Notre Dame Top 25 Games of the 2000s
A 2000s ranking built from game-time AP poll strength, final-score closeness, overtime, and the featured team's result.
- Games ranked
- 25
- Highest score
- 69/100
- Ranked matchups
- 24
2000s ranking
Top 25 games of the 2000s in the database
Wins receive a small preference, but exceptional losses and ties remain eligible. Select any game for its available box score and statistics.
- 2005Week 7Home
L 31-34 vs. USC
No. 9 Notre Dame vs. No. 1 USC · 3-point margin
Ranking 42/50 · Closeness 27/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 0/5
69
Game score
Full Game · 2005 Notre Dame vs. USC (Regular Season Full Game)
- 2005Tostitos Fiesta BowlAway
L 20-34 vs. Ohio State
No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame · 14-point margin
Ranking 39/50 · Closeness 16/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 0/5
55
Game score
Full Game · 2005 Ohio State vs. Notre Dame (Fiesta Bowl Full Game)
Methodology
How each game earns up to 100 points
AP ranking, 50 points: each team earns 26 minus its game-week AP rank. Unranked teams receive zero ranking points.
Closeness, 30 points: the score margin is subtracted from 30, with margins of 30 or more receiving zero.
Overtime, 15 points: overtime starts at nine points and rises by two per additional period, capped at 15.
Result, 5 points: a featured-team win receives five points; losses and ties receive zero.
Regular-season rankings are matched to the AP Top 25 for the game's recorded week. Postseason games use the final regular-season AP poll published before bowl and playoff results. Overtime uses period scoring when available, then explicit overtime notes as a fallback. Older games and smaller programs may have less complete poll or period data.
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