Michigan vs Notre Dame: 5 best games in the history of the rivalry

By Luke Norris | Aug 30, 2018

September 11 2010: University of Michigan linebacker Jonas Mouton (8) attempts to bring down Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist during the Wolverines 28-24 victory over the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Eric Bronson/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images) /

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ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 12: Quarterback Tate Forcier #5 of Michigan runs for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Notre Dame at Michigan Stadium on September 12, 2009 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Domenic Centofanti/Getty Images) /

5. 2009: Michigan 38, Notre Dame 34

Both Michigan and Notre Dame have long been known for having solid defensive units but the 2009 contest in Ann Arbor was a time for the offense to take center stage as the two teams combined for 72 points, the most ever in this rivalry.

The Wolverines owned the first quarter, taking an early 14-3 lead, but the Fighting Irish came back strong in the second with two Jimmy Clausen touchdown passes, one to Golden Tate and one to Michael Floyd, to take a 20-17 lead into the half. Michigan scored the only points of the third quarter as Wolverines quarterback Tate Forcier hit Kevin Koger on a three-yard pass to take a 24-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

Forcier gave Michigan an 11-point lead following a 31-yard rushing score but Clausen came right back, once again finding Tate in the end zone to cut the lead to five following a failed two-point conversion. Notre Dame running back Armando Allen Jr., who rushed for 139 yards on 21 carries, gave the Irish the lead with an eight-yard touchdown run with 5:13 remaining and the successful two-point conversion made it 34-31.

However, with just 11 seconds left on the clock, Forcier hit Greg Mathews from five yards out for the touchdown and the extra point sealed the 38-34 upset for the unranked Wolverines over the No. 18 Fighting Irish.

Forcier had one of the best games of his career that day, going 23-for-33 for 240 yards and two touchdowns in the air while also rushing for 70 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Jimmy Clausen completed 25-of-42 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns.

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