The Notre Dame-Michigan series started with a shutout and fittingly ends with one

On Nov. 23, 1887, Michigan defeated Notre Dame 8-0 in the first game of what would be a long and storied rivalry.

On Saturday, 127 years later, Notre Dame finished the rivalry in similar shutout fashion with a 31-0 beatdown of the Wolverines. The game marked the last time the two teams will play for the foreseeable future and Notre Dame made sure to end the series on the highest note possible.

During the 42 times these two teams have played, there had been seven other shutouts before Saturday’s and each time Michigan was on the winning end. But everything was falling in Notre Dame favor in the finale with quarterback Everett Golson throwing for 226 yards and three touchdowns and Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, who has often been criticized for his dicey play in big games, throwing three interceptions and committing a fumble.

It was the most lopsided victory for the Irish in the series and couldn't have been a bigger exclamation point for a team that exercised its out-clause in the contract to explore other opportunities like starting a series with Michigan rival Ohio State. It also marked the first time Michigan had been shutout by any opponent since 1984, a streak of 376 games that led the country.

It was a perfect night for the Irish.

So, now what to make of Notre Dame?

This is certainly a team worthy of national attention, but the way the Big Ten has played these first two weeks, it’s hard to know what kind of team Michigan really is, and Notre Dame’s next two contests against Purdue and Syracuse probably won’t give us much more information either.

Still, Notre Dame has one of the most difficult schedules in the country and if Saturday’s game is any indication of how good the Irish can be then this is a team that could come from off the radar and put itself squarely in the hunt for a playoff spot.

For now, Notre Dame can bask in the glow of its shutout victory and be content with the fact that Michigan might have started the rivalry, but the Irish ended it with dominance.

For more Notre Dame news, visit IrishIllustrated.com.

For more Michigan news, visit TheWolverine.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday

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