Some “unofficial NCAA records” are more accurately described as “assumed NCAA records.” As in, Notre Dame set an assumed NCAA record when the Irish defense, led by senior linebacker Manti Te’o, intercepted five consecutive Wolverines pass attempts in a 13-6 win back in 2012, finishing an unbeaten September as part of an undefeated regular season.
In 150 years of college football history, no one had ever thought to track the most consecutive team pass attempts resulting in an interception, and when No. 11 Notre Dame picked off No. 18 Michigan five straight times, with two landing in Te’o’s hands, no anecdote arose to dispute the new Irish assumption.