It’s great that all these years later CBS still has the same exact theme music - the best of all sports. It’s awesome.

I've been a devout Notre Dame fan through eight different decades and I'm blessed to have seen countless incredible moments in person at Notre Dame Stadium. I could watch a thousand years of Notre Dame football and no game could ever mean as much to me as this one. Lou was right in saying it was the Notre Dame spirit that was the difference, because only in that atmosphere at Notre Dame Stadium would that incredible Miami team turn the ball over seven times, which contributed greatly to ND winning by a single point. It was an incredible game played by two fantastic teams and it will always be my favorite college football memory.

I love watching these old football games with the commercials.

I was a senior at Notre Dame when this game was played. I still remember that day very well. Incredible atmosphere and the best college football game I’ve ever seen. Still remember the feeling when they missed the two point conversion and storming the field. It was awesome!

I shudder to think what this rivalry would be like with social media today. The NCAA would probably call out the National Guard.

The way Rice scored that first touchdown without a hand on him (on the staunch defense of Miami) sent a clear message the Irish were on a mission. This was one of the greatest college football games of all time.

I grew up in South Bend and have been a die hard Irish fan my whole life. I was 20 years old when this game was played and will never forget the excitement before, during and after this game. I had one of those famous t-shirts that I treasured but sadly lost track of it decades ago.

That last Miami "touchdown" would have been an incomplete pass by today's catch rules.

Blessing himself before the kickoff was intense

I'm a UGA fan, but man I pulled hard for ND this game and was so proud of the intensity and mental toughness the Irish showed.

God I miss those days. I had a friend whose father had pull in South Bend. His dad would get us tickets to ND games. Being an IU ‘paid in full’ Alumni I had access to b-ball tics. I had no clue how lucky I was in the late 80s to see both teams in their prime. Living in Indiana back then it was assumed that IU would be a Final Four BBall contender and ND would be in the hunt for a NCAA football championship.

There are no games today that come close to the Miami/Notre Dame and Miami/FSU games back in the 80's.

I was at the game. THE most intense nonstop excitement and passion I've ever experienced at a sporting event, and I've gone to a LOT of big time Notre Dame games since 1978! (as well as iconic World Series games, NFL games, and epic college bball reg season and numerous NCAA Tourney games). And to the Miami Conv...er Hurricane fans: 1. Yes, Cleveland Gary lost control of the football before he was down, so it was a FUMBLE. 2. MIAMI was GIFTED their last TD. That WR NEVER CAUGHT THE BALL. IT HIT THE GROUND AND IT WASN'T EVEN IN HIS POSS WHEN HE HIT THE GROUND. OBVIOUS WRONG "MAKEUP" CALL.

Miami had 7 turnovers and lost by one point. That's crazy.

Barry Alvarez would go on to be Wisconsin head coach and athletic director. He was ND defensive coordinator in 1988.

I listened to this game on the radio for the entire 1st half. Unfortunately I was working that day. I was rooting for my precious 'Canes. Unfortunately work forced me to not listen to the remainder of the game. I couldn't wait to watch the ESPN highlights as I turned off my radio and refused to listen to any updates. I was giddy when UM scored a TD late in the game. And then when they showed the highlights of UM failing the 2 point conversion, I was crushed. I knew that the winner of that game would represent one half of the National Championship game. Although, it was a tough defeat for the UM nation, the game I'm certain was fantastic. And I gave major props to Notre Dame. I'm amazed from ND's storied history, ND fans and media consider this game their greatest victory. It's 2021 and I still have not watched this entire game to date. I'm going to start watching this game from it's beginning. It's amazing how significant this game was for college football.

Was flying from NYC to Atlanta that afternoon. Pilot came over the intercom - "if anyone is interested, Notre Dame 31, Miami 30. Great Memory. BTW - same day (night) Gibson's HR off Eckersley game one, 88 WS.

I cant imagine what the outcome would have been today with replay. Catches not catches, fumbles ruled a forward pass, touchdowns when the dude was down at the 2 yard line. Crazy.

What a fucking atmosphere my goodness.

Back when beating #1 in the regular season actually meant something.

I grew up in Mishawaka right by South Bend. The goodyear blimp would fly right over our house on big game Saturdays. My parents had season tickets so I got to go to to a lot of games, but this was the best one by far,

CBS still has that same theme song today.

I'm a huge ND fan growing up in Youngstown Ohio. I live on the west coast now for 30 years. I've been to rose bowls Fiesta bowls. National championship games playoffs. And when I lived in Ohio been to all the big games. Notre dame games Michigan games, been to Ohio st , Penn st. I was a 23 year old kid when this game was played, was the happiest I ever was as a ND fan. The greatest win in history. I'm still pissed I didn't get in my car and drive 7 hours to South Bend and go to this game probably would have to pay $600.00 in 1988 to get into this game it would have been well worth it.

God I miss these days

The uniforms didn't have any company logo like Nike, New Era etc. Even Holtz's pullover and hat had no logo other than ND. It is too bad these companies had to ruin the gear with their logo. MLB caps are ruined by the New Ere logo. All hats have a company logo on them now. If I buy a team hat or shirt, I only want the team's name or logo on it.

Best players on Notre Dame's 1988 defense: Frank Stams, Chris Zorich, Ned Bolcar, Mike Stonebreaker, Todd Lyght & Pat Terrell

I am and still am Canes to this day. I remember how sad I was they lost BUT loved going for 2. Love the decision no matter what the outcome was. 89 seemed so anti climatic after this game. I knew they were going to beat Notre Dame next year but for me this is the best game as far as dislike and intensity that I have ever seen...

one of all time great games in any sport. Miami was the best team in college football that year, but had a heap of turnovers in this game and could've tied it at 31. the following year Notre Dame was the best team in college football. they whupped Colorado in the Orange Bowl, but lost to the Hurricanes in the regular season, so Miami was voted national champs.

A reporter dug a little deeper on the "Catholics versus Convicts" game. It turns out that Miami had more Catholics on their squad than Notre Dame. Apparently, Notre Dame football recruited heavily from the Bible Belt, thus a high proportion of Baptists. Just as interesting, the Notre Dame squad logged more arrests that year than Miami.

As a Georgia fan this was and still is the best non Georgia game I have ever seen. Glad the Catholics won

Damn this is a nostalgia tornado

Lou Holtz post-game interview: "This was won by the Notre Dame spirit...Shut up!!!" That always makes me laugh.

Bizarre to see WRs in a 3-point stance. I wonder what the reasoning was for that. By 1990 they were going from the modern 2-point stance.

I agree completely that Cleveland Gary did not fumble down at the Notre Dame goal line at the 2:38:17 mark. Bad call by the officials. With instant replay nowadays, that call would have been overturned and Miami would have had a first and goal at the ND goal line. However with at being said, the fact of the matter is that Miami did commit 7 turnovers in this game(4 fumbles/3 interceptions). I don't care who you are or who you play, you will most likely loose if you commit that many turnovers in a single game; especially on the road. The Hurricanes only have themselves to blame for this loss. Most of these turnovers occurred inside Notre Dame territory when the Hurricanes were driving the ball. If Miami doesn't turn the ball over in this game they most likely win in a blowout.

The two most gripping sports events I've witnessed in my 60 years: Game #6 of the 1975 World Series and this absolute classic college football game.

As a devout Catholic & lifelong Notre Dame fan I was displeased with the Catholic vs Convicts even if it was catchy. It gave off a sense of superiority or judgemental. That said I HATED Miami & still love to watch this game!

I was not alive for this game, but I once ran into someone at a Baldwin Wallace (the college I attend) volleyball tailgate who was an ND student that year. He remembered that every student was at the game and that he had no voice the next day from all the yelling. He called it one of the most memorable Irish games he ever attended, and he and his college friends still call Jimmy Johnson “Satan”

The best play in the entire game might be Anthony Johnson's recovery of the onside kick. Not an easy play to make. 2:59:20

arguably one of the best football games of the second half of the 20th century. Go Canes.

I’ve from Chicago (Nobody) watched football besides Notre Dame I’m still a fan I remember this game I believe Rice is still the best quarterback we’ve had he was a winner

Those were the days of great rivalries and good hard nosed tough football. I miss those days.

If Miami went for the tie instead of the outright win they would have remained #1 and go on to win the National championship. As an Irish fan I’m glad they didn’t but I never could figure that one out

What a shame this rivalry ended.Notre Dame should play Michigan and Miami every year.

1 of 2 losses still haunting Miami fans to this day

I was at this game. The Canes ruled college football in the 80's through the mid 90's.

I remember watching this game. The replays were clear that Gary stretched across the goal line with the ball and touched the ground. The ground cannot cause a fumble. Whether his knee was down before the ball broke the plane is hard to tell, but even if it was he had enough yards for the 1st down. Major error on the part of the officials. Great game though. The championship should have been a rematch between Miami and Notre Dame. West Virginia may have been 12-0, but they were no where near the level of Miami and Notre Dame. Kinda like BYU going 12-0... sorry weak opponents. Miami played 6 top 15 teams that year.

Jimmy should have gone for 1 On the road.

3 players from Miami (Bubba McDowell, Darryl Spencer, Hurlie Brown) and 1 player from Notre Dame (Derek Brown) all went to the same high school. Merritt Island High school… Home of the Mustangs! In 1986 they were the best team in the country. 11 players got D1 scholarships… Unbelievable

One of the best college football games ever! I did not like the "Catholics vs Convicts" term, but it was a physical and well played game!

A few hours later Kirk Gibson came off the bench and took Dennis Eckersley downtown and won Game 1 for the Dodgers

If you didn't know the outcome of this game you can thank the uploader for including the score in his header. Hard to call it a spoiler but for some it is. Uploader did a good job with the Catholics vs Convicts title but should have left the score out. Thanks anyway for the upload.

Sad what would happen to Jeff Alm in 5 years

Lot of Chicago kids playing in this epic game. Miami always came up to Chicago in 80s to get kids, particularly linemen.

First " Fumble" by Walsh was a forward pass called a fumble. The 2nd was called an incomplete pass but was a fumble lol

Miami got Rob in this game that fumble near the end zone was a touchdown

2:00:11 Nobody talks about the fake punt call...basically telling Notre Dame that Miami had to gamble to stay in the game. Then Notre Dame hits Watters to the 4 yard line on the next play, Eilers scores the play after that. Crowd back in it, Notre Dame keeps the lead the rest of the game. Not a good call, folks.

A real back & forth battle. Between 2 talented teams. Miami was sloppy at times during this game.

always will be remembered for the one bad call (among several) that handed a cheap victory to Notre Dame. ND had no business stepping on the field with a team as talented as Miami at the time.

4 teams I cannot stand : Notre Dame "fighting Holtz'$, Jimmy J'$ Miami hurricanes, Penn State Nittany chumps and not the least USC Trojans.

Kickoff at 15:48

I know WV was in undefeated but there should have been a rematch for the National championship.

Refs gave this game to Notre Dame.

The after effects of this game changed the whole football landscape Lou holzt would win his only championship,jimmy Johnson go on and build the greatest cowboys dynasty and Miami would go on and have its best four year run 89-92 in in school history winning two national championships we would get introduced to a guy named Randle the trill hill the next year the the u swagger would hit it’s all time high

ND football. Pound, pound, pound and then throw it. Also excellent defense that surprised Miami. But Rice was the big weapon. Then there is the genius of Coach Lou.

I'm glad games go into overtime these days. Back then the team trailing by a point was left with two bad options: kick the extra point and look like a coward, or feel compelled to go for 2 with low odds of completing the conversation.

Catholics vs Convicts made me think this was a Catholic intersquad game.

Swagger, 80s style

New century.. still not a fumble. New century and ND still hasn't gotten another ring.

Lou Holtz tipping the scales at 89 pounds.

I didn't know Miami was a catholic school!!!!!!

The U could never admit it: when they lost to PSU they "beat themselves", and when they lost to ND they "were victims to a bad call"

I swear Lou Holtz should've thrown to Derek Brown 15 times a game! So underutilized !

Back when the UM Hurricanes were kicking and screaming with all those Bowl games that they played and they have that “It’s All About the U” meaning. That so-called “Catholics vs. Convicts” game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was ugly as it was.

Wow Lou holtz ... “ shut up””.... bang !!! Quiet

I was going to a Catholic school at this time. Of course I was a Notre Dame fan!

This is what college football is all about

Man the refs were terrible in this game. A lot of bad calls that would have been over turned today. Especially at the end with Miami. The dude crossed the plain before the ball came out.

i still remember this game....almost having a heart attack at 14 year olds lol

48:50 mans having a great view ;)

Canes were robbed !! I’m still not over the refs robbing Cleveland Gary of a TD and a miami championship!! The 1986 team overlooked Penn St at had 8 turnovers and still only lost 14-10. Miami should have won 4 straight championships.

instant replay would have altered this game on both sides......refs blew some calls

Game was nearly 32 years ago and Lou Holtz still sounded like a 90 year old stroke victim.

Why on earth Norte Dame got rid of their grass is beyond me.

41:53 - That look on Lou's face.."Tony, what the hell...oh well, we got some good yards, next play.." And what do you know? Touchdown. #goirish

lol bill cosby commercials

I had tickets for that game.had to be in a wedding.

Even tho I'm a miami fan college football needed somebody to take out the bad guy this is still the most important game in college football history..

OMG that was not a fumble by Cleveland Gary at 2:38:17 . Horrible call by the Refs. Replay at 2:38:54

Cleveland Gary did not fumble! The ball was over the goal line,which makes it a touchdown. I've been saying it for 34 years,for Christmas sakes.*

How in the World was Walsh considered better than Tony Rice??????????

that chevy car...SMH

2:49:15 foreshadowing to 2:56:13

Bill threw his son under bus.6:20

Awful decision by Walsh on that 2 pt conversion. Not an easy play but that fade was never going to work.

Did cheerleaders not have breasts in the 80s???

Only game better than this is when BYU whipped the convicts in1990.

Cosby at 6:20 😂👌

Notre Dame has not won a national championship since this. Put back the grass turf!!!! Bring back the gold spray painted helmets. Straighten up, fly right.

Tony Rice = Clutch

There were twice as many irish catholics playing for Miami