By Darin 
What if a single college football game featured three future Heisman Trophy winners? That incredible reality set the stage on November 9, 1946, as No. 1 Army and No. 2 Notre Dame met at Yankee Stadium. Billed as the “Game of the Century,” the matchup featured Army’s “Mr. Inside” (Doc Blanchard, ’45 Heisman) and “Mr. Outside” (Glenn Davis, ’46 Heisman) against Notre Dame’s legendary quarterback (Johnny Lujack, ’47 Heisman). The hype was unprecedented, but the result was one nobody expected.
In front of a capacity crowd of over 76,000 at Yankee Stadium, the two biggest powerhouses of post-World War II college football clashed. Army, coached by Earl “Red” Blaik, rode a 25-game winning streak and were the two-time defending national champions. Notre Dame, led by Frank Leahy, was a juggernaut in its own right, with many players having returned from military service. The game was expected to be an offensive shootout, but it instead became one of the most famous defensive stalemates in sports history.
The statistics, in hindsight, tell the story of defensive domination. The No. 1 Black Knights crossed the 50-yard line nine separate times but were repeatedly turned away by the Irish defense. Notre Dame had the best scoring opportunity of the day, driving deep into Army territory to the 4-yard line. But a fierce goal-line stand by the Cadets preserved the shutout.
The game’s most iconic moment wasn’t a touchdown, but a tackle. Army’s Doc Blanchard broke free and appeared destined for the end zone, only to be taken down by a desperate, shoestring tackle from Notre Dame quarterback and defensive back, Johnny Lujack. It was the defining play of a game defined by defense. When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard famously read 0-0. One newspaper famously dubbed the hyped contest, “Much Ado About Nothing-Nothing.” Though scoreless, the tie was anything but “nothing.” Both teams finished the season undefeated (Army 9-0-1, Notre Dame 8-0-1). The AP Poll ultimately voted the No. 2 Fighting Irish as the 1946 national champions, a decision that cemented this legendary 0-0 tie as one of the most impactful games ever played.
Football Game’s Importance
- Game: Widely known as the 1946 “Game of the Century.”
- Teams:
- Army: Entered the game as the two-time defending National Champions (1944, 1945) and were on a 25-game winning streak.
- Notre Dame: Finished the 1946 season as AP National Champions.
- Players:
- The game featured three Heisman Trophy winners: Doc Blanchard (Army, 1945), Glenn Davis (Army, 1946), and Johnny Lujack (Notre Dame, 1947).
- Doc Blanchard (“Mr. Inside”): 1945 Heisman Trophy winner, 3x All-American, and College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
- Glenn Davis (“Mr. Outside”): 1946 Heisman Trophy winner, 3x All-American, and College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
- Johnny Lujack: 1947 Heisman Trophy winner, 2x All-American, College Football Hall of Fame inductee, and 4x NFL Pro Bowler.
- The game featured a total of ten future College Football Hall of Famers, including both head coaches (Earl “Red” Blaik for Army and Frank Leahy for Notre Dame).