The 1972 season also was the only three - loss season in Parseghian 's eleven years at Notre Dame .
They fell to fourteenth in the final AP poll ; the Irish rebounded in 1973 to finish 11 -- 0 and win the national championship .
The 1972 season also was the only three - loss season in Parseghian 's eleven years at Notre Dame and they fell to fourteenth in the final AP poll ; the Irish rebounded in 1973 to finish 11 -- 0 and win the national championship .