Previously: Krushed By Stauskas (Illinois 2014), Introducing #ChaosTeam (Indiana 2009), Revenge is Terrifying (Colorado 1996), Four Games In September I (Boston College 1991), Four Games In September II (Boston College 1994), Four Games In September III (Boston College 1995), Four Games In September IV (Boston College 1996), Pac Ten After Dark Parts One and Two (UCLA 1989)

This Game: ESPN Classic abridged cut (warning: inexplicable editing decisions), no huddle every-snap, WH highlights, box score

Part One: Click here.

Michigan and Notre Dame come out of Big House tunnel with the visitors leading 9-3. It hasn't been a pretty opener, at least on the field. Jim Harbaugh, in his return from a broken arm that cost him most of 1984, is only 2-for-10 for 16 yards, though that stat line belies his accuracy—his receivers let him down in the first half. The Wolverines defense, a major question mark heading into the season because of turnover in the front seven, has kept Heisman candidate Allen Pinkett quiet. Total yardage: 164-158, ND.

The opening kickoff of the second half is cut from the ESPN Classic version. Thankfully, it's preserved elsewhere, because it's the most important play of the game:

"It was the one time the Lord looked down on somebody other than Notre Dame," says Bo Schembechler after the game.

Alonzo Jefferson's fumble, recovered by Dieter Heren, sets Michigan up on the Irish 14-yard line. Jamie Morris runs twice for four yards, setting up a critical third down. Brent Musburger asks Ara Parseghian what he'd do in this situation. "I think I’d go with a little draw play, a little delay," says Parseghian. Meanwhile, there's an issue with the clock, giving Michigan a de facto timeout.

"We caught them in a man-to-man defense," Jim Harbaugh tells the Daily. "And (quarterbacks coach Jerry) Hanlon called the play from the press box."

"Anyone could have scored on that play, but I'm just thankful he called it."

It's a perfect call that's executed just as well; the left side of the offensive line, in particular, does a beautiful job executing combo blocks. Left guard Mark Hammerstein gets the on-air shoutout, so I'll point out you should also watch the fullback, Gerald White (#22), slip out of the backfield to get the key second-level block. We waited a long time for a touchdown; at least it was pretty. 10-9, Michigan.

[Hit THE JUMP for Michigan trying to give the gift right back, then Hammer Time.]

Notre Dame goes three-and-out on the ensuing drive. Michigan comes within a fingernail of blocking the Irish punt.  Eric Campbell, who's already broken my brain with his refusal to accept a free touchdown in the first half, initially backs off before trying to field the ball off a hard bounce. This doesn't go well:

“The second half has been more action in the first three minutes than we had in the first half,” says Ara, sorta putting together a sentence.

Adding injury to catastrophe, I believe this is the play when Campbell separates his shoulder. He's replaced at wide receiver by Gilvani Johnson and punt returner by Tony Gant.

Notre Dame quarterback Steve Beuerlein finds a tight end who's recently switched from defensive tackle after previously playing center. He's wearing #90. He nearly drops it but a double-clutch nets a first down. The '80s! Unfortunately for Notre Dame, this puts them in scoring position, which means it's time for Gerry Faust to disappear into his shell again. On first down, Pinkett runs outside for a short gain. The broadcast already knows what's coming:

Mike Mallory whacks Pinkett in the hole on second down, setting up a third-and-three. Let's see how that goes:

I'm starting to see why Notre Dame fans don't like this Faust guy. Mike Hammerstein makes the stop for no gain. John Carney kicks a 25-yarder, tying the ND single-game record for field goals. While they retake the lead, 12-10, it's not exactly satisfying.

Parseghian might be a prophet. After Morris drops Harbaugh's swing pass on first down, the former ND head coach urges Michigan to target Paul Jokisch, the 6'8" former hooper. "I’d just throw that ball up there like he was rebounding," he says. On the very next play, Harbaugh escapes pressure and hits... Jokisch. "Well, we talked about it," says Parseghian, chuckling.

For the first time all day, the Michigan offense really starts to move. Morris gets a first down on a screen pass out of split backs, a new formation Schembechler installed in the offseason to help protect Harbaugh in the passing game. Harbaugh drops one to Johnson between zones for 17 yards. He shows off his wheels:

“He’s got more speed than I thought,” says Parseghian. It's a fair assessment given Harbaugh has surpassed his career rushing total (39 yards) on three carries (42).

Two Morris runs don't get much, leading to a third-and-seven that becomes another massive turning point. Harbaugh finds his tight end, Eric Kattus, for what should be a first down and much more. Kattus flat drops it. But there's a flag on the field:

Musburger believes the Irish have caught a tough break with the roughing penalty. The replays aren't very helpful, so I grabbed a frame from the broadcast shot at the moment Harbaugh is releasing the ball:

It's close. We don't get to see if the lineman brings his arms down hard on Harbaugh, which may swing the call. On the next play, Michigan benefits from another close one, this time when Harbaugh's pass improbably finds its way to fullback Bob Perryman, who juggles the ball and maybe gets his arm under before it hits the turf:

The official who rules it a catch is on the near sideline. We'll take it. White, who alternates between fullback and tailback, needs two runs to reach the end zone, getting a great block from Mark Hammerstein on the touchdown. 17-12, home underdogs.

Beuerlein hits a long pass to Reggie Ward to get the Irish out to midfield as the third quarter ends. The Irish line cannot keep their quarterback clean, however. Mike Hammerstein breaks through for an 11-yard sack, then linebacker Jeff Akers blitzes in for another to finish off the drive. The Irish are forced to punt.

still here, jerks

Harbaugh once again uses his legs to convert a third-and-long. Later in the drive, he launches a bomb to Jokisch that draws a flag, which itself draws a great deal of protest from the ND defensive back called for pass interference. Let's check the tape:

The call is good. A new rule makes this a 15-yard penalty instead of a spot foul, which burns the Wolverines. While they get close to the goal line on a one-handed grab by White, someone blows an assignment to doom a third-down option, and they settle for a Mike Gillette chip shot to make it 20-12.

Garland Rivers almost intercepts Beuerlein to open the next drive. A second-down draw is annihilated in the backfield by linebacker Andree McIntyre. Parseghian is openly aggravated at Faust's playcalling. “Oh, I didn’t like that call,” says Ara. Rivers is all over the third down pass, leading to another Irish punt with just over four minutes left. The announcers are all but heading for the exits as the camera pans to Bo.

“Don’t discount that man, he’s had ten championships here,” says Parseghian.

“And there were some experts going around saying that Bo Schembechler was finished, that he wouldn’t be able to do it again,” adds Musburger.

Ara laughs, begins to say something about the so-called experts, and trails off while Musburger starts to talk about Faust's increasingly hot seat.

Just when it looks like Morris has sealed up the win, however, the ball comes flying out:

The Irish need to cover 73 yards in 3:43 with two timeouts left; ideally, they do it in much less time in case they don't convert the tying two-point conversion. Beuerlein has a tough time finding targets because Hammerstein is a terror:

A fourth-down angle route to Pinkett—always money in NCAA/Madden—gives ND new life well into Michigan territory, and another Beuerlein pass gets them inside the red zone. You won't believe this: bad playcalling ensues. First, a three-yard pass to the flat keeps the clock ticking inside of two minutes. Then Faust dials up a running back draw that Hammerstein stuffs after two yards. Faust doesn't call a timeout.

The next play, Hammerstein and Messner converge on Beuerlein, at long last prompting a timeout with 1:02 left. Parseghian, ahead of his time, wants the Irish to throw it into the end zone and try to draw pass interference. A desperate chuck on fourth down is picked off by Doug Mallory; Michigan declines the penalty for ND dragging down Hammerstein after he split a double team:

Sideline celebrations ensue. Michigan needs three plays to kneel out the clock because Faust uses his last timeout after first down. The CBS cameras find a Notre Dame fan going through it:

The Wolverines finish the game with 251 rushing yards, led by Morris's 119 on 23 carries and Harbaugh's 60 on nine rushes. Notre Dame totals only 257 yards of offense on 62 plays. While Harbaugh completes only 7-of-17 passes for 74 yards, he looks sharp, and in the aftermath it's clear Michigan has their quarterback.

Bo also correctly assesses that this team is better than their unranked preseason status suggests:

The 1985 squad becomes arguably Bo's best ever at Michigan, riding an incredible defense to a 10-1-1 record and Fiesta Bowl victory over Nebraska. Notre Dame's 12 points in this game are the fourth-most put up by a Michigan opponent.

Faust's season, it's fair to say, doesn't go as well. The next time these teams meet, Lou Holtz is in charge in South Bend.