This article answers a straightforward question: has Alabama ever beaten Notre Dame? The short answer is yes, and the wins include two modern high-profile postseason games that are well documented in contemporary recaps. Readers who find this topic alongside searches for rose bowl point spread are often mixing a historical question with betting interest. This piece separates those threads, lays out the key games and sources, and shows how to verify the all-time ledger in official records.

Alabama's wins over Notre Dame include the 2013 BCS title and the 2021 Rose Bowl CFP semifinal.

Institutional record books and NCAA summaries are the authoritative sources for opponent series totals.

Point spreads reflect market expectations and do not change historical game outcomes.

Quick answer: Has Alabama ever beaten Notre Dame? (and why the Rose Bowl point spread is often mentioned)

Short yes-or-no answer

Yes. Alabama has beaten Notre Dame in high-profile postseason games, most notably the 2013 BCS National Championship and the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2021. The 2013 result is documented in the contemporary game recap, which provides a reliable account of that title game and its score ESPN game recap.

To be clear, many searches that combine this question with the phrase rose bowl point spread are looking for two different things at once: a historical head-to-head answer and contemporary betting context. Historical results are fixed records of who won and lost, while a point spread reflects a sportsbook or market projection for a particular matchup and does not change past outcomes. For the 2021 Rose Bowl semifinal specific recap and outcome, see the official game summary NCAA recap of the Rose Bowl semifinal.

Learn about FundedPlays Challenges and structured sports prediction

Check the official recaps and institutional record books cited later in this article to confirm game results and series totals.

View FundedPlays Challenges

Why people bring up the Rose Bowl point spread

Search interest often pairs the Rose Bowl name with point spreads because the Rose Bowl is a marquee neutral-site game that has sometimes hosted playoff semifinals and high-profile matchups. When a Rose Bowl game involves two major programs, bettors and analysts immediately seek lines to compare expectations with past results. That interest can create overlapping queries that ask both about past games and contemporary lines in the same search.

Those searches can be helpful for context, but remember that a point spread is a prediction tool for a single future game. It does not retroactively alter who won earlier meetings between programs.

All-time series overview and how historians count these games

Official head-to-head totals

Historical head-to-head totals between Alabama and Notre Dame are compiled by institutional record books and NCAA summaries. As of the last widely reported meeting in 2021, Notre Dame led the series 5-2; institutional listings and NCAA summaries are the authoritative places to confirm that ledger NCAA series history. See Alabama's opponent history on the Alabama site for the institutional listing from one program.

Which games are included in series counts

Record keepers generally include regular-season games and officially sanctioned postseason games, such as bowl games and national-title matchups, in head-to-head totals. Institutional record books typically note whether a contest is counted, and most major schools include bowl results in their opponent series listings. For a recent institutional example, consult the University of Notre Dame football record book for the compiled opponent history and date stamps on updates Notre Dame 2024 record book.

When verifying a series total, check the date of the record book or NCAA summary so you know whether later meetings could have changed the ledger. If a record book is updated after a new game, it will reflect that result in the opponent series section.

Key games Alabama won: 2013 BCS title and the 2021 Rose Bowl CFP semifinal

2013 BCS National Championship Game recap

The 2013 BCS National Championship Game on January 7, 2013, ended with Alabama defeating Notre Dame 42-14. Contemporary reporting and the game recap describe Alabama's scoring, key plays, and the final margin, giving a clear, verifiable account of that title victory ESPN game recap.

2021 Rose Bowl CFP semifinal recap

On January 1, 2021, Alabama beat Notre Dame 31-14 in the College Football Playoff semifinal game played at the Rose Bowl. The official summary of that semifinal documents the score, major contributors, and the playoff context for the meeting, and it is a reliable reference for anyone confirming that result NCAA recap of the Rose Bowl semifinal. The Tournament of Roses also has a recap of that game on its site.

Has Alabama ever beaten Notre Dame?

Yes. Alabama defeated Notre Dame in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game and again in the 2021 College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl; institutional records and NCAA summaries document those results.

Both of these modern-era wins were decisive and have shaped how many commentators and fans view the matchup in the playoff era. While the two scores alone do not rewrite the longer history between the programs, they do affect modern comparative narratives about team strength and postseason performance.

Notable Notre Dame wins and the early-series context

1973 Sugar Bowl and 1975 Orange Bowl

Notre Dame established an early edge in the series with narrow postseason victories over Alabama, including a 24-23 win in the 1973 Sugar Bowl. The Sugar Bowl's own historical summary records the close score and the game's importance at the time for national standing and public perception Allstate Sugar Bowl classic page.

Notre Dame also edged Alabama 13-11 in the 1975 Orange Bowl, another high-stakes postseason meeting that contributed to the early series lead. Contemporary accounts and historical summaries of the Orange Bowl document the closeness and significance of that result 1975 Orange Bowl overview.

Funded Plays Challenges

View FundedPlays Challenges

Those close, high-profile postseason results helped Notre Dame build a historical advantage in the matchup before the programs met again in the modern playoff era.

How the Rose Bowl 2021 semifinal reshaped the modern narrative

Why the 2021 game matters beyond a single result

Split closeup of Alabama and Notre Dame helmets facing each other on a dark minimalist Funded Plays style background crimson matte and metallic gold helmets no logos rose bowl point spread

The 2021 Rose Bowl semifinal carried playoff implications and was broadcast to a national audience, so its result helped crystallize a modern-era perspective on how the two programs stack up in postseason play. The official game recap records the margin and key performances that contributed to the result NCAA recap of the Rose Bowl semifinal.

Because playoff-era matchups are relatively infrequent, each meeting can have outsize weight in narratives about program trajectories. Analysts commonly cite these recent playoff meetings when discussing competitive balance between the teams, and some searchers pair the matchup with terms like rose bowl point spread to see how pregame expectations compared with the actual outcome.

What analysts pointed to after the Rose Bowl game

After the semifinal, commentators emphasized Alabama's depth, execution in key phases of the game, and adjustments that limited Notre Dame's offensive opportunities. Those game-level observations are part of typical postgame analysis and appear in the official recaps and coverage of the semifinal.

It is important to separate narrative weight from predictive value. A convincing playoff win becomes part of the historical record and the talking points used by analysts. However, those narrative elements are one piece of many when evaluating future matchups or when interpreting a point spread for a new game.

How to verify head-to-head records and where to check authoritative sources

Primary sources to consult

To confirm head-to-head totals and individual game results, start with institutional record books and NCAA series summaries. The University of Notre Dame's 2024 football record book is an example of an institutional source that compiles opponent histories and includes date stamps on its content, which helps readers know whether the ledger includes the most recent meetings Notre Dame 2024 record book.

How to read institutional record books and NCAA summaries

When reading a record book, note the opponent series section and the date on the document. Institutional record books typically list games in chronological order with scores and locations. NCAA summaries similarly present series-level context and can be used to cross-check an institution's listings. Together, these sources offer a reliable method to verify whether a given result is included in the all-time ledger.

Minimalist 2D vector close up of an angled college football record book page showing rows and columns as blocks representing opponent series listings on a dark Funded Plays style background rose bowl point spread

Practical verification steps include finding the opponent series table, checking the most recent update date on the record book, and then locating the specific game recap for additional context on scoring and key moments. (see the Funded Plays blog)

Common mistakes and pitfalls when reading historical matchup records

Confusing regular season and bowl statistics

A frequent error is assuming that all online lists treat postseason and regular-season games the same way. Some informal lists omit bowl games, or they separate postseason results into a different table. Always confirm that the source you are using explicitly includes bowl and title games in the head-to-head total.

Relying on unsourced lists or fan-maintained pages

Fan-maintained pages can be a good starting point for quick context, but they sometimes contain errors or lack update dates. Cross-check any informal list against institutional record books or NCAA summaries before citing a series total.

Quick verification checklist for head-to-head records

Source date
Source type
Institution
Game date
Score
Update note

Check the date stamp before citing

Other common pitfalls include forgetting to account for neutral-site designations or misreading game dates. Small differences in how contests are classified can lead to apparent discrepancies, so pay attention to the exact entries in authoritative sources.

Practical examples: what the head-to-head record means for fans, analysts, and casual bettors

Interpreting historical wins in current-season analysis

Fans and analysts often use head-to-head history for context in preseason stories or rivalry previews. Knowing that Alabama won the 2013 title game and the 2021 Rose Bowl semifinal helps frame recent competitive balance, but it should be weighed alongside roster changes, injuries, coaching staff turnover, and current-season metrics.

For example, when an analyst cites the 2013 and 2021 results, they are typically highlighting postseason performance rather than predicting the outcome of a hypothetical future game. Past victories give narrative weight, but they are not a standalone forecast tool.

Using series history responsibly

When casual bettors or fans consult series history to inform a wager or a prediction, they should separate historical context from match-specific factors. Point spreads reflect short-term expectations, while a head-to-head ledger reflects past outcomes. Treat both pieces of information as distinct inputs rather than interchangeable evidence.

Responsible use includes consulting recent game film, matchup statistics, and injury reports in addition to historical results, and avoiding overreliance on a single past meeting to justify a current-season projection.

What to watch next: scheduled meetings, series updates, and how the ledger could change

Where to check for announced future games

To find announced future meetings that would change the head-to-head ledger, monitor official athletic department schedules and NCAA announcements. Those outlets list confirmed non-conference agreements and postseason matchups, and they will be the first places to reflect any new Alabama-Notre Dame games.

How a new game would be reflected in record books

Once a new meeting is played, institutional record books are typically updated in the season or calendar year following the game, and the opponent series table will show the new result with date and score. NCAA series summaries and official event pages also add game results to their archives after a contest is completed.

Because the last widely reported update to the series tally was after the 2021 meeting, check the date stamps on the Notre Dame and Alabama record books to confirm whether a later game has been added to the ledger Notre Dame 2024 record book.

Conclusion: concise recap and final takeaways

Yes, Alabama has beaten Notre Dame, with the most notable modern wins being the 2013 BCS National Championship and the 2021 Rose Bowl CFP semifinal. These games are documented in official recaps and institutional summaries, which are the recommended references for verification.

For a reliable check of the all-time ledger and individual game details, consult institutional record books and NCAA summaries. That is the best way to confirm that Notre Dame led the series through 2021 and to see whether any later meetings have changed the numbers. (also see Funded Plays)

Did Alabama ever beat Notre Dame in a championship game?

Yes. Alabama beat Notre Dame in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game, a widely documented result in contemporary recaps.

What was the result of the 2021 Rose Bowl semifinal between Alabama and Notre Dame?

Alabama defeated Notre Dame 31-14 in the January 1, 2021 College Football Playoff semifinal.

Where can I verify the all-time series between Alabama and Notre Dame?

Check institutional record books and NCAA series summaries, which list opponent histories and include date stamps for updates.

If you want to follow updates to the series ledger, check institutional record books and NCAA summaries after any new meeting between the programs. Those sources will record the score, date, and how the result affects the all-time tally. Use historical results for context, but treat point spreads and matchup-specific factors separately when evaluating a future game.