Notre Dame football in the 1990s was defined by the final, highly successful years of the Lou Holtz era (1990–1996), characterized by elite recruiting, consistent top-10 finishes, and a punishing running game, followed by a decline in performance under Bob Davie in the late 90s. The decade was also defined by the inception of the NBC exclusive television contract (starting in 1991), which made every home game a national showcase