Rivalry resumes with an Irish win
Notre Dame takes a big early lead and Wolverines’ late rally ends with a fumble.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Michigan-Notre Dame series returned after a threeyear hiatus and the 12th-ranked Fighting Irish became the latest rival to get the best of Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines.
Brandon Wimbush connected on a long 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.
A green-out crowd welcomed the Wolverines back to Notre Dame Stadium and the Irish scored on their first two drives. Chris Finke hauled in a deep throw from Wimbush that went through a defender's hands in traffic for a 43-yard score to put Notre Dame up 14-0 midway through the first half.
Wimbush, who had to reestablish himself as the starter in the offseason 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,” Wimbush said. “I just had so much fun out there, playing ball and just not worrying about anything else.”
Michigan's only offensive touchdown came with 2:18 left in the fourth quarter, when Karan Higdon rushed in from three yards to cut the lead to seven.
Shea Patterson, the touted transfer quarterback from Mississippi, went 20 for 30 for 227 yards and faced steady pressure.
“They got us on the inside blitzes. They brought great pressure all night long,” Harbaugh said.
Michigan got a final opportunity with 1:48 to play and got as far as its 45. Patterson was f lushed out of the pocket, grabbed by Jerry Tillery and stripped by Khalid Kareem. Coney recovered the loose ball with 46 seconds left and sealed Notre Dame's second straight win against the Wolverines.