1978 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team information
American college football season
1978Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Cotton Bowl champion
Cotton Bowl Classic, W 35–34 vs. Houston
Conference
Independent
Ranking
Coaches
No. 6
AP
No. 7
Record
9–3
Head coach
Dan Devine (4th season)
Offensive coordinator
Merv Johnson (4th season)
Captains
Bob Golic
Jerome Heavens
Joe Montana
Home stadium
Notre Dame Stadium
Seasons
← 1977
1979 →
1978 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
v
t
e
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
T
W
L
T
No. 4 Penn State
–
–
11
–
1
–
0
North Texas State
–
–
9
–
2
–
0
East Carolina
–
–
9
–
3
–
0
Navy
–
–
9
–
3
–
0
No. 7 Notre Dame
–
–
9
–
3
–
0
Rutgers
–
–
9
–
3
–
0
Florida State
–
–
8
–
3
–
0
Tennessee State
–
–
8
–
3
–
0
Temple
–
–
7
–
3
–
1
Pittsburgh
–
–
8
–
4
–
0
Holy Cross
–
–
7
–
4
–
0
Louisville
–
–
7
–
4
–
0
UNLV
–
–
7
–
4
–
0
Southern Miss
–
–
7
–
4
–
0
Northeast Louisiana
–
–
6
–
4
–
1
Georgia Tech
–
–
7
–
5
–
0
Hawaii
–
–
6
–
5
–
0
Miami (FL)
–
–
6
–
5
–
0
South Carolina
–
–
5
–
5
–
1
William & Mary
–
–
5
–
5
–
1
Cincinnati
–
–
5
–
6
–
0
Villanova
–
–
5
–
6
–
0
Army
–
–
4
–
6
–
1
Memphis State
–
–
4
–
7
–
0
Tulane
–
–
4
–
7
–
0
Virginia Tech
–
–
4
–
7
–
0
Air Force
–
–
3
–
8
–
0
Colgate
–
–
3
–
8
–
0
Richmond
–
–
3
–
8
–
0
Syracuse
–
–
3
–
8
–
0
Illinois State
–
–
2
–
9
–
0
West Virginia
–
–
2
–
9
–
0
Boston College
–
–
0
–
11
–
0
Rankings from AP Poll
The 1978 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Dan Devine, the Fighting Irish compiled an overall record of 9–3. Notre Dame was invited to the Cotton Bowl Classic, where the Irish beat Houston, 35–34, after quarterback Joe Montana rallied the team from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The team played home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
The team was expected to be one of the top teams of the season. It was said that the team could be "awesome on offense" due to having eight returning starters including, Joe Montana, however, there were concerns about the team losing players due to graduations and injuries. The September 23 game against Michigan was cited as a possible pathway for Notre Dame to earn the #1 ranking.[1]
^Michigan, Notre Dame Test Crucial, web: The Sacramento Bee, 1978, retrieved March 13, 2023
and 20 Related for: 1978 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team information
The 1978NotreDameFightingIrishfootballteam represented the University of NotreDame as an independent during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season...
The NotreDameFightingIrish are the athletic teams that represent the University of NotreDame. The FightingIrish participate in 26 National Collegiate...
NotreDameFightingIrishfootball rivalries refers to rivalries of the University of NotreDame in the sport of college football. Because the Notre Dame...
The 2005 NotreDameFightingIrishfootballteam represented the University of NotreDame in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached...
2009 NotreDameFightingIrishfootballteam represented the University of NotreDame in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached...
2006 NotreDameFightingIrishfootballteam represented the University of NotreDame in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached...
The 2003 NotreDameFightingIrishfootballteam represented the University of NotreDame in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached...
2007 NotreDameFightingIrishfootballteam represented the University of NotreDame in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached...
1979 NotreDameFightingIrishfootballteam represented the University of NotreDame during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Irish finished...
for the University of NotreDamefootballteam, updated through the 2023 season. The year of induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, if applicable...
2008 NotreDameFightingIrishfootballteam represented the University of NotreDame in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached...
Football did not have an auspicious beginning at the University of NotreDame. In their inaugural game on November 23, 1887, the Irish lost to Michigan...
1887, 241 NotreDameFightingIrishfootball players have earned the distinction of team captain. Dr. Henry Luhn established the role of football captain...
Global Information