Notre Dame, Ind (UHND) - This Saturday afternoon the magic was back in Notre Dame stadium. The Fighting Irish overcame a myriad of penalties, turnovers, and mental mistakes to hold on to a 25-23 win over the #6/7 ranked Michigan Wolverines in the first meeting between the two since 1999. There were moments of brilliance from the Irish and moments of shear stupidity, but in the end, Notre Dame won and is now 3-0 for the first time since 1996.

The Notre Dame offense came out firing with a 41 yard pass from Carlyle Holiday to Maurice Stovall on the second play from scrimmage. Notre Dame capped off the 11 play 80 yard drive with a Ryan Grant touchdown - the first offense touchdown of the season for the Irish. On the day, Grant totaled a career high 132 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns.

Michigan tied the game on an interception return for a touchdown by Marlin Jackson. Carlyle Holiday locked onto Arnaz from the snap and Jackson stepped in front of Battle and ran it into the end zone. That was all the scoring Michigan would do in the first half with the Notre Dame defense holding them to only 2 first downs.

Notre Dame scored next on a safety when sophomore Justin Tuck was held in the end zone. Tuck got by the Michigan lineman and was grabbed from behind. A holding penalty in the end zone results in safety. The Irish couldn't capitalize on the free kick however.

Vontez Duff came up a big play on Michigan's last offensive drive of the first half when he caused a fumble on a completed pass to give the Irish offense a chance to score again before half-time. The Notre Dame offense marched down the field and Carlyle Holiday ran the ball in the end zone for a touchdown from the 3. the replay showed that he fumbled before the ball crossed the plane, but no one ever touched the ball after the play and the officials ruled it a touchdown.

The Holiday touchdown put Notre Dame up 16-7 despite three turnovers by the Irish. On top of Holiday's int, Ryan Grant fumbled the ball at the 1 yard line before he could score the touchdown. Holiday also added a fumble inside his own territory, but after a three and out Cedric Hilliard blocked a Michigan field goal attempt.

In the second half Michigan found its offense and scored 10 points to take a 17-16 lead. That lead would be short lived as Notre Dame responded with a touchdown of its own, Grant's second of the day. The two point conversion failed however when Notre Dame used a 4 wide receiver set and Michigan used a delayed blitz. Picking up the blitz was a problem for Notre Dame all game as Carlyle Holiday was beat and battered for 60 minutes.

Nicholas Setta added a field goal to give the Irish a 25-17 lead after Llyod Carr declined a holding penalty on 3rd and long that would have pushed the Irish back into what would have been a 54 yard field goal had they gotten no yards. With the pass rush Michigan generated all game long, it was a very questionable call at the least. None the less, Notre Dame held the 8 point lead.

Michigan had two chances at the end of the game that they failed to capitalize on. After scoring a touchdown when Notre Dame had only 10 men on the field, they failed to convert to the two point conversion when Shane Walton tipped the ball away from Braylon Edwards. Then with a little over thirty seconds remaining, Cedric Hilliard got in and hit John Navarre's arm as he threw and Shane Walton picked off the pass for his 4th INT of the season and sealed the victory.

Both sides played very sloppy, but in the end it was the Irish who were victorious, and they are now 3-0 heading into East Lansing for a showdown with the Michigan Spartans. Michigan State lost got blown out at home by California on Saturday, but they have beaten the Irish 5 straight times. It should be a good game next week in East Lansing because despite their performance today, I fully expect Michigan State to bring their best to the field next week in an effort to extend their streak to 6 against the Irish. However, Michigan State won the last 5 against Bob Davie teams. They will be very surprised with the team they see next weekend since there is a new sheriff in town and his name is Tyrone Willingham.