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Notre Dame football and Michigan have gone different ways since 2019

By Daniel Morrison

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 26: Hassan Haskins #25 of the Michigan Wolverines tries to jump over the tackle of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a first half run at Michigan Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 26: Hassan Haskins #25 of the Michigan Wolverines tries to jump over the tackle of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a first half run at Michigan Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football and Michigan have gone on different paths since the 2019 meetup
Notre Dame football and Michigan have gone on different paths since the 2019 meetup /

During the 2019 college football season, the Notre Dame football team was throttled by Michigan, and they have not lost since.

Last October, Michigan humiliated Notre Dame on a cold and rainy night. Quarterback Ian Book was 8/25 for 73 yards in the game, and Jahmir Smith led Notre Dame in rushing with 15 yards. Meanwhile, Michigan did most of their damage on the ground, going for over 300 yards rushing the football.

For two coaches, Brian Kelly and Jim Harbaugh, who have been similarly criticized for not being able to get over the hump, it was an affirmation of this criticism for Kelly, and a possible exorcism of those demons for Harbaugh. For Notre Dame, the humiliating loss put them on the outside of the New Year’s Six picture, which they would not get within again.

They also haven’t lost since that game.

Now, riding a 14 game winning streak, including a win over top ranked Clemson, the Irish are thriving off lessons learned. They know that they need to play within their own abilities. If you don’t have the slot receiver to throw to the slots, then why waste your time trying?

By playing within themselves, developing the talent that they can get to South Bend, and expecting to win, Notre Dame has made itself one of the premier teams in the country to end last season, and start this one. But it still took some figuring out after the Michigan game.

A two-minute drill to survive Virginia Tech scared everyone before the offense took off at the end of last season. Then, to start this season it was choppy at best. Still, the Irish knew they were playing within their own game and have marched to an 8-0 start.

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