Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry

Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry. The rivalry between the University of Michigan Wolverines and the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish is one of the most famous and enduring in college football, with both teams having a rich history of success, including numerous Big Ten Conference and NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision championships. The two teams have been competing against each other since 1887, with notable games played at Michigan Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium. The rivalry has been fueled by the proximity of the two schools, with Ann Arbor, Michigan and Notre Dame, Indiana being only a few hours apart, and the fact that both teams have a large following of alumni and fans, including notable figures such as Charles Woodson and Joe Montana.

Introduction

The Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry is a series of college football games between the University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame, with the first game being played in 1887. The rivalry has been marked by several notable games, including the 1988 game, which was played in front of a crowd of over 105,000 at Michigan Stadium, and the 1990 game, which was played at Notre Dame Stadium and featured a comeback by the Fighting Irish led by Rick Mirer. The rivalry has also been fueled by the success of both teams, with the Wolverines having won 11 Big Ten Conference championships and the Fighting Irish having won 11 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision championships, including BCS national championships in 1988 and 1993 under the leadership of Lou Holtz. Other notable coaches who have contributed to the rivalry include Bo Schembechler, Ara Parseghian, and Lloyd Carr.

History

The first game between the University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame was played in 1887, with the Wolverines winning 8-0. The series was initially dominated by the Wolverines, who won 12 of the first 15 games. However, the Fighting Irish began to gain ground in the series in the 1920s, with Knute Rockne leading the team to several victories, including a 14-0 win in 1927. The series has also been marked by several notable upsets, including the 1993 game, in which the Fighting Irish defeated the Wolverines 27-23, and the 2005 game, in which the Fighting Irish defeated the Wolverines 17-10. Other notable players who have contributed to the rivalry include Tom Harmon, Alan Page, and Tim Brown.

Series statistics

The University of Michigan leads the series 24-17-1, with the Fighting Irish having won 7 of the last 10 games. The series has been marked by several notable streaks, including a 6-game winning streak by the Wolverines from 1909 to 1917, and a 4-game winning streak by the Fighting Irish from 1987 to 1990. The series has also been marked by several notable high-scoring games, including the 1999 game, in which the Fighting Irish defeated the Wolverines 36-20, and the 2011 game, in which the Wolverines defeated the Fighting Irish 35-31. Other notable bowl games that have featured the two teams include the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl.

Games of note

Several games in the series have been particularly notable, including the 1988 game, in which the Fighting Irish defeated the Wolverines 19-17, and the 1990 game, in which the Fighting Irish defeated the Wolverines 28-24. The series has also been marked by several notable rivalries between coaches, including the rivalry between Bo Schembechler and Ara Parseghian, and the rivalry between Lloyd Carr and Lou Holtz. Other notable games that have been played in the series include the 2003 game, in which the Wolverines defeated the Fighting Irish 38-0, and the 2013 game, in which the Wolverines defeated the Fighting Irish 41-30. The series has also featured several notable awards, including the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award.

Rivalry renewal and future schedules

The series between the University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame was renewed in 2010, with the two teams signing a contract to play each other from 2010 to 2017. The series has been extended through 2031, with the two teams scheduled to play each other in 2024, 2027, and 2031. The rivalry has also been fueled by the success of both teams in recent years, with the Wolverines having won the Big Ten Conference championship in 2021 and the Fighting Irish having won the Cotton Bowl Classic in 2018. Other notable conferences that have featured the two teams include the Big Ten Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference. The series has also been marked by several notable bowl games, including the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl, and has featured several notable coaches, including Jim Harbaugh and Brian Kelly. Category:College football rivalries