Michigan and Notre Dame have renewed their football rivalry. It was announced that the two will play at Notre Dame in 2018 and in Michigan in 2019. The first game of this rivalry came all the way back in 1887. Michigan won that game 8-0. And the last time these two teams played was 2014 when Notre Dame throttled Michigan 31-0. In the all-time series, Michigan has the edge 24-17-1.
“It brings out the best in both programs,” said Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh regarding the rivalry. According to Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel, Jim Harbaugh and Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly started the conversations to bring back the rivalry. It’s good to know that these coaches got together and realized what needed to be done. There was a lot of uproar when the rivalry was stopped.
It’s not a surprise at all that Jim Harbaugh was one of the reasons that this rivalry is back on. He is a guy understands the history of not only Michigan but college football as a whole. And adding Harbaugh into the mix of the rivalry should be a great thing. We’ve already seen the excitement he has brought to the Michigan and Ohio State rivalry. Before the game last season, Harbaugh smashed a Buckeye with a hammer next to legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler’s grave. Harbaugh will bring extra energy to the Notre Dame rivalry.
It’s a rivalry series that should never have gone away in the first place. Michigan against Notre Dame is one of the classic rivalries in college football, one that dates back all the way until 1887. It’s a rivalry that the players wanted back and the fans wanted back. And at the end of the day, it is a great thing for college football that the Michigan against Notre Dame rivalry will be renewed.
