Marquee Matchup

In another battle of college football heavyweights, this is a classic matchup. Michigan and Notre Dame rank 1-2 in Division I-A in all-time wins -- with 825 and 792 respectively -- and winning percentage and this rivalry has been filled with terrific games. This one should be no different. Michigan is coming off easy wins over Central Michigan and Houston , but the Wolverines will finally be tested against a team it won't be able to push around. The jury is still out on Notre Dame, which overcame a 19-0 deficit in its opener to beat better-than-expected Washington State 29-26 in overtime. This is a game where reputations are made and a player like much-maligned Michigan quarterback John Navarre , who is 23-8 as a starter, could win over Wolverines fans and the nation with a stellar performance. Navarre has the luxury of handing the ball of to senior tailback Chris Perry , who leads the nation in rushing with 208 yards per game. But Notre Dame has a pretty good backfield as well with dual-threat quarterback Carlyle Holiday and running backs Ryan Grant and Julius Jones .

An assistant coach sizes up Michigan :

"There's no real secret to what they're going to do. They're going to do the same thing they always do and they're going to do it well. They're a typical Big Ten power and they like to establish the power running game to throw the ball. They have a big, physical offensive line and they're going to try and blow you off the ball. They are very impressive; I came away more impressed with this year's Michigan team than last year's Ohio State team that won the national championship.

"[Chris] Perry is a complete back, who has the size and speed to hurt you. He's not afraid to run inside and he also has great vision and great speed. Once he hits his crease, he's able to gobble up big chunks of yards. They run a lot of pure gap schemes where he can cut where he sees gaps and turn a short gain into a big play.

"Their wide receivers are big and fast and cause most defenses a lot of matchup problems. Braylon Edwards is their go-to guy and is the best of the bunch, but they're all very good and can beat you. And if you concentrate too much on Edwards , Tyrece Butler is very capable of making big plays. John Navarre is a big, physical kid who understands their offense. He's difficult to pressure because he gets rid of the ball so quick. He's a very capable quarterback who has a lot of weapons at his disposal. The best way to slow this offense down? Have a good running game so you can keep them off the field. That's the best defense. If they're on, they're very hard to stop.

"They have tremendous athleticism on defense. The defensive front runs to the ball very well and they do a good job at plugging up holes. The corners are very good and [strong safety] Marlin Jackson is a tremendous player. The whole unit seems like they're on a mission to prove they're one of the top defenses in the country. Right now they're pretty close; I don't see any real weaknesses.

"Their special teams look sound, but they haven't been tested yet. This game will be a real good battle. The Notre Dame defensive line is very talented and coach Tyrone Willingham has a very sound system. I still like Michigan , though, and give them a slight edge in this one."

An assistant coach sizes up Notre Dame:

"When people think of Tyrone Willingham they tend to think of a wide-open offense with a lot of pass plays. But Willingham is a very smart coach and does a good job adjusting to his personnel. This team wants to run the football first and they have two very good running backs -- Ryan Grant and Julius Jones . They also have the benefit of a senior quarterback [ Carlyle Holiday ] who has been in some battles.

"Their basic scheme is a pro-set with two backs, two wide receivers and a tight end. In long yardage they sometimes go three wide, but they like to run it more than throw it. Both backs are real talented. Grant is a little more of a slasher, but there's not a whole lot of difference between Grant and Jones . When you have two different types of backs it's harder to prepare for and defend in the beginning of the game. But as the game goes on two similar backs tend to wear you down because one of them is always fresh.