Part of the 1978–79 bowl game season, it matched the tenth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish, an independent, and the #9 Houston Cougars of the Southwest Conference (SWC).

[6][7] Quarterback Joe Montana, who had the flu,[7] rallied Notre Dame to victory in the second half after eating a bowl of chicken soup.

At that point, Joe Montana, who had sat out the beginning of the half because of hypothermia, returned to the game and eventually led Notre Dame to a 35–34 win on two late touchdown drives, with the game-winning score occurring as time had expired.

After recovering a muffed punt deep in Notre Dame territory, Houston scored a touchdown on a 3rd-and-13 completion by Danny Davis to Willis Adams.

When the teams returned to the field to start the second half, Notre Dame quarterback Joe Montana remained in the locker room.

Montana returned to the field after missing just over ten minutes of game time and was cheered actively by the Notre Dame fans.

Having blocked a Houston punt on the Cougars' previous drive, the Irish repeated that feat, with Steve Cichy running the ball in for a touchdown.

Montana went on to a hall of fame career in the National Football League (NFL), winning four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers.