By Darin 
November 20, 1993. Just one week after defeating the mighty No. 2 Florida State Seminoles in a legendary “Game of the Century,” the No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish returned home to South Bend, ready to secure their path to a national title. Their opponent was the No. 17 Boston College Eagles, an underdog with nothing to lose. What followed was a breathtaking, chaotic finish that saw the Irish climb out of a 21-point hole only to have their championship dream snatched away by a single, perfectly struck kick. The 41-39 Boston College upset remains one of the most thrilling and devastating finishes in college football lore.
The monumental victory over Florida State—who went on to win the National Championship—had placed the Irish atop the polls, crowning them the undisputed favorite. The clash with Boston College, though a rivalry game, was widely viewed as a formality before their season finale. But Eagles Head Coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Glenn Foley had other plans. Foley utilized an explosive passing attack, dissecting the vaunted Notre Dame defense throughout the day. By the third quarter, and into the fourth, the unthinkable was happening: Boston College had built a seemingly insurmountable 38-17 lead in Notre Dame Stadium, silencing the once-raucous crowd.
Faced with the imminent collapse of their perfect season, the Fighting Irish, led by quarterback Kevin McDougal, mounted one of the most ferocious comebacks in program history. Scoring three unanswered touchdowns and adding a crucial two-point conversion, the Irish tied the game. Then, with just 1 minute and 9 seconds left, Notre Dame completed the comeback, taking their first lead of the entire day, 39-38, on a touchdown pass to Lake Dawson. The stadium erupted, convinced the Fighting Irish were a team of destiny.
But Glenn Foley quickly proved otherwise. Taking the field with under 70 seconds remaining, the future NFL QB coolly marched the Eagles down the field. After a key 24-yard reception by tight end Pete Mitchell, Boston College was positioned at the Notre Dame 24-yard line. With the clock ticking down to zero, kicker David Gordon stepped up and drilled a career-long 41-yard field goal. The ball sailed straight through the uprights as time expired, delivering a stunning 41-39 blow that instantly ended Notre Dame’s championship aspirations.
The 1993 loss to the Boston College Eagles is not just remembered as an upset; it is the moment of definitive heartbreak for Irish fans. It serves as a classic illustration of the fine line between championship glory and devastating defeat in college football. While the Irish displayed unparalleled grit in their comeback attempt, it was the final, clutch performance by Foley and Gordon that turned a potential national title celebration into one of the most memorable spoiler moments in the history of the sport.
Relive the legendary 1993 college football upset where No. 17 Boston College, led by Glenn Foley and David Gordon, defeated No. 1 Notre Dame 41-39 on a last-second field goal, crushing the Irish’s National Championship dreams.