Colorado traveled to the hallowed grounds of South Bend, Indiana, for their third game of the 1984 season carrying heavy hearts. Thoughts of Ed Reinhardt had to be on the minds of the Buffs as they played Notre Dame beneath “Touchdown Jesus” for the first – and only – time in school history.
Notre Dame, as had been the case in 1983, came into the matchup against the Buffs unranked. Embattled Notre Dame head coach Gerry Faust had the Irish off to a 1-1 start, but this was hardly cause for celebration in South Bend. Notre Dame had been ranked seventh in the nation in the 1984 preseason Associated Press poll, but had promptly dropped out of the poll after falling 23-21 to Purdue in the season opener. The Irish did not look much better the following week against Michigan State, falling behind 17-3 in the first half before rallying to win, 24-20. Though the 1984 Colorado/Notre Dame game would be played at South Bend, there seemed some hope for the struggling Buffs to make a game of it against a less than dominant Fighting Irish squad.
For Colorado, though, 1984 was not like 1983, when the Buffs were riding high coming into the Notre Dame contest. The previous season, the Buffs were 2-1 and brimming with optimism, but were humbled by Notre Dame at home, 27-3. The Buffs in 1984 were 0-2, and had little to be optimistic about.
The scene was set for disaster, and the Buffs did not disappoint, playing their worst game since the Nebraska rout the year before.
By the end of the first quarter, it was 21-0. By halftime, it was 38-0, Notre Dame.
