College Football Playoff: Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS Clemson Tigers In The Cotton Bowl

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are trying to reestablish themselves as a true national championship power, and they are heading back to the last time we can legitimately think of them in that manner. It was January 1, 1994 and the Irish just beat the Texas A&M Aggies in the Cotton Bowl to finish the 1993 season 11-1. While Notre Dame should have been crowned as the national champions by everyone involved, the media gave Bobby Bowden and the Florida State Seminoles the title.

And then 25 years went by...

Notre Dame had some solid seasons during the past 25 years, but nothing even remotely comparable to the run they had from 1988-1993. That final season ended in the Cotton Bowl, and the Irish had yet to return until this year.

A lot has changed since then: new venue, new sponsors, birth of the BCS, death of the BCS, and the rise of the college football playoff era. The Cotton Bowl is still as important today as it was back then — even after a few lean years.

If Notre Dame wants to climb back into that spot reserved for true national championship contenders, they’re going to have to do it in the game that they last were one. It’s Notre Dame VS the #2 ranked Clemson Tigers for a chance to advance to the National Championship game.

Follow along in the stream as we try to get back to normal after the Christmas holiday.