Since I’ve already thrown back to 2017 (you can read that one here: Notre Dame vs. NC State, 2017: The Rain Game Redemption), and looking back at 2023 doesn’t exactly scream “throwback,” I’m doing something
a little different this week.
Rather than revisiting stats and scores, I’m diving deep into one of the great unsolved mysteries of modern Notre Dame football: why does it always rain when we play NC State?
So grab your ponchos and your sense of humor — it’s time to investigate The ND-NC State Weather Curse: Coincidence or Conspiracy?
(Accuracy not guaranteed. Absurdity absolutely guaranteed.)
If you’ve been a Notre Dame fan long enough, you know there are a few undeniable truths: the grass always looks greener in South Bend, the refs are probably out to get us, and whenever we play NC State, it rains so hard you half-expect to see Noah floating down midfield on an ark.
In 2016, the game in Raleigh became less of a football contest and more of a survival experiment. Players waded through puddles the size of Lake Michigan while footballs took on the aerodynamic properties of watermelons. Somewhere, Lou Holtz was yelling “hold onto the ball!” through an umbrella the size of a blimp.
But then — seven years later — it happened again. 2023. Different year, different team, same meteorological meltdown. The rain poured, the wind howled, and Irish fans everywhere experienced collective swamp flashbacks.
Coincidence?
Or… conspiracy?
The Evidence: A Stormy History
Let’s review the facts (which are, of course, entirely fabricated for investigative flair):
- 2016: Torrential rain in Raleigh. Final score: Pain.
- 2023: Rain again. ND wins, but our socks still haven’t dried.
- 2025: Forecast calls for “partly cloudy with a 100% chance of memes.”
Some claim this weather pattern is just bad luck. Others whisper darker theories — that the Wolfpack made a pact with the Weather Gods to neutralize the Irish passing game forever.
Unconfirmed reports suggest NC State meteorologists have been seen performing rain dances from afar, chanting “H-2-O, let’s go!” while waving around laminated charts labeled “Ways to Dampen the Irish Offense.”
Expert Testimony
To dig deeper, I’ve reached out to a panel of totally legitimate experts:
- Dr. Philomena O’Storm, professor of Climatological Chaos at Notre Dame’s College of Pseudo-Science, claims, “Every time Notre Dame faces NC State, barometric pressure plummets, fans panic-buy ponchos, and meteorologists start drafting apology tweets. This cannot be coincidence.”
- Gary ‘The Cloud Whisperer’ McDougal, retired weatherman and self-proclaimed storm empath, offers a different take: “Some matchups bring heat. Others bring drama. This one brings precipitation. It’s science… or possibly sorcery.”
- And finally, the Leprechaun’s Umbrella, when reached for comment, simply said:
“Not again.”
The “Declassified” Files
According to documents recently “uncovered” in the archives beneath the Joyce Center (filed between the leftover Shamrock Series uniforms and a suspiciously damp game ball from 2016), there’s compelling evidence that the NC State Weather Curse dates back nearly a century.
In these tattered papers — reportedly written in both Latin and smudged ink — a cryptic note reads:
“Should the Irish ever face the Wolf again, the skies shall lose all chill and composure.”
Skeptics insist it’s just a coincidence. Optimists call it meteorological mayhem. Realists think someone probably just spilled Gatorade on the document.
Either way, one thing is clear: when Notre Dame and NC State appear on the same schedule, the local weather app starts sweating.
Fan Survival Tips for This Week
If you’re heading to the game, here’s my official Weather Protocol:
- Bring an ark. Just in case.
- Replace your rally towel with a ShamWow. Multipurpose and absorbent.
- Don’t wear suede. Ever.
- Expect a miracle. Preferably one that comes with sunshine and a solid run defense.
Final Forecast
As of press time, meteorologists predict mild conditions — but we’ve heard that before. So here’s the official prediction:
🌧 Temperature: 68°
💨 Wind: 15 mph (mostly swirling Irish emotions)
☘️ Precipitation: 100% chance of memes
🏈 Outcome: Notre Dame dries off, toughens up, and wins big.
Because rain may fall, storms may rage, but you can’t drown the Echoes of Notre Dame.
The ND-NC State weather curse might be real. Or it might just be meteorology’s longest-running inside joke. Either way, pack your poncho, grab your Irish spirit, and remember — umbrellas up, heads high, and Go Irish.
