Well… all I can really say about this article is get ready to take a sad… sad… sad trip down memory lane. The University of Notre Dame has produced some of the greatest moments in the history of college football. They are a true blue blood of the sport, and one of the most recognizable brands in the world. They have also been involved in some of the greatest games in the history of the sport as well. In fact when you think of college football more often than not the first team that comes to mind is the Fighting Irish. 

Hundreds of iconic moments immediately flood your mind when you think of Notre Dame football. Well, I wanted to take a look at some of the iconic drives that define this program. However, rather than electrifying game winning drives, these ended up meaning absolutely nothing in the end. That is because they would go on to lose the football game when the final whistle sounded.

 #4 TOUCHDOWN… There’s A Flag On The Field 

The stage was set in Tallahassee, for a huge clash between two top five teams looking for a playoff spot. Florida State was coming off of a national championship win the previous year. Notre Dame was looking to reestablish themselves on a major stage after a disappointing 2013. It was a back-and-forth game throughout with the Seminoles and Fighting Irish trading blows. Fast-forward to the end, Notre Dame found themselves behind 31 to 27 late in the fourth quarter. Everett Golson led a fantastic 12 play, 31 yard drive that started at the FSU 49 yard line. After three rough plays to open up the drive, magic happened on 4th and 18th. 

After being pushed all the way back to the Notre Dame 43, Golson found Corey Robinson for a first down. Thus extending the game and the hope that Notre Dame would come into Tallahassee, and knock off the defending champs. Following another incomplete pass, on second down Golson found Will Fuller for 17 yards and a 1st down. Notre Dame was now in business inside the red zone at the FSU 20-yard line. What transpired next was the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows in just a few short moments. Golson uses his legs on a 12 yard scramble to get the Irish to the eight. Back to CJ Prosise for no gain, then hits him again for six puts Notre Dame on the doorstep. 

Suddenly, it’s 4th and Goal, and a pick play with Corey Robinson ends with Notre Dame leading 33-30. But the refs threw a flag for Offensive Pass Interference. The yards were marked off, and the subsequent attempt was intercepted in the back of the end zone. What makes this one hurt even more is the fact that Clemson used this identical play to win a national championship less than five years later. Oh yeah, on top of that Notre Dame absolutely collapsed in the back half of the season, losing four out of five. Which leads them to crash out of the top 25 and heading into the off-season with more questions than answers. 

#3 Kizer Leads A Playoff Worthy Drive

 The stage was set for a heated regular season finale between two top 15 teams. Notre Dame needed a win to keep their fledgling playoff hopes alive, while Stanford was looking for a NY6 Bowl berth. It was still a four team playoff back then and Notre Dame came in at number four in the country. Clinging onto the last playoff spot with dominoes to fall, and their destiny to control all the Irish needed was a win. 

Despite a midseason loss to Clemson, Notre Dame found themselves in playoff contention heading into their season finale on the farm against Stanford. Much like the Florida State game the year prior Notre Dame and Stanford went back-and-forth. Once again Notre Dame found themselves trailing late in the game. Until Deshone Kizer led a solid drive to put them up 36-35 with half a minute left. The drive lasted 15 plays and went 88 yards and ended with him finding the end zone on a 2 yard rush. It started at the Notre Dame 12 and Kizer immediately hit Fuller for 12 yards and a first down. 

Josh Adams was a workhorse throughout that season. He did his thing, guiding Notre Dame down the field through tough ground and pound action. No flag on the field this time, TOUCHDOWN DESHONE KIZER. The collapse actually happened on defense this time around. As it only took Stanford five plays to go 45 yards and kick a game-winning field goal. One missed assignment led to a wide open tight end over the middle. That led to a perfect field goal right down the middle and ended any Notre Dame playoff hopes. For the second straight season, the Irish had their playoff hopes dashed in the final moments. 

#2 Brady Quinn Does It Again!

 This next one is perhaps the most heartbreaking entry on the list. Once again, Notre Dame had a chance to stop an undefeated and defending national champion. It was another opportunity to get a marquee win to establish themselves as a title contender. It was 2005, the Irish were led by Brady Quinn at quarterback, and Charlie Weiss was looking for a statement victory. Pete Carroll and the mighty USC Trojans, in the midst of a potential three peat came to town.

 The first half came and went with Notre Dame holding a 21 to 14 lead going into the break. A rather uneventful third-quarter left things tied at 21 heading into the fourth stanza with everything to play for. USC took the lead late with five minutes to play, and Brady Quinn led the Irish on an incredible three-minute drive to answer. It started with an eighteen yard completion to who else but Jeff Samardzija. Followed up by another catch for fourteen from the two sport start, and then Quinn hit Stovall for fifteen and a first down. The Irish were cruising down the field, faster than expected. 

Which arguably, could’ve ended up being their ultimate undoing. Tight End Anthony Fasano caught the fourth straight pass from Quinn, before Walker ran for five yards to set up 1st and 10 at the USC 29. Then Notre Dame was in business with 2:52 to play, when Darius Walker EXPLODED for 20 yards. Walker got another shot on first and goal, running for five more yards. Finally, Brady Quinn ran for another five, and scored a touchdown for the Fighting Irish. Suddenly Notre Dame flipped the game on its head, leading 31-28 with under two to go. When Notre Dame gave the ball back to the Trojans things could have not been more perfect for the Irish.

 Matt Leinart threw an incomplete pass and one play later he was sacked for a loss of fifteen yards. Setting up 3rd down and 20 for USC with the game on the line. What transpired next with some of the worst two play defense ever shown on national TV. Reggie Bush scampered for 12 to set up fourth and eight for the Trojans with their winning streak, and number one ranking on the line. Then Dwayne Jarrett found his way through the defense for a gain of 60+ putting USC at the doorstep. Prior to the football being snapped, it felt like the game was over, and Notre Dame was going to come away with the victory after one more play. 

However, in true Notre Dame fashion, they found a way to break our hearts in the worst possible way. Bush would get them down to the 2-yard line after another incomplete pass the previous play. Then Matt Leinart would get them to the 1-yard line to set up the most infamous play in CFB history. On a failed quarterback sneak that left Leinart held up, the “Bush Push“ became a thing. Now, obviously that is legal today in modern football, (“Thanks Reggie” – Jalen Hurts) but in 2005 in college the play should’ve been blown dead, and the game should’ve ended right then and there. Instead, USC got into the endzone to take the lead and win the game in the dying moments. 

#1 RUN RILEY RUN! 

The final entry on this list seems to be the most fitting as it is the most recent. The opening drive of the 2025 national championship game was something absolutely breathtaking. With all eyes on running back Jeremiyah Love, it was actually Riley Leonard who took the bulk of the carries to start the game. 

With Notre Dame looking to make a statement out of the gate, Leonard was a workhorse. As the Irish managed to burn off the majority of the first quarter clock in a double-digit play drive that ended with a Riley Leonard rushing touchdown. However, obviously as we know things did not go too well after that as Leonard was practically worn out following that first drive. A lack of opportunities for Love, and having to throw the football really took Notre Dame out of their gameplan. 

But what do you expect when Ohio State goes off for several unanswered scores and leaves you chasing them deep into the game? Notre Dame attempted to mount a furious comeback late. However, it fell short when Will Howard completed a ball over the top to Jeremiah Smith on third down to ice it. Thus, the greatest, (and most meaningless) drive in the history of Notre Dame football was born. It’ll be a moment to remember forever, overshadowed by the fact that the Irish were unable to win the national title on that night.