Enjoy Michigan-Notre Dame while it lasts

MICHIGAN thinks it's a rivalry.

Notre Dame, maybe not so much.

The programs with the two best all-time winning percentages in college football have met 40 times, 29 since 1978. Many were classics. But the landscape changes. Look what happened to Oklahoma-Nebraska. Anyway, Saturday night will be ND's last visit to the Big House, at least for the time being. Next year in South Bend is the last time they're scheduled to get together anywhere. Michigan seems to be taking this a bit harder than the Irish.

In May, Wolverines coach Brady Hoke told a luncheon crowd in Grand Rapids that ND was "chickening out of the series." Yo. Yet, if we've learned anything, it's that ND can pretty much do whatever it wants to do. And whether you agree or not, ND has to do whatever it thinks is best for ND. If that means soon playing five ACC opponents a season, so be it. Life goes on. Nobody said things have to remain the same.

Still, it figures to make for a rather lively atmosphere in Ann Arbor. The last time the Irish were there, 2 years ago, UM got the winning touchdown with 2 seconds left. They've lost six of their last seven in that stadium. They did win at home last year, 13-6, en route to that national-title game run. UM's three wins from 2009-11 were by four points apiece.

Since '79, 18 of the games have been decided by seven points or fewer. Since Brian Kelly's arrival in 2010, the Irish have played 17 games decided by a TD or less. They went 2-5 in the first seven, 9-1 since.

ESPN's "College GameDay" will be making its sixth ND-UM appearance. Sure sounds like a rivalry. For the record, ND is replacing UM with games against Texas in 2015-16 and 2019-20. The worldwide leader probably will make it to a few of those, too.

The last time ND won at Michigan, who was its QB? See "Answer man."

* Duke is trying to get to 2-0 for the first time in 15 years. The Blue Devils beat FCS North Carolina Central, 45-0, their first shutout since 1989, the last year of the Steve Spurrier era. Now they're at Memphis, which was picked to finish last in the American Athletic and has yet to play.

*  Fourth-ranked Clemson hasn't been this high in the polls since Sept. 12, 1988, when it got to No. 3. The Tigers lost the next week at home to Florida State by three on a late field goal.

*  From 1938-87, Miami and Florida played every year but one (1943). Then the SEC schedule apparently got in the way. On Saturday, they'll play in Miami. It's the sixth meeting since 2000 (twice in bowls), but first in 5 years.

What can Florida State freshman quarterback Jameis Winston possibly do for an encore?

FSU junior tight end Nick O'Leary, who survived a bad motorcyle crash in May, had three TD catches in the win at Pitt. He's the grandson of Jack Nicklaus.

Junior Brady Quinn, who just got picked up by the New York Jets, in 2005 (17-10). That was also the only time ND beat Michigan two straight since 1990.

Three marquee local openers this weekend.

Tomorrow night in Division II, West Chester hosts No. 12 New Haven. Fifth-year junior QB Sean McCartney (Archbishop Wood) is back after missing most of last season (broken leg). As is senior Rondell White, who led the PSAC in all-purpose yards.

Also that night, in D-III, nationally ranked Widener and new coach Bobby Acosta host No. 3 Wesley, in the first meeting since 2008. Pride junior Anthony Davis (wide receiver-kick returner) is a preseason All-America.

And on Saturday afternoon, NJAC favorite Rowan is at Delaware Valley. Both teams have received votes in the D-III Top 25 polls. Rowan won last September at home, 27-13, in the first meeting since the 2005 playoffs, and leads the series, 6-0.

*  Rutgers coach Kyle Flood won his first nine games. Now he's lost four straight, the last two in overtime. Against Fresno State, the Knights had a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher, two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD.

*  Memphis and Cincinnati have the longest active winning streaks in the conference, at three.

*  Before losing, 53-21, to FCS McNeese State, South Florida had won all 16 openers in its history.