The team was coached by Bob Davie and played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

After losing ten players to the NFL, the Irish began the 2000 season signing 17 recruits[2] Having to replace two-year starter, Jarious Jackson, Davie chose Arnaz Battle,[3] 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.

[8] Despite the loss, and losing Battle indefinitely to a wrist injury that he suffered on the first play of the game,[9] the Irish felt they proved something to the country,[10] and moved up in the rankings to 21st.

The Irish next faced the 13th ranked Purdue Boilermakers, led by Heisman Trophy-hopeful quarterback Drew Brees.

[13] 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.