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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23 Sep 1989: Quarterback Tony Rice of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rolls out of the pocket during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won the game 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

2. 1989: Notre Dame 24, Michigan 19

Following their classic in 1988, Lou Holtz and Bo Schembechler, in his final year on the Michigan sideline, would once again lead their teams into battle for yet another nail-biter in 1989, this time at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. This was also the last time the two teams would meet as the two top-ranked teams in the country.

As the defending national champions, Notre Dame actually began the season ranked second in the polls but jumped to the top with a season-opening win against Virginia two weeks before their matchup with the Wolverines, who were now ranked second to begin their season. After such a tough loss the previous year, Michigan was determined not to let the Irish become the first team to ever beat Bo three years in a row. Raghib Ismail, the young Notre Dame sophomore aptly called “Rocket”, would have something to say about that.

Notre Dame led by one, 7-6, at the half as the defenses showed out but Ismail got things going quickly in the second half with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the first against the Wolverines in 32 years. The following series, Michigan starting quarterback Michael Taylor was knocked out of the game, requiring the Wolverines to bring in inexperienced redshirt freshman Elvis Grbac, who would go on to have a wonderful first game, completing 17-of-21 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. But it wouldn’t be enough.

With 12:46 to play, Ismail was at it again, this time returning a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, becoming the only player to ever take it to the house twice on a kickoff against the Wolverines. This score forced the Wolverines to keep playing behind and there just wouldn’t be enough time at the end of the day to mount a comeback. This win extended Notre Dame’s overall winning streak to 14, a streak that would reach 23 before the Irish lost to Miami, who would go on to win the national championship. Notre Dame would finish second in the polls that season.

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