December 29’s Cotton Bowl between local favorite Clemson (currently ranked number 2) and number 3 Notre Dame will mark the fourth time these two teams have battled.
The first, in November, 1977, saw one of the greatest collection of players ever in Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Between the two teams, 36 players went on to play in the NFL, and they earned 14 Super Bowl rings. Notre Dame’s junior quarterback, Joe Montana, won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers. His future teammate, Clemson receiver Dwight Clark, was also in the 1977 game; Clark’s number was eventually retired by the 49ers. Notre Dame won the match-up 21-17.
Two years later the teams played in Indiana, and Clemson evened the record with a 16-10 win. In both of the first two games, the home team lost a second-half, double-digit lead.
The last time Clemson and ND met, in 2015, the game took place in Death Valley during Hurricane Joaquin. Clemson went into the fourth quarter up 21-3, but the Irish scored three touchdowns to make it a two-point game. Clemson stopped their last-second two-point conversion attempt and won 24-22.
These teams have given us incredibly exciting games, and we look forward to another unforgettable one!
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