1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Cotton Bowl Classic, L 17–21 vs. Texas
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 9
APNo. 5
Record8–2–1
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
Seasons
← 1968
1970 →
1969 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Penn State     11 0 0
No. 17 West Virginia     10 1 0
No. 12 Houston     9 2 0
No. 5 Notre Dame     8 2 1
Buffalo     6 3 0
Rutgers     6 3 0
Villanova     6 3 0
Florida State     6 3 1
Colgate     5 3 1
Air Force     6 4 0
West Texas State     6 4 0
Boston College     5 4 0
New Mexico State     5 5 0
Southern Miss     5 5 0
Syracuse     5 5 0
Army     4 5 1
VPI     4 5 1
Georgia Tech     4 6 0
Miami (FL)     4 6 0
Pittsburgh     4 6 0
Dayton     3 7 0
Marshall     3 7 0
Northern Illinois     3 7 0
Tulane     3 7 0
Utah State     3 7 0
Idaho     2 8 0
Navy     1 9 0
Xavier     1 9 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1969 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Ara Parseghian, the Fighting Irish compiled a record of 8–2–1.

After 44 seasons without postseason play (19251968), the school ended its self-imposed bowl hiatus.[1] With an 8–1–1 regular season record, the Irish were led on the field by junior quarterback Joe Theismann.[2] They met top-ranked Texas in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on New Year's Day,[3] but lost 21–17 when the Longhorns scored a late touchdown.[4]

  1. ^ "Notre Dame accepts Cotton's bid". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 18, 1969. p. 12.
  2. ^ "Irish test Texas rank". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 1, 1970. p. 13.
  3. ^ Fite, Ed (January 1, 1970). "Irish test Longhorns in Dallas". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). UPI. p. 44.
  4. ^ "Texans edge Irish on big 4th downs". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1970. p. 30.