Notre Dame Fighting Irish football (1980–89)

1980
The 1980 season would be Dan Devine's final year as Notre Dame head coach. In August, he had announced that the upcoming season would be his last. The offense had 248 points for, while the defense gave up 128 points.

Rivalries

 * In the Shillelagh Trophy, Notre Dame beat Purdue.
 * In the Michigan – Notre Dame rivalry, Notre Dame beat Michigan.
 * Notre Dame beat Michigan State to claim the Megaphone Trophy.

Team players drafted into the NFL

 * Blair Kiel - 1984 / Round: 11 / Pick: 281 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Dave Duerson - 1983 / Round: 3 / Pick: 64 Chicago Bears

Awards and honors

 * Former Fighting Irish coach Ara Parseghian was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

1981
Gerry Faust would become the new Notre Dame head coach. The offense scored 232 points, while the defense allowed 160 points.

Rivalries

 * In the Shillelagh Trophy, Purdue beat Notre Dame.
 * Notre Dame beat Michigan State to claim the Megaphone Trophy.

Team players drafted into the NFL

 * Bob Crable - 1982 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23 New York Jets
 * John Krimm - 1982 / Round: 3 / Pick: 76 New Orleans Saints
 * Phil Pozderac - 1982 / Round: 5 / Pick: 137 Dallas Cowboys

1983
Notre Dame made it to the Liberty Bowl where they faced Boston College and their prized quarterback Doug Flutie. Boston College scored first on a 13-yard touchdown pass but missed the extra point. Notre Dame came back as Allen Pinkett and Chris Smith each rushed for 100-plus yards, while Pinkett scored two touchdowns as Notre Dame beat Boston College 19-18 to win their first bowl game since the 1979 Cotton Bowl.

Rivalries

 * In the Shillelagh Trophy, Notre Dame beat Purdue.
 * In the Holy War match against Boston College, Notre Dame beat BC to claim the Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl.
 * Notre Dame beat USC to claim the Jeweled Shillelagh.
 * Michigan State beat Notre Dame to claim the Megaphone Trophy.

Colorado

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USC

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The game came to be known as the "Green Jerseys II" game. Notre Dame snapped a five-game losing streak to USC as Allen Pinkett rushed 21 times for 122 yards, his fourth straight 100-yard game and the first Irish player to do so since Jim Stone in 1980. "We felt could have beat USC in blue. We felt we could have beat them in T-shirts," said Pinkett. The game took place six years to the day from the original "Green Jersey" game in 1977 but head coach Gerry Faust had already made the decision to wear the jerseys over the summer.

Awards and honors

 * Allen Pinkett finished 16th in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
 * Former Fighting Irish players Bill Fischer and Bill Shakespeare was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

Rivalries

 * In the Shillelagh Trophy, Purdue beat Notre Dame.
 * Notre Dame beat USC to claim the Jeweled Shillelagh.
 * Notre Dame beat Michigan State to claim the Megaphone Trophy.

Navy

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Awards and honors

 * Former Fighting Irish player Red Sitko was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

Rivalries

 * Notre Dame beat USC to claim the Jeweled Shillelagh.
 * Notre Dame beat Michigan State to claim the Megaphone Trophy.

USC

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Awards and honors

 * Allen Pinkett finished 8th in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
 * Former Fighting Irish players Paul Hornung and Jim Martin were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

1986
Lou Holtz would become Notre Dame head coach. The offense scored 299 points, while the defense allowed 219 points.

Rivalries

 * Notre Dame beat USC to claim the Jeweled Shillelagh.
 * Michigan State beat Notre Dame to claim the Megaphone Trophy.

USC

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Team players drafted into the NFL
The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

1987
Tony Rice became the starting quarterback for Notre Dame following an injury to Terry Andrysiak. The Irish would finish the season 8-4 and earn a berth to the Cotton Bowl Classic.

Rivalries

 * Notre Dame beat USC to claim the Jeweled Shillelagh.
 * In the Michigan – Notre Dame rivalry, Notre Dame beat Michigan.
 * In the Holy War match against Boston College, Notre Dame beat BC to claim the Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl.
 * Notre Dame beat Michigan State to claim the Megaphone Trophy.

Team players drafted into the NFL
The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Awards and honors

 * Tim Brown, Heisman Trophy
 * Tim Brown - 1987 Walter Camp Award
 * Former Fighting Irish player Tommy Yarr was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

Rivalries

 * Notre Dame beat USC to claim the Jeweled Shillelagh.
 * In the Michigan – Notre Dame rivalry, Notre Dame beat Michigan.
 * Notre Dame beat Michigan State to claim the Megaphone Trophy.

Schedule
Please see: 1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team for schedule and scores

Awards and honors

 * Lou Holtz, Paul "Bear" Bryant Award
 * Lou Holtz, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award

Rivalries
Notre Dame beat USC to claim the Jeweled Shillelagh. In the Michigan – Notre Dame rivalry, Notre Dame beat Michigan 24-19.
 * Notre Dame beat Michigan State to claim the Megaphone Trophy.

Michigan

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Team players drafted into the NFL
The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Awards and honors

 * Tony Rice, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
 * Tony Rice finished 4th in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
 * Raghib Ismail finished in a tie for 10th in voting for the Heisman Trophy.