Notre Dame narrowly beats Pitt because of kicking, so a title-game loss to Bama is right around the corner

In 2012, Notre Dame rolled to the BCS Championship Alabama and lost 42-12. That would not have happened if not for a narrow Irish win against Pitt at home.

History may or may not be (read: is) repeating itself in 2018, now that the Irish have beaten the Panthers 19-14 in South Bend. Let me explain.

The Irish were 8-0 and ranked No. 4 in that game. They trailed late in regulation, tied the game, and then fumbled on their possession in double overtime.

That gave Pitt kicker Kevin Harper a chance to win it with a 33-yard field goal. He missed it, prolonging Notre Dame’s unbeaten season:

The Irish won in the next overtime and stayed unbeaten until they saw Alabama in the BCS Championship, at which point the whole world saw what happened.

The Irish were 6-0 and ranked No. 5.

Pitt led for almost the entire game. The Panthers scored on a 17-play, 88-yard drive on their opening possession and played from ahead until the fourth quarter.

Twice, Pitt had chances to extended its lead with makable field goals:

Pitt would’ve led 20-12 if both had gone through. But neither did, so when Ian Book threw a long touchdown to Miles Boykin with some five minutes left, it put the Irish ahead.

The Panthers squandered a late chance to win anyway. After stopping Notre Dame on downs at the Pitt 36 with 2:35 to play, the Panthers moved backward 14 yards on four plays and saw their upset bid fall short.

Alabama will win by six touchdowns. It has been ordained.