I distinctly remember the aftermath following DeShone Kizer’s touchdown run with thirty seconds remaining. The wind whipped around me as the Notre Dame fans in my section made their presence known while I sat in silence. Thirty seconds of game-time later, I watched Conrad Ukropina’s 45-yard field goal sail through the uprights while the Notre Dame fans promptly vacated the premises.
While the game ended up being rendered meaningless in relation to Stanford’s playoff chances, it felt like the National Championship to me. I immediately rushed down to the nearest field entrance and stormed the field with the thousands of other Stanford fans in the stadium.