Jim Harbaugh's call saved Michigan-Notre Dame football series

David Woods | IndyStar

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SOUTH BEND – The college football rivalry that was not supposed to end did end . . . for awhile. It was not a dead end.

Jim Harbaugh must be credited for that.

Notre Dame and Michigan resume a series Saturday (7:43 p.m. WTHR-13) that began in 1887 and was played annually from 2005 through 2014. Then the Fighting Irish “chickened out” or were confined by Atlantic Coast Conference membership, depending on whose version you believe.

In 2007, Notre Dame and Michigan announced the series would extend until 2031. The contract allowed either to end it with a notice of three games, and in 2012 Notre Dame exercised that option.

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In the teams’ most recent meeting, 2014, the Irish won 31-0.

Harbaugh, the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback, debuted as Michigan coach in 2015. He wanted the series reinstated, so he called Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly.

“First of all, Jim reached out to me, and we were both of the same opinion that we wanted to try to get this game back, if we could,” Kelly said Tuesday. “Now, there are so many other things, as you know, that make this difficult.

“I know we play next year. But after that, who knows if, how, this might work again, given both of our limitations relative to scheduling.”

When Notre Dame left the Big East to join the Atlantic Coast Conference in all sports except football and hockey, it was obliged to play five ACC football opponents per year. Notre Dame has already dropped Purdue, and it has long-standing series with Navy, Stanford and Southern California.

Scheduling is complicated further now that Michigan must play nine Big Ten games out of 12.

At a booster event, former Michigan coach Brady Hoke accused the Irish of “chickening out." Kelly responded by saying Michigan is not a traditional rival anyway.

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There was also disagreement between Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick and former Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon over timing of the notice of the “out” clause. The fact Notre Dame announced in 2014 it had a home-and-home series in 2022-23 against Ohio State, arch-rival of Michigan, contributed to disharmony.

Stature of the Wolverines and Irish cannot be overstated. Michigan is major college football’s all-time leader in victories (943) and percentage (.729). Notre Dame is sixth in wins (885) and fourth in percentage (.724).

Other conferences might have their own TV networks, but no other football program has its own national network, as Notre Dame does with NBC. The reason is for Saturdays like this one.

“This is something that Jim and I wanted to get on the schedule. Be careful what you wish for,” Kelly said. “But I think it’s great for college football, we’re excited about this matchup, we think it’s great for college football. And I know our kids and our coaches can’t wait for Saturday night.”

Etc.

Dexter Williams will be in uniform and on the sideline Saturday, Kelly said. But it is widely expected the running back will be suspended for the first four games. . . . Sophomore RT Robert Hainsey has returned to practice after he was impaired by a lower leg strain. … NBC Sports Gold, a live streaming pass, is available for $49.99 in 13 foreign countries. Subscribers get six Irish home games plus the Nov. 17 game against Syracuse at Yankee Stadium.

Email IndyStar reporter David Woods at david.woods@indystar.com or call (317) 444-6195. Follow him in Twitter: DavidWoods007.

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