Famous Notre Dame alumni include former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, bestselling author and novelist Nicholas Sparks, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, actor Jim Caviezel and astronaut Michael T. Good.

2. Winning it all

Notre Dame has won 22 national championships in football, though the school only officially claims 11, including eight from the major wire services (AP and/or Coaches Poll). The last Irish national title was won in 1988.

3. Making the pose

Seven Notre Dame players have won the Heisman Trophy: Quarterback Angelo Bertelli in 1943, quarterback Johnny Lujack in 1947, end Leon Hart in 1949, halfback Johnny Lattner in 1953, quarterback Paul Hornung in 1956, quarterback John Huarte in 1964 and wide receiver Tim Brown in 1987.

4. Golden domes

The tradition of having 23.9 karat gold in the helmet spray at Notre Dame began in 1964 and was done manually by student managers. Since 2011, the process has been provided by Hydro Graphics, Inc. The gold flakes are collected from the regilding process of the iconic Golden Dome on campus.

5. “Win one for the Gipper”

One of the most famous stories in Notre Dame history is from 1928 when coach Knute Rockne gave a stirring halftime speech to his players about former Irish halfback George Gipp, who had passed away in 1920 from pneumonia.

“I’ve got to go, Rock. It’s all right. I’m not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are going wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go in there with all they’ve got and win just one for the Gipper. I don’t know where I’ll be then, Rock. But I’ll know about it, and I’ll be happy.”

Underdog Notre Dame was losing to an undefeated Army team at halftime but rallied for 12-6 upset win.