Today in sports history: No. 3 Notre Dame edges No. 1 Alabama in 1973 Sugar Bowl
Here's a look back at sports happenings on this date in history, Dec. 31.
Video: This Week in Sports History
1961: Packers Hornung scores 19 points to lead Packers to NFL championship
1961 — Paul Hornung, on leave from the Army, scores 19 points to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 37-0 win over the New York Giants for their seventh NFL championship. Green Bay’s Bart Starr throws three touchdown passes in the first title game ever played in Green Bay.
Green Bay Packers' Paul Hornung is shown, Aug. 2, 1961. (AP Photo)
1973: Third-ranked Notre Dame edges top-ranked Alabama 24-23 in the Sugar Bowl
1973 — Third-ranked Notre Dame edges top-ranked Alabama 24-23 in the Sugar Bowl. Notre Dame’s Bob Thomas kicks a 19-yard field goal with 4:26 left to give the Irish a one-point lead. With two minutes left, the Irish clinch the victory when on third-and-8 from the their own 3, Tom Clements completes a 35-yard pass from his own end zone to Robin Weber, and Notre Dame runs out the clock.
Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian is carried off the football field amid shouts of "we're number one" after his Irish beat the undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide, 24-23, at the Sugar Bowl at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, La., Monday night, Dec. 31, 1973. (AP Photo)
1988: Chicago Bears beat Philadelphia Eagles 20-12 in dense fog
1988 — A blinding fog rolls in during the second quarter of the Chicago Bears’ 20-12 NFC semifinal victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field in Chicago. The fog obscures the game from most of the 65,534 fans present and a national television audience that could watch only ground-level shots.
In this Dec. 31, 1988, file photo, Chicago Bears free safety Maurice Douglass (37) runs out of the fog and is congratulated by teammates after intercepting a Philadelphia Eagles pass late in the fourth quarter of an NFL football playoff game in Chicago. (AP Photo/Mark Elias, File)
2013: Johnny Manziel leads Texas A&M to comeback over Duke in Chick-fil-A Bowl
2013 — Johnny Manziel lives up to his nickname “Johnny Football,” leading No. 20 Texas A&M to another comeback win, 52-48 over No. 22 Duke in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Aggies are down 38-17 at halftime but with Manziel at the helm they came back in the highest-scoring game in the bowl’s history. The 2012 Heisman trophy winner throws four touchdown passes, completes 30 of 38 passes for 382 yards and runs for 73 yards and a touchdown.
In this Dec. 31, 2013, file photo, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) warms up before the start of the Chick-fil-A Bowl NCAA college football game against Duke in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
2016: Alabama beats Washington 24-7 in Peach Bowl semifinal
2016 — Top-ranked Alabama relies on a stifling defense and the bruising runs of Bo Scarbrough to wear down Washington for a 24-7 victory in the Peach Bowl semifinal game.
Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson (22) picks off a pass intended for Washington running back Lavon Coleman (22) during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Skip Martin)
2016: No. 3 Clemson crushes No. 2 Ohio State 31-0 on in Fiesta Bowl
2016 — Deshaun Watson runs for two touchdowns and throws another and No. 3 Clemson crushes No. 2 Ohio State 31-0 on in the Fiesta Bowl to set up a rematch with Alabama for the College Football Playoff national championship.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Ohio State, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
2017: Cleveland Browns complete second 0-16 season in NFL history
2017 — The Cleveland Browns complete the second 0-16 season in NFL history with a 28-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Sean Davis (28) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer (7) in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
2017: Buffalo Bills snap longest current non-playoff streak in North American pro sports
2017 — The Buffalo Bills snap the longest current non-playoff streak in North American pro sports with a 22-16 victory at Miami and Cincinnati’s victory at Baltimore. The Bills hadn’t made the postseason since 1999.
In this Dec. 31, 2017, file photo, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams (95) and a group of players fall to the ground in celebration after Williams scored a touchdown, during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
