BY RYAN TICE
M
ichigan has enjoyed a longstanding
series that captured the nation's at-
tention in the non-conference matchup
with Notre Dame, but this year will mark
the final contest in the rivalry that U-M
leads, 24-16-1. The games date back to
1887, but have not always been played an-
nually.
The two winningest programs in col-
lege football have played 30 times since
1978, including every year since 2002. In
that span since 1978, U-M holds a 15-14-
1 lead, and the game outcome has been
decided on the final series in 20 of those
contests.
In 2007, the schools announced an an-
nual matchup that would run until 2031.
The Fighting Irish opted out of that con-
tract after agreeing to join the ACC in all
other sports, a deal that required them to
play five football games against teams in
that league starting in 2014.
U-M was notified of the end of the
matchup before the 2012 contest —al-
though the schools' athletic directors have
two different versions of that story — and
the last game has arrived with hopes for
meetings in the near future near extinct.
"Both teams want to win this football
SEPT. 3, 2014
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly has
posted a 38-15 record with the Fighting
Irish, but he has gone just 1-3 versus U-M
over the last four seasons.
PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA
End Of An Era
Notre Dame And Michigan Will Meet
For The Final Time In Their Historic Series
