Scouting: Notre Dame @ Michigan

Notre Dame (1-0) at Michigan (1-0)

When: 2:30 p.m. at Michigan Stadium

TV: Channel 7 Radio: WLS 890-AM

Series: Michigan leads 20-15-1.

Coaches: Charlie Weis (29-19, fourth year at ND); Rich Rodriguez (4-9, second year at Michigan; 64-35, ninth year in Div. I-A)

Players to watch: Notre Dame junior QB Jimmy Clausen leads the nation in pass efficiency rating (303.67) after a nearly perfect afternoon against Nevada. Clausen clicked on 15 of 18 passes for 315 yards, 4 TDs and no INTs. WR Michael Floyd caught 4 of his throws for 189 yards and 3 TDs. Notre Dame posted its first shutout since 2002 as senior safety Kyle McCarthy racked up 9 tackles and an interception while senior LB Toryan Smith had one of the team's 2 sacks and 2 of the 4 tackles for loss.

Michigan posted 439 total yards in its 31-7 season-opening win over Western Michigan as freshmen QBs Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson shared the show. Forcier threw for 179 yards and 3 scores while Robinson rushed for 74 yards and the Wolverines' other score. Soph WR Junior Hemingway caught 5 passes for 103 yards and 2 TDs. Fifth-year senior David Moosman (Libertyville) should make his 14th consecutive start at right guard.

The skinny: After two years in which neither team was nationally ranked for this massive rivalry game - a crazy aberration because at least one of these programs was ranked for every meeting from 1942 to 2006 - the Irish have popped up to No. 18 in the AP and No. 20 in the coaches poll. This game figures to be a referendum on Michigan's pass defense, particularly cornerbacks Donovan Warren and Boubacar Cissoko. The latter posted one of Michigan's 2 interceptions against Western Michigan.