If anyone ever questions why you love college football, show them Sunday night’s game between No. 10 Notre Dame and unranked Texas.
The Fighting Irish and Longhorns went back and forth for four quarters in Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium before Texas closed out a 50-47 double overtime victory.
Texas scored a go-ahead touchdown late in the final frame and seemed to have the game in control. But a blocked PAT attempt that Notre Dame returned for two points tied the game at 37 and forced overtime, which was a treat unto itself.
After both teams scored a touchdown and converted the extra point in the first OT period, Notre Dame managed just a field goal in the second overtime. That set up Longhorns senior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes, the backup, for a highlight-reel run on a direct snap after entering the game and later the game-winning score.
He found the end zone shortly after.
In an interview with SB Nation last month, Longhorns coach Charlie Strong, a former Notre Dame assistant and Louisville head coach, pointed to a 2012 game against a very good North Carolina team that sparked a nine-game winning streak for the Cardinals. It was a culture change, he noted — something that would have to set in with Texas.
“See, that’s the moment you jump out and — boom — something good happens,” Strong explained to SB Nation. “The message carries. It’s happening now, but when it really changes is when you beat a Notre Dame. It’s still a work in progress. You go win one you’re not supposed to, and then it really takes over. That’s really it.”
It looks those changes officially have taken over.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images