This Saturday when Clemson travels to South Bend, it will be the third time that a number one team in the nation has played at Notre Dame Stadium since 2000. Let’s take a look back at the last two, with a short preview of Saturday’s game.

#1 Nebraska 27 #23 Notre Dame 24 (OT) – September 9th, 2000

I remember this game well, not because it was #1 Nebraska, but because I happened to be in the stands. I was 11 and still new to being a Notre Dame fan, but the first thing I noticed that did not seem right when we got to our seats was the sea of red that was everywhere. Nebraska fans travel well, but toss in a top 25 match-up and that fact that it was at historic Notre Dame Stadium – they bought all the tickets they could get their hands on. The most recent games that I would say it was most similar to (as far as away fan turnout) was Texas in 2015 and Georgia in 2017.

Nebraska came to town with one of the nation’s best players in Eric Crouch, who in the following season would win the Heisman Trophy. Notre Dame, led by Arnaz Battle at quarterback, did not back down from the #1 team in the nation. Crouch opened the scoring in the first with a 62-yard run; Nebraska would hold onto the lead going into the half 14-7. It was the second half where Notre Dame made the plays, starting with Julius Jones taking a kick off 100 yards to score, bringing the score to 21-14 Nebraska. Notre Dame was not done with the special teams plays just yet; with the score still 21-14 in the fourth quarter, speedy punt returner Joey Getherall returned a punt to the house to tie the game at 21. Notre Dame’s defense would hold on and send the game into overtime, where the Irish would get the ball first but have to settle for a field goal, which would be Notre Dame’s first lead of the game at 24-21. Crouch and Nebraska would get their turn in overtime – on a 2nd and 2 at the Notre Dame 8-yard line, Crouch called his own number on an option play to the left side and scored, giving Nebraska the win.

#1 USC 34 #9 Notre Dame 31 – October 15th, 2005

The game known just as the “Bush Push,” one of college’s best rivalries, lived up to the hype. Loaded with talent, USC just like Nebraska, would bring a Heisman winner with them. Where Nebraska had just Crouch as their Heisman winner, USC had two – quarterback Matt Leinart, who won the award at the end of the 2004 season, and running back Reggie Bush, who would bring the trophy back to LA at the end of the 2005 season. Notre Dame wasn’t without talent of its own; they had Heisman finalist Brady Quinn at quarterback and Jeff Samardzija (who found future success in the MLB) at wide receiver.

This top ten matchup lived up to the hype, as it was back and forth all day with USC leading after the first quarter 14-7. Midway though the second quarter, safety Tom Zbikowski had a 60-yard highlight reel punt return for a touchdown that would put the Irish up 21-14, a lead that they would hold into the half. The score went back and forth until late in the fourth quarter when the Irish would get the ball late for would could have been a game-wining drive; Quinn and the Irish offense drove down the field, making play after play. With two minutes left, Quinn scored on his own from 5 yards to make the score 31-28 Notre Dame. The only problem is that the Irish left too much time on the clock for Leinart and the USC offense…and Irish faithful know how this story ends. Leinart and Bush make play after play, Leinart finds wide-out Dwayne Jarrett to keep the drive alive and then, just when Notre Dame believes they have caused Leinart to fumble and end the game, refs overturn the call and give USC the ball at the 1-yard line for one last play. The last play of the game is the famous “Bush Push” play, where Leinart calls a QB sneak to the left side of the line, he gets help up until Reggie Bush comes into save the day and push Leinart into the end zone, sealing a USC victory.

Notre Dame may have lost both times since 2000 when the number one team in the nation travels to South Bend, but both games were won on the last play of the game. The similarities do not end here – both games had Heisman Trophy winners in them and the Irish had special teams touchdowns in both. Will the third time be the charm for Notre Dame to knock off the number one team in the land? The Clemson game Saturday night is shaping up to be one of the great games at Notre Dame Stadium just like the last the Nebraska and USC games.