The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Notre Dame-Michigan

Michigan22-18-1Notre Dame
Blue Blood#5 of 138–Power Program I#7 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Michigan leads the all-time series 22-18-1. They've met 41 times since 1898. Michigan once took 5 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Michigan
Win total
6.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -46
What fans are saying · player performance
One fan thinks Carr can elevate Michigan's offense long-term
Love Tommy Carr. He is one tough player and I see him becoming an elite player for Michigan in the next year or two.
Verified verbatim
Notre Dame
Transfer portal
-19
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -30
What fans are saying · scheme identity
fans believe Notre Dame's defense has practiced against mobile quarterbacks
ND vs Rice - 28-10 Rice is a huge underdog so I expect them to use that spread triple-option to play keepaway most of the game.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1898–2019

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeMichiganNotre Dameevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Michigan won, gray: Notre Dame won)1900192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Notre Dame has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Michigan led 4 and Notre Dame led 19.

more passmore runMichiganNotre Dame2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262011Notre Dame 18.5 ptsMichigan won 35-312006Notre Dame 14.5 ptsMichigan won 47-212020Michigan 13.6 pts
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Michigan by 38 in 2003. The biggest crowd, 115,109, was in 2013.

The coaching duels

Gary Moeller vs Lou Holtz2-2-1
Bo Schembechler vs Lou Holtz1-3
Brady Hoke vs Brian Kelly2-2
Bo Schembechler vs Dan Devine1-2
Bo Schembechler vs Gerry Faust2-1
Lloyd Carr vs Bob Davie2-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
260-262
Notre Dame leads
1st-rounders
46-47
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
MichiganNotre Dame
1960s9-17
1970s46-36
1980s30-28
1990s34-57
2000s46-42
2010s37-43
2020s58-39

Best picks, either side

2008Jake Long Offensive Tackle · Miami DolphinsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1972Walt Patulski Defensive End · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2022Aidan Hutchinson Defensive End · Detroit LionsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1969George Kunz Offensive Tackle · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1970Mike McCoy Defensive Tackle · Green Bay PackersRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1976Steve Niehaus Defensive Tackle · Seattle SeahawksRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1993Rick Mirer Quarterback · Seattle SeahawksRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2005Braylon Edwards Wide Receiver · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall

Recent meetings

They haven’t met since 2019 — 7 seasons and counting.

2019Michigan45-14
2018Notre Dame24-17
2014Notre Dame31-0
2013Michigan41-30
2012Notre Dame13-6Michigan — both ranked
2011Michigan35-31
2010Michigan28-24
2009Michigan38-34
2008Notre Dame35-17
2007Michigan38-0
2006Michigan47-21Notre Dame — both ranked
2005Notre Dame17-10Michigan — both ranked
2004Notre Dame28-20
2003Michigan38-0

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Michigan’s chance to win through that meeting.

2019Michigan 45-14Michigan won 45-14 vs Notre Dame. Chance to win started at 48%, low 41%, high better than 99%.
2018Notre Dame 24-17Michigan lost 17-24 at Notre Dame. Chance to win started at 62%, low 2%, high 65%.

Meetings with their own story page

2 meetings in our archive, 2018 to 2019.