Notre Dame will play Michigan at 7:30 p.m ET on NBC. A live stream is available.
AP: Michigan-Notre Dame have shot at grand finale
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The greatest challenge for Michigan and No. 16 Notre Dame on Saturday might be finding a fitting finale to an on-again, off-again rivalry that repeatedly has produced some finishes.
There have been three last-minute victories in the past five seasons alone, all won by the Wolverines. Freshman Tate Forcier threw a five-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in a 38-24 victory in 2009. A year later, Denard Robinson scored on a 2-yard run with 27 seconds to go. The teams found a way to top those games in 2011 when they traded leads three times in the final 72 seconds, with the Wolverines winning when on a 16-yard TD pass by Robinson with 2 seconds left,
The Irish have their share of thrilling victories in the series, including linebacker Bob Crable stepping on the back of Michigan center Mike Trgovac and leaping to block a 42-yard field goal with 1 second left to preserve a 12-10 win in 1979.
The game Saturday will mark the 42nd meeting in the series that started in 1887. Michigan leads the series 24-16-1, but holds just a 15-14-1 edge since the series resumed in 1978. Half of the past 24 games have been decided by five points or less.
The schools 150 miles apart rank 1-2 in winning percentage, with Notre Dame holding the lead. But the Wolverines would reclaim the title with a win Saturday. The game features two of the nation’s most recognizable fight songs, but had a new tune added to the rivalry last year when Michigan played the “Chicken Dance” after a 41-30 victory. That came in the wake of Michigan coach Brady Hoke saying the Irish were “chickening out” of the series.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said he had no problem with the song.
“That’s their prerogative. They won the game. They can play whatever they want,” he said. “We’re going to play the alma mater.”
Kelly concedes there is added incentive Saturday.
“It’s wanting to be the group that says, ‘Hey, we were the last team to beat Michigan,’” he said. “But we’re not consumed with it.”
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