Michigan masters Notre Dame
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Devin Gardner threw four touchdown passes, including a victory-sealing connection to Drew Dileo with 4:18 left, and the dual-threat quarterback wearing No. 98 to honor Tom Harmon ran for a score to lead No. 17 Michigan to a 41-30 win over No. 14 Notre Dame on Saturday night in front of an NCAA-record crowd of 115,109.
The Wolverines (2-0) had a pair of 14-point leads, but the Fighting Irish (1-1) refused to get routed.
Notre Dame pulled within a TD early in the fourth quarter when defensive end Stephon Tuitt made a diving interception in the end zone.
Kyle Brindza made a 40-yard field goal with 9:15 left to pull Notre Dame within four points.
The Irish were called for pass interference twice on the ensuing drive and Gardner later took advantage with a 4-yard TD throw to Dileo.
Michigan has won four straight at home against the Irish.
That winning streak will stand for a while because the two storied programs won’t play at the Big House again anytime soon. Notre Dame opted out of its contract with the Wolverines, making next year’s game in South Bend, Ind., the last guaranteed matchup in a series that dates to 1887.
Soon after the Irish walked off the field, the “Chicken Dance” blared and fans danced in the stands. Four months ago, Michigan coach Brady Hoke told a group of Wolverines supporters that Notre Dame was “chickening out” of the series.
No. 3 Ohio Sate 42, San Diego State 7 At Columbus, Ohio, Kenny Guiton took over when Braxton Miller left with a sprained left knee, running for one touchdown and passing for two.
Miller watched the last three quarters from the sideline after being sandwiched between two tacklers on Ohio State’s seventh offensive play. The Buckeyes (2-0) didn’t need him.
Guiton, who helped save Ohio State’s 12-0 season a year ago, had the most playing time he’s ever had in a game. He set career bests with 19-of-28 passing for 152 yards and 83 rushing yards.
No. 16 Oklahoma 16, West Virginia 7 At Norman, Okla., Brennan Clay had career-high 170 yards rushing as Oklahoma overcame a second-half quarterback switch defeat West Virginia.
The No. 16 Sooners (2-0, 1-0 Big 12) scored the game’s final 16 points after trailing 7-0 in the first quarter. Freshman quarterback Trevor Knight threw a pair of third-quarter interceptions, leading to junior Blake Bell taking over in the fourth quarter.