The five most memorable games in Penn State-Notre Dame football rivalry

Penn State’s 1987 Heisman shutdown

In this matchup, the Nittany Lions faced the formidable task of containing eventual Heisman winner Tim Brown. Penn State’s defense delivered, holding Brown to 80 yards on four catches. 

Meanwhile, Penn State running back Blair Thomas dominated with 219 rushing yards in a thrilling 21-20 victory. 

The game’s climax came with 31 seconds remaining, after Notre Dame scored a touchdown to narrow the gap to one point. Opting for a two-point conversion to secure the win and keep their national championship hopes alive, Notre Dame fell short when quarterback Tony Rice was tackled by Penn State’s Pete Curkendall at the five-yard line.

Penn State topples No. 1

Three years later, No. 18 Penn State pulled off a stunning 24-21 upset over No. 1 Notre Dame. Craig Fayak’s game-winning 34-yard field goal capped a gritty comeback by the Nittany Lions, who trailed 14-0 midway through the first quarter and 21-7 at halftime. 

Penn State’s defense forced two critical turnovers, while wide receiver Terry Smith, now Penn State’s cornerbacks coach, and Al Golden, Notre Dame’s current defensive coordinator, both scored touchdowns to help fuel the rally.

Bettis’ bold finish in 1992 "Snow Bowl"

The 1992 matchup, played in a snowstorm, captured the gutsy essence of both programs. With Penn State set to join the Big Ten in 1993, this was the final scheduled meeting between the teams at the time. 

As the clock ticked under a minute and the field lay blanketed in an inch of snow, Jerome Bettis hauled in a pass from Rick Mirer, cutting Penn State’s lead to 16-15. 

In an era before college football overtime, Lou Holtz faced a pivotal choice. Opting for a two-point conversion, he made the bold call that secured a dramatic 17-16 victory for the Fighting Irish. 

The snow-filled spectacle only added to the game’s legendary status.

2007 "White Out" domination

Penn State exacted revenge against Notre Dame with a decisive 31-10 victory one year after suffering a 41-17 loss to the Fighting Irish. The game was played during Penn State's first-ever full-stadium White Out at Beaver Stadium, drawing 110,078 fans—the second-largest crowd in the stadium's history. 

The electrifying atmosphere reached its peak when Derrick Williams returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown, a play that shifted the game's momentum. Running back Austin Scott contributed two rushing touchdowns, while Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen struggled, throwing an interception to Penn State cornerback Justin King as the Nittany Lions dominated throughout the game.