in the Orange Bowl but would lose by a score of 10–9. The Fighting Irish would go 10–3 in 1991. After defeating Indiana to open the season, ⁣ the Irish lost to No. 4 Michigan by a score of 24–14. The Irish won their next seven, defeating Michigan State, Purdue, Stanford, No. 12 Pittsburgh, Air Force, USC and Navy. The Irish would suffer a defeat to No. 13 Tennessee at home, blowing a 24-point lead to lose by a score of 35–34. Notre Dame would then lose back-to-back games for the first time since 1987 when they lost to unranked Penn State, their first loss to an unranked opponent as well since 1987. The Irish would close out the regular season with a victory over Hawaii by a score of 48–42. The Irish would receive a berth in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, where they defeated Florida by a score of 39–28. In 1992, Notre Dame finished 10–1–1. After defeating Northwestern to start the season, ⁣ the Fighting Irish tied No. 5 Michigan, their first tie of the Holtz era. After defeating Michigan State and Purdue, the Irish lost to No. 19 Stanford by a score of 33–16. Notre Dame would win out for the rest of the season, defeating Pittsburgh, ⁣ BYU, ⁣ Navy, ⁣ No. 9 Boston College, ⁣ No. 21 Penn State, ⁣ No. 23 USC and the Cotton Bowl against No. 3 Texas A&M. The Irish would enjoy another successful season in 1993, finishing the season at 11–1. After scoring 27 points in wins over Northwestern and No. 2 Michigan to start the season, the Irish defeated Michigan State, Purdue, Pittsburgh, BYU, USC, Navy and No. 1 Florida State. However, a loss to No. 12 Boston College on a game-winning field goal as time expired by a score of 41–39 ended the Irish's national championship aspirations. The Irish would face a rematch with No. 6 Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl to finish the season, a game the Irish won by a score of 24–21. In 1994, Holtz led Notre Dame to a 6–5–1 record, the Irish's worst record since Holtz's first season in 1986. The Irish would begin by defeating Northwestern but would lose to No. 5 Michigan by a score of 26–24. The Irish defeated Michigan State the following week by a score of 21–20. After wins over Purdue and Stanford, ⁣