Home/road imbalance be damned, Michigan-Notre Dame is back, and that is cause for raising your arms in triumph like you're Jim Harbaugh beating the Irish in 1985. Before the 2013 game, I put together a GIFs post of the best moments of the rivalry (from a Michigan perspective, at least), and today marks a great time to update and revisit it.
[For many more GIFs from Notre Dame games of the past, hit THE JUMP.]
As always, click the stills to open each GIF in a lightbox.
1981
Anthony Carter's pair of touchdown catches spearheaded a 25-7 victory over then-#1 Notre Dame. The Irish would go on to finish 5-6, their first losing season since 1963.
1991
They went for it all...
Michigan 24, Notre Dame 14, Desmond Howard's Heisman Campaign +∞
1994
Remy Hamilton's game-winning kick gave Michigan a 26-24 triumph at Notre Dame Stadium. Yes, Michigan fans rushed the field despite there being time on the clock and it being the other team's stadium, which... well done, guys. Before Remy's kick, however, Michigan needed a miracle pass from Todd Collins—in the process of being sacked—to Seth Smith, who dove out of bounds to stop the clock with :07 left and set up the field goal.
Hamilton's kick gets not one, but two angles.
He knew he struck it true.
1997
Despite losing three fourth-quarter fumbles in their own territory, Michigan eked out a 21-14 win in large part due to this Tommy Hendricks interception of Ron Powlus in the end zone.
Ron Powlus did not win two Heismans. Nor did he win one.
2003
Michigan put on an absolute clinic in their 38-0 beatdown of Notre Dame, to the point where most of the "highlights" are short Chris Perry touchdown runs. Those make for rather boring GIFs, so I give you Lee Corso's Gameday prediction and, well, attempt at striking the pose.
His form improved slightly in 2011. Slightly.
2006
Michigan destroyed Brady Quinn's Heisman hopes, starting with Prescoss Burgess's pick-six to open the scoring...
...continuing with Mario Manningham's three first-half touchdown catches...
...and capped off by LaMarr Woodley returning Quinn's Yakety Sax moment for a touchdown:
The natives were not pleased.
Your final: Michigan 47, Notre Dame 21.
2007
This was Notre Dame's version of Michigan's 2008 season. True freshman Jimmy Clausen did not have a good day in a 38-0 loss, coughing up this fumble twice...
...and later getting sacked by all four of Michigan's defensive linemen. At once.
Notre Dame's line that year was atrocious. I'd feel sorry for Jimmy Clausen if he were anybody but Jimmy Clausen.
2009
Tate Forcier's fourth-down keeper against Cover 0 was perhaps his greatest moment as a Wolverine.
If that wasn't it, then his game-winner to Greg Mathews is probably at the top of the list.
Michigan won a dramatic 38-34 game. Miss you big guy xoxo.
2010
"Shoelaces flopping in the wind."
Denard's late touchdown run would give Michigan another insane last-minute win, this one by a 28-24 margin.
2011
"Oh, wide open."
That set up this gorgeous game-winner to Roy Roundtree.
Yes, Don Criqui, he was in.
Also from this game: Denard turns tragedy into triumph, fade to Gallon, broadcast angle of Robinson-to-Roundtree, PET VIKING ON THE LOOSE.
2013
The year after a game we'll pretend didn't happen, the rivalry gave us the ultimate Brady Hoke GIF.
We also got one of the first indications that Jehu Chesson would be a special player when he wiped out three Irish defenders with one spectacular block, helping spring Jeremy Gallon for one of his three touchdowns.
The full 2013 GIFs post is here.
The rivalry took a hiatus immediately thereafter. Please don't fact-check me on that.