1968 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

1968 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 5
Record7–2–1
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumNotre Dame Stadium
1968 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Penn State – 11–0–0
Rutgers – 8–2–0
West Texas State – 8–2–0
No. 5 Notre Dame – 7–2–1
Florida State – 8–3–0
Air Force – 7–3–0
Army – 7–3–0
Buffalo – 7–3–0
No. 18 Houston – 6–2–2
Utah State – 7–3–0
Boston College – 7–3–0
West Virginia – 7–3–0
Virginia Tech – 7–4–0
Syracuse – 6–4–0
Villanova – 6–4–0
Xavier – 6–4–0
Colgate – 5–5–0
Dayton – 5–5–0
Miami (FL) – 5–5–0
New Mexico State – 5–5–0
Georgia Tech – 4–6–0
Southern Miss – 4–6–0
Holy Cross – 3–6–1
San Jose State – 3–7–0
Navy – 2–8–0
Tulane – 2–8–0
Pittsburgh – 1–9–0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1968 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. In their fifth year under head coach Ara Parseghian, the Irish compiled a 7–2–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 376 to 170, and were ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll. In three games against ranked opponents, they defeated No. 5 Oklahoma, lost to No.1 Purdue, and tied No. 2 USC.[1][2]

Quarterback Terry Hanratty and tackle George Kunz were consensus first-team picks on the 1968 All-America college football team. Jim Seymour also received first-team All-America honors from multiple selectors. The team's statistical leaders included Hanratty (1,466 passing yards), Seymour (736 receiving yards), and Bob Gladieux (713 rushing yards, 84 points scored).[3]

The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 212:30 p.m.No. 5 OklahomaNo. 3
W 45–2159,075[4]
September 282:00 p.m.No. 1 PurdueNo. 2
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • South Bend, IN (rivalry)
ABCL 22–3759,075[5]
October 52:30 p.m.at IowaNo. 5
W 51–2858,043[6]
October 122:30 p.m.NorthwesternNo. 5
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • South Bend, IN (rivalry)
W 27–759,075[7]
October 192:30 p.m.IllinoisNo. 6
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN
W 58–859,075[8]
October 261:30 p.m.at Michigan StateNo. 5
ABCL 17–2177,339[9]
November 21:30 p.m.vs. NavyNo. 12
W 45–1463,738[10]
November 92:30 p.m.PittsburghNo. 12
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 56–759,075[11]
November 162:30 p.m.Georgia TechNo. 9
  • Notre Dame Stadium
  • Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)
W 34–659,075[12]
November 304:30 p.m.at No. 2 USCNo. 9
ABCT 21–2182,659[13]

[14][15]

Game summaries

Oklahoma

[16]

Team 1 234Total
Oklahoma 14 007 21
• Notre Dame 7 141410 45
Scoring summary
1NDBob Gladieux 1-yard run (Scott Hempel kick)ND 7-0
1OUEddie Hinton 72-yard pass from Bob Warmack (Bruce Derr kick)Tied 7-7
1OUSteve Zabel 16-yard pass from Bob Warmack (Bruce Derr kick)OU 14-7
2NDJim Seymour 10-yard pass from Terry Hanratty (Scott Hempel kick)Tied 14-14
2NDJim Seymour 7-yard pass from Terry Hanratty (Scott Hempel kick)ND 21-14
3NDBob Gladieux 1-yard run (Scott Hempel kick)ND 28-14
3NDBob Gladieux 1-yard run (Scott Hempel kick)ND 35-14
4NDScott Hempel 31-yard field goalND 38-14
4OUSteve Zabel 11-yard pass from Bob Warmack (Bruce Derr kick)ND 38-21
4NDChuck Landolfi 5-yard run (Scott Hempel kick)ND 45-21

Purdue

Team 1 234Total
• Purdue 3 20014 37
Notre Dame 0 1408 22
  • Date: September 28
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  • Referee: Gene Calhoun
  • TV announcers (ABC): Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson
  
Scoring summary
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{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Iowa

Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 21 10614 51
Iowa 14 077 28
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Northwestern

Team 1 234Total
Northwestern 0 007 7
• Notre Dame 7 0614 27
  • Date: October 12
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm CDT
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Illinois

Team 1 234Total
Illinois 0 080 8
• Notre Dame 14 10277 58
  • Date: October 19
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 59,075
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Michigan State

Team 1 234Total
Notre Dame 7 370 17
• Michigan St. 7 770 21
Team 1 234Total
• Notre Dame 17 7714 45
Navy 6 800 14
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Pittsburgh

Team 1 234Total
Pittsburgh 0 070 7
• Notre Dame 23 2607 56
  • Date: November 9
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN
  • Game start: 1:30 pm CST
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Georgia Tech

Team 1 234Total
Georgia Tech 0 006 6
• Notre Dame 7 7614 34
  • Date: November 16
  • Location: Notre Dame Stadium,
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. CST
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

USC

[17]

Team 1 234Total
Notre Dame 14 700 21
USC 7 077 21
  
Scoring summary
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}
{{{Time}}}{{{Team}}}{{{Event}}}{{{Score}}}

Roster

1968 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 2 Bob Belden Sr
OT 64 Terry Brennan Jr
RB 20 Bob Gladieux Sr
QB 5 Terry Hanratty Sr
G 75 Bob Kuechenberg Sr
OT 78 George Kunz Sr
C 54 Mike Oriard Jr
WR 85 Jim Seymour Sr
QB 7 Joe Theismann So
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
LB 47 John Lavin Sr
DT 77 Mike McCoy Jr
LB 36 Bob Olson Sr
LB 49 Brian Stenger Sr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K Scott Hempel
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

References

  1. ↑ "1968 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Football '68 - Settling the Score for '64" (PDF). Notre Dame Scholastic. December 12, 1968. pp. 20 & 21.
  3. ↑ "1968 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Hanratty-sparkes irish sock it to Oklahoma, 45–21". The Des Moines Register. September 22, 1968. Retrieved October 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Boilermakers' blitz topples Irish, 37–22". The Abilene Reporter-News. September 29, 1968. Retrieved October 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Irish explode to bury Iowa". The Kansas City Star. October 6, 1968. Retrieved October 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Irish reward fans with late flourish". The Indianapolis Star. October 13, 1968. Retrieved October 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "ND rips Illinois, 58–8; Hanratty sets record". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 20, 1968. Retrieved October 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Spartans surprise Notre Dame, 21–17". The Patriot-News. October 27, 1968. Retrieved October 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "63,738 see Navy sunk as Notre Dame rolls". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 3, 1968. Retrieved October 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Irish blast Panthers, 56–7". Detroit Free Press. November 10, 1968. Retrieved October 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Irish wreck Georgia Tech". The Minneapolis Tribune. November 17, 1968. Retrieved July 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Notre Dame, USC tie 21–21". The Courier-Journal. December 1, 1968. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "1968 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule and Results".
  15. ↑ "Schedule/Results (1968 Notre Dame)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  16. ↑ Ocala Star-Banner. 1968 September 22.
  17. ↑ Jenkins, Dan (December 9, 1968). "THE DAY THEY TIED UP O.J." Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
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