Michigan, Notre Dame Set To Revive Football Rivalry In 2018

The Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will resume their longtime football rivalry beginning in the 2018 season, according to Wednesday reports from several sources.

Michigan, Notre Dame Set To Revive Football Rivalry In 2018

Both schools announced early Thursday that they would face off in the 2018 season opener on September 1 in South Bend, Indiana. They will also play in Ann Arbor, Michigan the following season, on October 26, 2019.

Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Krasnoo, who covers college sports for SINow.com, reported that Michigan plants to pay the $2 million fee to cancel its pre-scheduled game against Arkansas, which was originally set to be played in Ann Arbor on Sept. 1, 2018. Unless reported otherwise, the Wolverines plan to visit Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks in 2019. Michigan also moved a 2019 Big Ten game against Rutgers to a new unspecified date.

Michigan and Notre Dame are two of the biggest rivals in NCAA football history. The two teams, whose rivalry goes back more than 100 years, hold the top two spots in all-time winning percentage (Notre Dame leads) and all-time wins (Michigan leads), and have played each other 42 times, including in an annual series from 1997-2014. Though the matchup was often between top-25 teams and warranted national media coverage, the series ended after the Fighting Irish controversially and abruptly ended the partnership after 2014, citing that they were required to play more Atlantic Coast Conference teams as part of the University’s move to the conference in every sport but football.

Michigan holds a 24-17-1 record in the series, but lost its last matchup to the Fighting Irish in 2014, 31-0.

New Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in March that he would be open to discussing future matchups with Notre Dame in football after the series between the two teams ended.

“This is a game that holds great significance for the student-athletes and coaches who compete on the field,” Manuel said in a statement. “A great deal of credit goes to Coach [Jim] Harbaugh and Coach [Brian] Kelly for initiating the discussion of scheduling this series. This rivalry is also important for the fans of both programs, and we look forward to renewing one of college football’s great rivalries.”

Manuel added there have been ongoing discussions to extend the series beyond 2019. Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick indicated that the teams may not play every year.

“Today is a great day for Notre Dame, Michigan and college football fans across the country,” Swarbrick said. “While the schedule commitments of both Notre Dame and Michigan make an annual series impractical, we’re optimistic that additional games can be scheduled in the future.”

ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 07: Chris Brown #2 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is tackled by Delonte Hollowell #24 of the Michigan Wolverines after a third quarter catch at Michigan Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 41-30. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)