Rivalry returns

QB Wimbush sparks Notre Dame offense

No. 12 Notre Dame beat No. 14 Michigan in their first meeting in four years.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Michigan-Notre Dame series returned after a three-year hiatus and the 12thranked Fighting Irish became the latest rival to get the best of Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines.

Brandon Wimbush connected with Chris Finke on a 43-yard touchdown pass to help Notre Dame jump out to a big first-half lead, Te’von Coney and the defense made it stand with a late takeaway, and the Fighting Irish beat No. 14 Michigan 24-17 on Saturday night.

The Wolverines fell to 1-6 under Harbaugh against the school’s biggest rivals, Ohio State, Michigan State and Notre Dame.

A green-out crowd welcomed Michigan back to Notre Dame Stadium, and the Fighting Irish scored on their first two drives against a defense loaded with future NFL draft picks.

Finke hauled in Wimbush’s deep throw that went through a defender’s hands the TD that put Notre Dame up 14-0 midway through the first half.

Wimbush, who had to re-establish himself as the starter after a rough end to 2017, was 12 for 22 for 170 yards and an interception and ran for 59 yards.

“It just feels like playing football again,” said Wimbush, who got a game ball from coach Brian Kelly. “I just had so much fun out there, playing ball and just not worrying about anything else.”

Kelly said his senior quarterback “played with an edge to him, a confidence.”

Jafar Armstrong’s second touchdown, a 4-yard run with 3:55 left in the second quarter made it 21-3. Ambry Thomas gave the Wolverines a much-needed jolted with a 99-yard touchdown on the ensuing kickoff, but otherwise the Michigan debut of quarterback Shea Patterson was mostly disappointing.

Michigan’s only offensive touchdown came with 2:18 left, when Karan Higdon rushed in from 3 yards to cut the lead to seven.

Patterson, the transfer from Mississippi, went 20 for 30 for 227 yards and an interception. He spent a lot of time eluding pass rushers.

“They got us on the inside blitzes. They brought great pressure all night long,” Harbaugh said.

Michigan got a final opportunity with 1:48 and got as far as its 45. Patterson was flushed out of the pocket, grabbed by Jerry Tillery and stripped by Khalid Kareem. Coney recovered the loose ball with 46 seconds and sealed Notre Dame’s second straight win against the Wolverines.

When they last met in 2014, Notre Dame snapped Michigan’s streak of 365 consecutive games without being shut out with a 31-0 win. That loss also marked the beginning of the end of Brady Hoke’s tenure as Michigan coach.

Harbaugh’s program could use a change in trajectory. The Wolverines are 9-9 in their last 18 games and have dropped 17 straight road games against ranked teams since 2006.

“Where are we at?” Harbaugh said. “We’re at the beginning. We fought hard, competed well. There’s things we can build on. It’s not the end. It’s the beginning for us.”

Paul Sancya The Associated Press Jafar Armstrong runs 4 yards in the second quarter for his second touchdown as Notre Dame goes ahead 21-3 in its season-opening win Saturday over Michigan.