"Triple Crown Effect" on College Football's Best

Here's a look at the NINE WINNINGEST TEAMS in FBS college football history -- and how they fared in years when a race horse won the TRIPLE CROWN:

1. NOTRE DAME:  107 - 11 - 5
2. Alabama:  102 - 18 - 12
3. Oklahoma:  93 - 24 - 7
4. Michigan:  88 - 23 - 4
5. Penn State:  86 - 28 - 4
6. Texas:  83 - 37 - 5
7. Ohio State: 81 - 27 - 7
8. USC:  80 - 42 - 5
9. Nebraska:  63 - 49 - 8

GO IRISH!

Triple Crown Winners a Good Omen for ND!

There are now 13 Triple Crown Winners in the history of horse racing -- and you know what -- in the football season that follows, Notre Dame Football has won 87% of its games and 5 National Championships!

• 1919:  Sir Barton wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 9 - 0
• 1930:  Gallant Fox wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 10 - 0
• 1935:  Omaha wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 7 - 1 - 1
• 1937:  War Admiral wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 6 - 2 - 1
• 1941:  Whirlaway wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 8 - 0 - 1
• 1943:  Count Fleet wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 9 - 1
• 1946:  Assault wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 8 - 0 - 1
• 1948:  Citation wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 9 - 0 - 1
• 1973:  Secretariat wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 11 - 0
• 1977:  Seattle Slew wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 11 - 1
• 1978:  Affirmed wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 9 - 3
• 2015:  American Pharoah wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 10 - 3 
• 2018:  Justify wins Triple Crown / ???

Triple Crown Years / Notre Dame Football Record:  107 - 11 - 5

The years that are BOLDED -- Notre Dame won the National Championship!

This fun fact is courtesy of Tim Bourret '78 -- a Notre Dame alum who just retired after spending 40 years as Clemson's Sports Information Director.  Tim was inducted into the SID Hall of Fame.