Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: MICHIGAN offense — 244 passing and 258 rushing — throwing for one score and rushing for two others, including the game‑ winner with only 27 seconds remain‑ ing in the 28‑24 Wolverines triumph. The following year, Robinson rallied Michigan from a 24‑7 fourth‑quarter deficit to an astonishing 35‑31 victory when he directed an 80‑yard touch‑ down drive in the final 30 seconds, capped by a 16‑yard touchdown pass to Ray Roundtree with two seconds left. This time Robinson accounted for "only" 446 yards of total offense, 338 passing on only 11 completions (four of them touchdowns) and 108 rushing yards with another score. Last season while wearing the No. 98 retro uniform of Michigan's 1940 Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon, Devin Gardner immediately put himself into the Heisman discus‑ sion during the 41‑30 conquest of the Irish. Gardner completed 21 of 33 passes for 294 yards with four touch‑ downs, and added 82 yards on 13 car‑ ries and a fifth score. His 376 yards total offense actually seemed average by a Michigan quarterback versus the Fighting Irish. Each Wolverine quarterback peaked early against Notre Dame before going Predictions Tom Loy: Notre Dame 41, Michigan 24 Although this series has a long history of the outcome coming down to the final seconds to determine a winner, this is the year that the Irish pull off a convincing victory over the Wolverines. Led by the strong, consistent play of senior quarterback Everett Golson, the offense proves to have too many playmakers for the Michigan defense. Dan Murphy: Notre Dame 33, Michigan 30 Neither team will have an easy time running the ball and grinding out a win. Michigan's offensive line still needs time to jell. Notre Dame's offensive line will have trouble with the Wolverines front seven. Big- chunk plays will define another nail-biter, but this time Everett Golson has one more trick up his sleeve than Michigan QB Devin Gardner. Andrew Owens: Notre Dame 41, Michigan 31 As much as Notre Dame hopes to finish September unscathed, Michigan and beleaguered head coach Brady Hoke need it more. Michigan — with new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier directing the unit — will successfully pound the ball against the Irish front seven, but will not be able to outscore Everett Golson and company under the lights. Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 27, Michigan 20 The only two wins by Notre Dame in this series in the last eight meetings since 2006 saw the Wolverines commit a total of 12 turnovers (six apiece) to Notre Dame's two. After a defensive battle in 2012 (13-6 Notre Dame victory) and an offensive show last year (a 41-30 Michigan win), this will be something in between.