftime that the estimable Notre Dame media relations staff was compelled to search through its database for a more comprehensive first-half Trojan trounce.
Found it: 31-0 in 1966. Which, by the way, was a year in which Notre Dame claimed a national title.
Claimed is a good word for it, because there was that annoying draw against Michigan State on the penultimate day of the regular season. But it’s one of 11 times the Irish were voted No. 1, including eight by the AP.
None of them occurred in the era when, for better (or only a little better), the championship was decided on the field.
The Irish did bogart their way into the 2012 BCS Championship game, because they put together a 12-0 regular season and because they’re Notre Dame, not so much because they were very often an overwhelming football team. And when they got to Miami and lined up against Alabama, the disparity between the two on the field seemed greater than even the difference in the final score (Tide 42, Irish 14).
Since the College Football Playoff was introduced three years ago, how to factor the Irish and their independence into an enterprise that is so strongly attached to the “Power 5” conferences has not been an issue. They were collectively 22-16 in those first three seasons.
The Irish are 6-1 now. It is a rich 6-1. Their only loss was by a single point to Georgia, which has won all seven of its games and is ranked No. 3. Their victims include No. 18 Michigan State (6-1) and a surging Boston College, whose 4-4 record includes three losses to top-15 opponents. And it most assuredly includes USC, which entered proudly as the top team in the Pac-12 South and left with its worst loss in this ancient series in 51 years.
There still are potential top-25 games against N.C. State (6-1), Miami (6-0) and Stanford (5-2). If the Irish make it to the end of the season without losing again, they’ll have accomplished as much as one could ask, save for winning every game.
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The Irish have punished opponents with a dominant offensive line and that read option that is energized when Wimbush is encouraged to pick up the tempo.
“Some plays guys are not lined up on the defensive side of the ball,” Wimbush said. “The speed, it wears guys out, doesn’t allow them to substitute as much. When guys are not lined up, it makes it easier for our blocking schemes. That’s something that has become a part of our identity.”
The Irish have been incredibly opportunistic, but not by chance. They forced three turnovers in this game and each led to a touchdown; that’s 17 forced turnovers on the season, three more than the Irish had in a full regular season in 2016. Those turnovers have led to 13 touchdowns and 94 points. They train hard at various drills designed to encourage the creation of opponents' turnovers — and to facilitate their recovery.
Forcing a fumble from USC quarterback Sam Darnold on the Trojans’ first play put the Irish in position to dominate. They were ahead 14-0 in just over 8 minutes and were up 28-0 before halftime. Kelly said he would have been disappointed if Notre Dame did not excel in this game. It was what he expected, based on the team’s preparation. The Irish still appreciated their accomplishment.
“So sweet. This is probably the biggest win of my career," defensive end Daelin Hayes said. “It was awesome, man. It was electric. We put on a show for Irish nation.
“The sky’s the limit. We’ve just got to take it one day at a time, and good things will happen.”
