After losing ten players to the NFL, the Irish began the 2000 season signing 17 recruits[1] Having to replace two-year starter, Jarious Jackson, Davie chose Arnaz Battle,[2] who looked to have a rough road ahead with the Irish playing four ranked teams in a row to begin the season, including a game against the favorite to win the national championship, Nebraska. Battle, however, did have some help with three veterans named to pre-season award watchlists.[3][4][5] The Irish started the season playing the 25th ranked Texas A&M Aggies. With Battle throwing two touchdowns and the defense holding the Aggies to only a field goal in the second half, the Irish won by two touchdowns.[6] Moving into the rankings for the first time since early November 1999, the Irish would next face the top-ranked Cornhuskers. After coming back from being down by two touchdowns, the Irish eventually fell in overtime after they settled for a field goal and Nebraska quarterback,Eric Crouch, ran for the winning touchdown.[7] Despite the loss, and losing Battle indefinitely to a wrist injury that he suffered on the first play of the game,[8] the Irish felt they proved something to the country,[9] and moved up in the rankings to 21st.
The Irish next faced the 13th ranked Purdue Boilermakers, led byHeisman Trophy-hopeful quarterbackDrew Brees.[10] The Irish defense held Brees to only 13 completed passes, while Irish backup quarterback Gary Godsey completed 14, and led the team to a last minute win with a Nick Setta field goal.[11] Moving into the top-20 the Irish next went to Michigan State to face the 23rd ranked Spartans. Though the Spartans were led by freshman quarterbackJeff Smoker, he led the team to a win with a 68 yard touchdown pass on a fourth down attempt with a minute remaining in the game. Losing the game, the Irish hadn't won an away game in eight attempts and hadn't beaten the Spartans since 1994.[12] Dropping almost out of the rankings again, the Irish started playing freshman quarterback Matt LoVecchio and began to roll with wins over Stanford and Navy.[13][14] Going to Morgantown to face the West Virginia Mountaineers, LoVecchio led the Irish with two touchdown passes toTony Fisher to give the Irish their first road win in two years.[15] With a win over Air Force the next week, their first ever inovertime, the Irish were once again bowl eligible.[16]
Ranked 11th, the Irish continued with wins over Boston College,[17] Rutgers,[18] and their first win at USC since 1992.[19] With a 9–2 record, the Irish got a BCS Bowl bid for the first time ever, with an invitation to theFiesta Bowl to play the Oregon State Beavers.[20] Getting blown out by the Beavers,[21] the Irish ended the season ranked 15th with a 9–3 record. With the end of the season, Davie was named finalist in two coach of the year awards. In addition, four Irish players were named toAll-America Teams,[20] seven players were selected to play in post-season All-Star games,[22] and six players were selected in the2001 NFL draft,[23] while another three signed free agent contracts with NFL teams.[24] The season ended on a positive note for Davie who signed a five-year contract extension.[25]
