5 Shocking Facts And The Viral 'Rudy Game' History Of Notre Dame Vs. Georgia Tech

The rivalry between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is one of college sports' most lopsided yet historically significant matchups, blending recent ACC battles with timeless cinematic history. As of today, December 11, 2025, the most recent clash on the gridiron saw the Fighting Irish continue their dominance, while the basketball programs are gearing up for a future ACC showdown that will test the mettle of their new-era head coaches.

This article dives deep into the current state of both programs, detailing the key takeaways from their 2024 football season, the leadership driving their men's basketball future, and a definitive look back at the one game that permanently etched this rivalry into American pop culture: the famous "Rudy Game" of 1975. Discover the five most compelling facts about this intermittent but intense series.

The Definitive Tale of the Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech Rivalry

The series history between these two storied programs is heavily skewed, with Notre Dame holding a commanding lead in football. The two teams compete as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), though Notre Dame remains an independent in football, playing Georgia Tech as part of its ACC scheduling agreement.

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• Series Record (Football): Notre Dame leads 30-6-1.
• First Matchup: 1922.
• Most Recent Matchup: October 19, 2024.
• Current Football Coaches: Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and Georgia Tech’s Brent Key.
• Current Basketball Coaches: Notre Dame’s Micah Shrewsberry and Georgia Tech’s Damon Stoudamire.
• Key Historical Entity: Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, the famous walk-on.

1. The 2024 Football Clash: Irish Defense Dominates in Atlanta

The latest football contest between the Fighting Irish and the Yellow Jackets took place on October 19, 2024, in a high-profile neutral site game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The game reinforced Notre Dame's historical edge in the rivalry.

The final score was Notre Dame 31, Georgia Tech 13.

The No. 12 ranked Notre Dame team, led by Head Coach Marcus Freeman, leaned heavily on a strong defensive performance to secure the victory. Offensively, quarterback Leonard was a key factor, scoring two rushing touchdowns that helped the Irish pull away.

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For the Yellow Jackets, Head Coach Brent Key’s squad struggled to find the endzone, despite a solid passing performance from quarterback Zach Pyron, who threw for 269 yards and a touchdown. The loss dropped Georgia Tech’s record to 5-3 at the time, while Notre Dame improved to 6-1 on their way to a spectacular 14-2 finish for the 2024 season, ranking No. 2 in the final AP poll.

This game highlighted the contrasting 2024 seasons for both programs: a national title contention run for the Fighting Irish and a strong 7-6 finish for the Yellow Jackets, who continue to build momentum under Brent Key.

2. The Future is Now: Key Coaches and the Upcoming 2026 Basketball Battle

While the football rivalry is intermittent, the men's basketball teams face off annually as members of the ACC. The next scheduled matchup is a highly anticipated home game for the Irish.

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Upcoming Men's Basketball Game:

• Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
• Location: Purcell Pavilion, South Bend, Indiana

Both programs are in the midst of significant rebuilds under relatively new leadership, adding intrigue to their future contests. Notre Dame is helmed by Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry, who is entering his second season and has expressed confidence that the 2024-2025 team, featuring star point guard Markus Burton, is much improved.

Across the court, Georgia Tech is led by Head Coach Damon Stoudamire, a former NBA star who is in his third season with the Yellow Jackets. Stoudamire’s team, with an early 6-4 record in the 2025-2026 season, is focused on climbing the ACC standings. The February 2026 game will be a crucial test for both coaches as they attempt to establish their respective program identities within the conference.

3. The Rudy Game: A Rivalry Moment Immortalized in Film

No discussion of the Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech rivalry is complete without mentioning the game that inspired one of the most beloved sports films of all time: *Rudy* (1993).

The actual game took place on November 8, 1975, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. The Fighting Irish defeated the Yellow Jackets with a score of 24-3.

The significance of this game had nothing to do with the score or national rankings. It was the moment that walk-on Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger achieved his lifelong dream of playing for Notre Dame football. He was put into the game for the final 27 seconds, managing to sack Georgia Tech quarterback Rudy Allen on the game's final play. This singular, improbable achievement against Georgia Tech became the emotional climax of the film and a permanent fixture in Notre Dame lore, forever linking the Yellow Jackets to one of the most inspiring stories in college football history.

4. The Lopsided Football Series: A History of Irish Dominance

The 30-6-1 series lead for Notre Dame is one of the most dominant in college football. This lopsided nature stems from several factors, including the intermittent nature of the pre-ACC scheduling and the periods of sustained national championship contention for the Irish program.

Historically, the series became lopsided very quickly, with Notre Dame winning 11 of the first 12 encounters. While the series is often described as "cordial," the sheer number of Irish victories under legendary coaches like Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz has defined the narrative. Georgia Tech's wins are notable precisely because they are so rare, often coming during periods of transition for the Irish or during strong Yellow Jacket seasons.

5. Recent Program Trajectories: A Tale of Two Rebuilds

Looking at the 2024 season and beyond, both programs are on distinct, yet ambitious trajectories:

• Notre Dame Football: Under Marcus Freeman, the Irish have solidified their status as a national power, finishing 14-2 in 2024. The program is focused on College Football Playoff contention, bolstered by an elite defense and the strategic hire of Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock.
• Georgia Tech Football: Brent Key, a Georgia Tech alumnus, has instilled a new energy in the program, culminating in a 7-6 record in 2024. The Yellow Jackets are aiming to become a consistent threat in the ACC, using their 2024 success as a blueprint for future growth.

The next time these two teams meet, whether on the gridiron or the hardwood, it will be a clash between two programs on the rise, each led by a dynamic, relatively young head coach determined to elevate their school back to national prominence.