SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Michigan and Notre Dame have storied football traditions. They claim 22 national championships and 10 Heisman Trophy winners between them, and their recognizable helmets and fight songs typify the pageantry of an autumn Saturday.

The special sense of history tied to the programs has made their decades-long series one of college football’s marquee matchups. On Saturday night, however, the Wolverines and the 16th-ranked Fighting Irish met for the final time, at least for the foreseeable future.

Notre Dame cruised to a 31-0 victory before a packed crowd at Notre Dame Stadium, punctuating this famed series with an exclamation point.

“This is a rivalry that books have been written about,” Michigan Athletic Director David Brandon said in a recent telephone interview. “This game was played before programs like Ohio State or Southern Cal played football. It’s had a rich history, a rich tradition.”