The 1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented Notre Dame University during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. 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.
Schedule
| Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
| September 12 |
3:30 p.m. |
at #9 Michigan* |
#16 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (Rivalry) |
ABC |
W 26–7 |
106,098 |
| September 19 |
7:45 p.m. |
#17 Michigan State* |
#9 |
Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, IN (Megaphone Trophy) |
ESPN |
W 31–8 |
59,075 |
| September 26 |
12:00 pm |
at Purdue* |
#8 |
Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN (Shillelagh Trophy) |
|
W 44–20 |
68,528 |
| October 10 |
7:00 p.m. |
at Pittsburgh* |
#4 |
Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA |
ESPN |
L 22–30 |
56,400 |
| October 17 |
3:30 pm |
at Air Force* |
#11 |
Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO |
|
W 35–14 |
51,112 |
| October 24 |
2:30 p.m. |
Southern California* |
#10 |
Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, IN (Jeweled Shillelagh) |
CBS |
W 26–15 |
59,075 |
| October 31 |
12:00 pm |
Navy* |
#9 |
Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, IN (Rivalry) |
|
W 56–13 |
59,075 |
| November 7 |
12:00 pm |
Boston College* |
#9 |
Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, IN (Holy War) |
|
W 32–25 |
59,075 |
| November 14 |
2:30 p.m. |
#10 Alabama* |
#7 |
Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, IN |
CBS |
W 37–6 |
59,075 |
| November 21 |
12:00 pm |
at Penn State* |
#7 |
Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA |
CBS |
L 20–21 |
84,000 |
| November 28 |
3:30 p.m. |
at #2 Miami* |
#10 |
Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, FL |
CBS |
L 0–24 |
76,640 |
| January 1 |
1:30 p.m. |
vs. Texas A&M* |
#12 |
Cotton Bowl • Dallas, TX (Cotton Bowl Classic) |
CBS |
L 10–35 |
73,006 |
*Non-conference game.  Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |
[1]
Game summaries
Michigan
#16 Notre Dame at #9 Michigan
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • Notre Dame |
10 |
0 |
7 |
9 |
26 |
| Michigan |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Gradel 44 yard field goal |
ND 3–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
T. Brown 11 yard pass from Andrysiak (Gradel kick) |
ND 10–0 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Banks 1 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 17–0 |
|
| Q3 |
|
MICH |
McMurtry 12 yard pass from D. Brown (Gillette kick) |
ND 17–7 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Gradel 38 yard field goal |
ND 20–7 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Watters 18 yard run (pass failed) |
ND 26–7 |
|
Terry Andrysiak completed 11 of 15 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown while Notre Dame converted four of Michigan's seven turnovers into scores.
[2]
Michigan State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Michigan St |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
| • Notre Dame |
19 |
5 |
7 |
0 |
31 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Ezor downed ball in end zone |
ND 2–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Gradel 27 yard field goal |
ND 5–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Brown 71 yard punt return (Gradel kick) |
ND 12–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Brown 66 yard punt return (Gradel kick) |
ND 19–0 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
McAllister tackled in end zone |
ND 21–0 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
Gradel 37 yard field goal |
ND 24–0 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Johnson 3 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 31–0 |
|
| Q4 |
|
MSU |
Rison 57 yard pass from McAllister (Wilson pass from McAllister) |
ND 31–8 |
|
Purdue
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • Notre Dame |
10 |
7 |
14 |
13 |
44 |
| Purdue |
0 |
17 |
3 |
0 |
20 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Gradel 35 yard field goal |
ND 3–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Johnson 6 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 10–0 |
|
| Q2 |
|
PUR |
Schumacher 4 yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick) |
ND 10–7 |
|
| Q2 |
|
PUR |
C. Williams 20 yard pass from Downing (Briggs kick) |
PUR 14–10 |
|
| Q2 |
|
PUR |
Briggs 18 yard field goal |
PUR 17–10 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
Johnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick) |
Tie 17–17 |
|
| Q3 |
|
PUR |
Briggs 50 yard field goal |
PUR 20–17 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Johnson 8 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 24–20 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Brown 49 yard pass from Andrysiak (Gradel kick) |
ND 31–20 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Gradel 28 yard field goal |
ND 34–20 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Gradel 44 yard field goal |
ND 37–20 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Southall 57 yard interception return (Gradel kick) |
ND 44–20 |
|
[3]
Pittsburgh
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Air Force
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| • Notre Dame |
14 |
0 |
14 |
7 |
35 |
| Air Force |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
14 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Rice 1 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 7–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Rice 4 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 14–0 |
|
| Q2 |
|
AFA |
Booker 4 yard run (Yarborough kick) |
ND 14–7 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Johnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 21–7 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Banks 1 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 28–7 |
|
| Q4 |
|
AFA |
Dowis 1 yard run (Yarborough kick) |
ND 28–14 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Brown 74 yard punt return (Gradel kick) |
ND 35–14 |
|
[4]
USC
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| USC |
7 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
15 |
| • Notre Dame |
3 |
17 |
6 |
0 |
26 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| Q1 |
|
USC |
Jackson 9 yard pass from Peete (Rodriguez kick) |
USC 7–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Gradel 26 yard field goal |
USC 7–3 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
Rice 26 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 10–7 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
T. Brown 5 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 17–7 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
Gradel 32 yard field goal |
ND 20–7 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Green 11 yard run (run failed) |
ND 26–7 |
|
| Q4 |
|
USC |
Lockwood 5 yard run (Tanner pass from Peete) |
ND 26–15 |
|
[5]
Navy
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Navy |
0 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
13 |
| • Notre Dame |
14 |
21 |
14 |
7 |
56 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Johnson 6 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 7–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Johnson 9 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 14–0 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
Green 21 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 21–0 |
|
| Q2 |
|
NAVY |
Fundoukos 43 yard field goal |
ND 21–3 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
Johnson 1 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 28–3 |
|
| Q2 |
|
NAVY |
Fundoukos 31 yard field goal |
ND 28–6 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
Brown 51 yard pass from Graham (Gradel kick) |
ND 35–6 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Johnson 2 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 42–6 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Watters 6 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 49–6 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Brooks 4 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 56–6 |
|
| Q4 |
|
NAVY |
Sims 4 yard run (Fundoukos kick) |
ND 56–13 |
|
[6]
Boston College
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Boston College |
7 |
10 |
8 |
0 |
25 |
| • Notre Dame |
6 |
0 |
12 |
14 |
32 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Gradel 21 yard field goal |
ND 3–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
BC |
Hudginson 3 yard pass from Power (Lowe kick) |
BC 7–3 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Gradel 21 yard field goal |
BC 7–6 |
|
| Q2 |
|
BC |
Lowe 31 yard field goal |
BC 10–6 |
|
| Q2 |
|
BC |
Bell 11 yard run (Lowe kick) |
BC 17–6 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Green 33 yard run (run failed) |
BC 17–12 |
|
| Q3 |
10:02
|
BC |
Flutie 31 yard pass from Parker (Power run) |
BC 25–12 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Johnson 1 yard run (run failed) |
BC 25–18 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Braxston 1 yard run (Gradel kick) |
Tie 25–25 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Green 2 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 32–25 |
|
- ND: Mark Green 152 Rush Yds
- ND: Tim Brown 294 all-purpose Yds
[7]
Alabama
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Alabama |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| • Notre Dame |
3 |
17 |
3 |
14 |
37 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|
| Q1 |
|
ALA |
Doyle 34 yard field goal |
ALA 3–0 |
|
| Q1 |
|
ND |
Gradel 49 yard field goal |
Tie 3–3 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
Rice 12 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 10–3 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
Heck 3 yard pass from Rice (Gradel kick) |
ND 17–3 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ND |
Gradel 21 yard field goal |
ND 20–3 |
|
| Q2 |
|
ALA |
Doyle 28 yard field goal |
ND 20–6 |
|
| Q3 |
|
ND |
Gradel 22 yard field goal |
ND 23–6 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Green 74 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 30–6 |
|
| Q4 |
|
ND |
Watters 75 yard run (Gradel kick) |
ND 37–6 |
|
[8]
Penn State
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Miami (FL)
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Cotton Bowl
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Team players drafted into the NFL
The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.
[9]
References
|
|
| Venues |
|
| Bowls & rivalries |
|
| Culture & lore |
|
| People |
|
| Seasons |
|
|
National championship seasons in bold
|
