Tomorrow’s Army-Notre Dame game draws much comparison to the 1958 matchup, but more recently Army entered the Notre Dame game ranked.
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Army's 15-game losing streak to Notre Dame dating back to 1958 adds to the allure of the Black Knights' clash with Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium this Saturday. Notre Dame's last win in 1958 causes many to point to 1958 as the last big game in the series. After all, the 1958 team finished 8-0-1, #3 in the AP Poll, and had Heisman Trophy winner Pete Dawkins. However, few remember the 1985 game had significant national implications too. In 1985, Army entered its game with Notre Dame ranked and looking for a win over the Fighting Irish to shift the national narrative.
A year after attending its first bowl, the Cherry Bowl, and finishing 8-3-1 in 1984, Army picked up where it left off. The Cadets started the season 5-0 against a weak schedule of Western Michigan, Rutgers, Penn, Yale, and Boston College. The Cadets' dominant win over Boston College caught the nation's attention. The Cadets defeated the defending Cotton Bowl champions 45-14, a year after they finished the 1984 season 10-2 with Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie. This hot start pushed Army to #19 in the AP Poll before their game with Notre Dame.
Notre Dame had a much rougher start to the season with a 1-3 start, including a loss to Air Force. After a 7-5 finish in 1984, the loss to Air Force marked the beginning of the end of the Gerry Faust tenure. Army's window to end its 27-year and 10-game drought over Notre Dame seemed open in 1985.
However, Notre Dame exposed Army's weak resume come gameday. The Fighting Irish stifled Army's vaunted wishbone attack, which entered the game averaging 387 yards per game on the ground. Army ran for only 196 yards on the Fighting Irish in a 24-10 loss.
Army promptly left the AP Poll and would not return until 1996. Nonetheless, the loss did not derail Army's season. The Cadets finished 8-3. Despite four FCS wins and zero wins over FBS teams with winning records, they earned a berth in the Peach Bowl against Illinois. The Cadets defeated Illinois 31-29 in front of a national audience on CBS.
Notre Dame was not as lucky. The Fighting Irish finished 5-6, ending the year with an infamous 58-7 loss to Miami on national television. Gerry Faust resigned at the end of the season, and the Lou Holtz era began soon after.
Although the 1985 game did not have lasting implications, it was the last time Army entered the Notre Dame game ranked. This year's game tops the excitement of the 1985 game. A win over Notre Dame could insert Army into the national championship race, unlike in 1985. Army hopes to cement its place on the national stage and reach heights the 1985 team never did.
