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

1. 2011: Michigan 35, Notre Dame 31

There have been plenty of back-and-forth battles in the Michigan-Notre Dame rivalry but it’s hard to top the one that took place in 2011, which also happened to be the first-ever game played under the lights at Michigan Stadium.

The Wolverines came into the game unranked, having gone 7-6 the previous year, the final year that Rich Rodriguez coached the team before being replaced by Brady Hoke, but had won their season opener over Western Michigan. On the other side, the Fighting Irish had been upset at home by South Florida in their opener but were still hanging in the top 25 at No. 24. But the rankings and records really didn’t matter here. This was just a fun football game to watch, even if it didn’t start out that way.

The Irish jumped out to a 14-0 lead and led 17-7 at the half and extended that lead to 17 points in the third quarter following a Tommy Rees touchdown pass to T.J. Jones. And then the fourth quarter happened and things just got crazy.

Denard Robinson, who had a wild day overall with 338 yards passing with four touchdowns and three interceptions and also 108 yards on the ground with a TD, scored just six seconds into the quarter to cut the lead to 10. Less than four minutes later, Robinson found Jeremy Gallon in the end zone for a 15-yard score and the extra point made it 24-21.

With 1:12 left in the game, Robinson connected with Vincent Smith on a 21-yard touchdown pass to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game at 28-24. But Notre Dame came right back, going 61 yards in four plays and 42 seconds, the last being a Rees touchdown pass to Theo Riddick, to take a 31-28 lead with just 30 seconds remaining in the game. Game over, right? Not on this night.

Starting from their own 20, Michigan didn’t seem to have enough time to get down the field, especially as Robinson overthrew Gallon on the first play of the drive, knocking seven seconds off the clock. He didn’t miss the second time. After scrambling to get away from the rush, Robinson found a wide-open Gallon down the right side of the field and the wideout got all the way down to the Notre Dame 16-yard line, covering 64 yards but also running the clock down to eight seconds.

Needing a field goal to tie, Hoke decided to go for it and it paid off as Robinson, under pressure, just lobbed it up to the end zone and Roy Roundtree came down with it as 114,804 fans went crazy. The extra point made it 35-31 and that was that in one of the craziest final two minutes in college football history.

Who are you picking in the Michigan vs. Notre Dame matchup on Saturday night? What’s your favorite all-time game in the rivalry? Please feel free to join in the conversation in the comments section below and be sure to check back with our NCAA Football hub for all the latest news and updates.