Following Notre Dame's upset win over top ranked Texas in the Cotton Bowl, quarterback Joe Theismann is featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Texas was the defending national champion and winners of 30 consecutive games. Notre Dame, ranked #6, beat #1 Texas 24-11 and finished the season 10-1-0. The only loss in the season came against Southern Cal when Theismann threw for 500+ yards and Notre Dame would finish the season ranked #2 behind Nebraska.

In the game against Texas, Theismann was responsible for all three touchdowns. The first came on a 26 yard pass to Tom Gatewood, the second on a three yard run, and the third on a fifteen yard run.