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Notre Dame Football: Why The Michigan Game Is A “Must Win”

By Sonny Martinez

IRVING, TX - OCTOBER 16: A detail view of the College Football Playoff logo shown during a press conference on October 16, 2013 in Irving, Texas. Condoleezza Rice, Stanford University professor and former United States Secretary of State, was chosen to serve as one of the 13 members that will select four teams to compete in the first playoff at the end of the 2014 season. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
IRVING, TX - OCTOBER 16: A detail view of the College Football Playoff logo shown during a press conference on October 16, 2013 in Irving, Texas. Condoleezza Rice, Stanford University professor and former United States Secretary of State, was chosen to serve as one of the 13 members that will select four teams to compete in the first playoff at the end of the 2014 season. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football opens the season with a crucial matchup against rival Michigan.

In just about six and a half weeks, the Michigan Wolverines travel to South Bend and face Notre Dame football to open the 2018 football season.

Fans and players alike have been looking forward to this game for quite a while.

The last time these two teams met, Notre Dame came away with a 31-0 victory in 2014. In fact, when this game kicks off, Michigan will have not scored a touchdown at Notre Dame stadium in 2,912 days.

There are a few questions for each team headed into the game. But one thing is for sure: Notre Dame cannot afford to lose this game.

Why the urgency? There’s a few reasons.

No team since the start of the Bowl Coalition Era (1992) has played for the national title after starting 0-1. Going further back, no team has started 0-1 and won a championship since 1983, when Miami lost at No.16 Florida. The 1991 Colorado team tied against No. 5 Tennessee, but ties don’t exist anymore.

More importantly, no team that has made the College Football Playoff in its brief history has started 0-1.

Additionally, are we even sure Michigan is going to be THAT good?

There’s no question they have an elite defensive line, led by Rashan Gary, to go along with an even more impressive secondary.

Transfer quarterback Shea Patterson steps in from Ole Miss, but he could also be considered an unknown.

They do have a good coach in Jim Harbaugh, although he could be (and probably should be) considered a disappointment. In 3 years, Harbaugh is just 5-7 vs. Top 25 teams, and 1-7 vs. Top 10 teams. He’s also 1-5 against Michigan State and Ohio State.

The main problem with the team isn’t the talent, which is definitely there. It’s also not the coaching.

It’s the schedule.

Michigan has an absolutely brutal schedule. In addition to Notre Dame, the Wolverines play road games against a Northwestern team that won’t be a pushover (who will also be coming off a bye week), Michigan State and Ohio State. They also have to deal with Wisconsin in crossover play.

IF Notre Dame can withstand an 0-1 start, it’ll be because Michigan wins the Big Ten East. But does anyone outside Ann Arbor think Michigan can win in Columbus?

It’s very possible that Michigan suffers 3 or 4 close losses this season, even though on the field they look like a 10-win team.

At the end of the day, close losses only go so far. Eight wins is eight wins.

Notre Dame cannot start the season with a loss to a team like that.

The last time Notre Dame lost a huge season opener was 2016 against Texas — and it derailed the season.

Before that, in 2011, Notre Dame started 0-1 with a loss to USF, then came out the following week and lost again.

Going back to their last National Championship in 1988, Notre Dame has started 0-1 five times. In those seasons, the Irish won five, six, three, eight and four games.

Granted, this team is built totally different than those Bob Davie and Charlie Weis teams. The 2018 version of the Irish could probably rebound and win nine games after a loss in the opener.

Next: 5 Predictions For The Michigan Game

But if the goal is the College Football Playoff, nine wins simply won’t get you there. Historically, neither will an 0-1 start.

This game is a must win for both teams.

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