The team was coached by Brian Kelly and played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
The following former Notre Dame players were selected in the 2017 NFL draft: Departures Additions The Fighting Irish signed a total of 21 recruits.
With 3 minutes, 34 seconds left to play, the Bulldogs took a 1-point lead on a 30-yard field goal by kicker Rodrigo Blankenship.
For the Bulldogs, Jake Fromm made his first career start at quarterback in place of the injured Jacob Eason (left knee).
Notre Dame would add to their lead three minutes later with a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Julian Love go to up 14–0 over the Spartans.
The Irish opened the scoring on the second play from scrimmage when running back Josh Adams scampered 73 yards for a touchdown.
After a scoreless opening period, quarterback Ian Book found receiver Cameron Smith for a 6-yard touchdown pass.
Later in the game, running back Deon McIntosh added two rushing scores for the Irish who gained 341 of its 487 total yards on the ground.
The first quarter saw both offenses struggle to move the ball, but the Wolfpack got on the board first with a blocked punt returned that was recovered in the end zone to give North Carolina State a 7–0 lead.
In a highly anticipated matchup, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Miami Hurricanes met in a crucial game that had major College Football Playoffs implications for the winner.
Miami would prevail in a one-sided contest in which the Hurricanes defense shut down the high powered offense of Notre Dame, including Heisman candidate Josh Adams.
The Irish went up for good in the 4th quarter with a 9 yard touchdown pass from Brandon Wimbush to wide receiver Kevin Stepherson.
Josh Adams topped 3,000 career yards and now has the 4th highest single season rushing total in Notre Dame history at 1,337.
The Irish tried to play catch up for the rest of the quarter, but a turnover on downs and an interception at the goal line halted any comeback bid.
The Irish defense would force LSU to turn the ball over on downs on the next series, securing Notre Dames first bowl win on New Year's Day since January 1, 1994.
The Irish defense would make a key goal line stand in the 2nd quarter, as Notre Dame would stop LSU twice at the Irish 1 yard line, forcing LSU to kick a field goal (which missed), keeping the score tied 0–0.
In the 4th quarter, LSU would extend its lead to 14–6 with a 2 yard touchdown pass from Danny Etling to Derrius Guice on 3rd and goal.