The College Football BeltThe CFB Belt
Belt / Coaches / Ara Parseghian

Head coach · Notre Dame · belt games 1968–1974

Ara Parseghian

343Days with the belt
2Reigns started
7–2Defending it
2–0Challenging for it

Coached Notre Dame (1968–1974) in seasons with a belt game. 11 belt games in all: 9 with the belt in hand, 2 trying to take it.

Ara Parseghian was on a sideline for 11 belt games between 1968 and 1974, at Notre Dame. He took the belt twice and held it for 343 days across two reigns.

The first came on September 21, 1968, Notre Dame 45–21 over Oklahoma.

His longest reign ran 336 days with Notre Dame, beginning October 27, 1973, and was defended seven times along the way.

Across his career he coached seven successful defenses, and the belt changed hands under him twice, last when Purdue won 31–20 on September 28, 1974.

Reigns

Started under this coach

Notre Dame · October 27, 1973 – September 28, 1974336 days · 7 def.Notre Dame · September 21, 1968 – September 28, 19687 days · 0 def.
Every belt game

11 games, newest first

September 28, 1974 · Notre Dame vs. Purdue 20–31 as holderlost the beltSeptember 21, 1974 · Notre Dame at Northwestern 49–3 as holderdefendedSeptember 9, 1974 · Notre Dame at Georgia Tech 31–7 as holderdefendedDecember 31, 1973 · Notre Dame vs. Alabama 24–23 as holderdefendedDecember 1, 1973 · Notre Dame at Miami 44–0 as holderdefendedNovember 22, 1973 · Notre Dame vs. Air Force 48–15 as holderdefendedNovember 10, 1973 · Notre Dame at Pittsburgh 31–10 as holderdefendedNovember 3, 1973 · Notre Dame vs. Navy 44–7 as holderdefendedOctober 27, 1973 · Notre Dame vs. USC 23–14 as challengertook the beltSeptember 28, 1968 · Notre Dame vs. Purdue 22–37 as holderlost the beltSeptember 21, 1968 · Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma 45–21 as challengertook the belt

Head coaches from the College Football Data API’s coaching records, matched by team and season. A reign counts for the coach in charge the season it began; a mid-season change isn’t split.