Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represents the University of Notre Dame in American football. It plays home games at the 77,622-capacity Notre Dame Stadium, located near South Bend in Notre Dame, Indiana. Notre Dame is one of two schools that compete as an independent at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level.
The Fighting Irish are one of college football's most prestigious and successful programs. It has won 22 national championships since its establishment in 1887, though the school only officially claims 11, including 8 from the major wire-services (AP Poll and/or Coaches' Poll). Seven Notre Dame players have won the Heisman Trophy. Notre Dame has 962 official victories, with 21 having been vacated by the NCAA in 2016 for self-reported academic misconduct. The school recognizes 983 total wins in program history. Notre Dame has had 22 undefeated seasons including 12 perfect seasons, and their home games have been televised by NBC since 1991.
The Fighting Irish have played in blue jerseys with gold helmets and highlights for much of their history. Recognizable team symbols include their fight song, the "Notre Dame Victory March", and the Notre Dame Leprechaun mascot. Their fiercest and most prominent rivalry is with the USC Trojans; it arose from frequent competition for national championships and is one of the best-known in college football.