Notre Dame football trivia for the Sun Bowl
No. 16 Notre Dame (9-3) will finish the 2023 season in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against No. 19 Oregon State (8-4) Dec. 29 in El Paso, Texas. The Fighting Irish have compiled a 20-21 record in their first 41 bowl appearances. The Irish and Beavers will be meeting for the third time, with the previous two meetings also coming in bowl games. The Beavers earned a 41-9 win in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and posted a 38-21 triumph in 2004 Insight Bowl.
This will also mark Notre Dame’s second appearance in the Sun Bowl. In 2010, the Irish defeated Miami 33-17. Which Irish player was named the Most Valuable Player of that victory?
A. WR Michael Floyd
B. QB Tommy Rees
C. DB Harrison Smith
D. DB Robert Blanton
Answer: A. Floyd capped his junior campaign with a 6-catch, 109-yard performance against the Hurricanes. Two of those grabs went for touchdowns — a 3-yarder and a 34-yarder on the Irish’s first two possessions of the game that staked them to a 14-0 lead just more than 10 minutes into the contest. The Irish built that lead to 27-0 in the first half and cruised to the victory from there.
Rees completed 15 of 29 throws for 201 yards and the 2 scores to Floyd. Smith made 7 tackles and notched 3 interceptions, which set a school bowl game record and tied the Sun Bowl record. Blanton recorded a team-high 9 tackles and had 1 interception.
