Though never before given the chance at Notre Dame, Brian Kelly has beaten the same opponent twice in one season before. It was nearly 20 years ago and in an entirely different division of college football, but he remembers beating Saginaw Valley State twice in 2001 well as the head coach at Grand Valley State, on his way to a national runner-up finish.
Kelly may remember being in Clemson’s shoes even better, losing 34-20 in the regular season to Saginaw Valley State in 2003 before beating it six weeks later, 10-3, in the second round of the Division II playoffs, a run that culminated with a repeat championship.