After a disastrous one-year turn as the New York Jets head coach, Holtz returned to Division I, this time with Arkansas. Holtz never had a losing record with the Razorbacks, and he went to six bowls in seven years. He went to Minnesota for two years, and his next move, Notre Dame, is what puts Holtz in this Hall of Fame conversation.

With the Fighting Irish, Holtz won the National Championship in 1988, with a Fiesta Bowl win. Notre Dame won the 1989 Orange Bowl, 1991 Sugar Bowl, and 1992 and 1993 Cotton Bowls. Holtz had five top-six post-season rankings at Notre Dame.

Holtz walked away from Notre Dame in 1996 but returned to South Carolina for six years, taking a down-and-out team back to SEC respectability.