Fielding Yost
The legendary Michigan coach led the Wolverines to wins against Notre Dame in 1902 and 1908, but the Irish upset Michigan in 1909. Yost, however, canceled the 1910 meeting with the Irish, which ignited a feud with Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne. The schools didn’t play again until 1942.
Frank Leahy
Leahy won five national titles at Notre Dame, the last in 1943 with the help of a win against No. 2 Michigan. Leahy, however, was the Irish’s athletic director during the 1947 national title controversy with Michigan. The schools didn’t play from 1943-78.
Angelo Bertelli
Bertelli led No. 1 Notre Dame into a showdown at No. 2 Michigan in 1943 in front of a then-record crowd at Michigan Stadium, then proceeded to lead the Irish to a 35-12 rout. Bertelli won the Heisman Trophy that season and led Notre Dame to a national championship.
Jim Harbaugh
After a two-year break, Notre Dame and Michigan resumed play in 1985. Harbaugh led the Wolverines to back-to-back wins the next two seasons. Harbaugh rallied Michigan back from deficits both years, including an escape from South Bend with a 24-23 win in 1986.
Lou Holtz
Holtz took over at Notre Dame in 1986, and nearly beat No. 3 Michigan that year. That set the tone for his 5-3-1 record against Michigan, which included four straight wins from 1987-90. The Irish won the national championship under Holtz in 1988 with the help of a 19-17 win against Michigan.
Raghib Ismail
Ismail put on one of the rivalry’s most-dominating performances in 1989 when he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against the No. 2 Wolverines at the Big House. “The Rocket” had returns of 88 and 92 yards to help seal a 24-19 victory.
Tony Rice
Rice led the Irish to three straight wins against Michigan from 1987-89, including two wins in Ann Arbor. Rice was the centerpiece in Notre Dame’s glory run under Lou Holtz. Rice won 23 straight games as a starter and is the only player in school history with more than 3,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards.
Desmond Howard
All you gotta say is “The Catch.” Michigan faced a fourth-and-1 early in the fourth quarter of the 1991 matchup, and Elvis Grbac connected with Howard on a diving catch and a touchdown. That sealed a 24-14 win for Michigan and launched a Heisman Trophy season for Howard.
Lloyd Carr
Carr’s first game against Notre Dame — a 21-14 win in 1997 — spring-boarded Michigan to the AP national championship. Carr finished 5-4 against the Irish, a tenure that included 38-0 wins in 2003 and 2007.
Denard Robinson
“Shoelace” led Michigan to thrilling wins against Notre Dame in 2010 and 2011, games in which he totaled 582 passing yards, 366 rushing yards and eight total TDs. That included an 88-yard TD run in 2010 and game-winning TD with two seconds left in 2011. Notre Dame finally beat Robinson in 2012, but his impact on the rivalry won’t be forgotten.
