On the final day of 1973, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Alabama Crimson Tide battled it out in the Sugar Bowl for the national championship. The clash between the undefeated schools had echoes of another battle seven years earlier. In that instance, Notre Dame tied Michigan State and managed to win the title despite Alabama’s undefeated record.
The game marked the first-ever meeting between the legendary college football powerhouses. Both teams brought potent offenses and strong defenses to the contest. Ultimately, Notre Dame emerged with a tight 24-23 win, winning its ninth national championship as well as the second and final one under the leadership of legendary head coach Ara Parseghian.