FEI: ND-Michigan only non-conf game between top-20 teams.

The drop-off in games played between top opponents is chiefly tied to non-conference scheduling. The Notre Dame versus Michigan game played all the way back in Week 1 remains the only non-conference game played this year between FEI top-20 opponents. There were seven such games played prior to bowl season last year. There have been only seven non-conference games played between FEI top-30 opponents to date, half as many as last season.

Non-conference scheduling can be fickle. Many teams do make an effort to schedule at least one strong non-conference opponent, and some games that appeared to be matchups between heavyweights prior to the start of the season (Auburn-Washington, Ohio State-TCU, and Notre Dame versus USC, Stanford, Virginia Tech, and Florida State) all turned out to be underwhelming matchups when looked at in retrospect. Scheduling intentions are one thing, but 2018 made many of the non-conference games fizzle when it came time to play those games.

Of course, ND-Michigan was also a game between two top-10 teams.

Click here for link at https://www.footballoutsiders.com/fei-ratings/2018/fei-final

if the season played out as planned

there would have been more (ie ND vs. FSU, u$¢, VT) ... OSU - TCU ... Clemson A&M ... others I am probably missing.

ND v Stanford would have as well. *

Too bad it didn’t count. *

They outgained us in total yards in 2012, 2014 and 2018.

That's three victories in their book.

But in 2011, we were playing by points, not yards

So that's still a Michigan win as well.

Same for 2009 and 2010. *

1998, 2002, 2005 and 2008 they also outgained us.

I haven't found the 1989 stats but I can almost guarantee you they outgained in that game because "return yards" don't count and we had no incentive to risk gaining large amounts of "real yards."

We haven't beaten these guys in decades....

They narrowly outgained us in 2004 as well.

When the hell have we beaten them?

Best reply in a solid chain *

In seriousness,

it is rather surprising how often the team with the most yardage loses this game.

I bet correlation between yds & winning is stronger thru 3Q

It seems as though in a blowout towards the end of the game the balance usually tilts toward the losing team - gaining 150 yards in the 4th Q against a prevent, while the winning team grinds out 50-60 while running out the clock.

It counts as a win for Michigan.

They were clearly the better team on the field that day, the score just didn't reflect it. I know, a Michigan Man told me so.

Preseason games don’t, right? *

‘Twas but a mirage. Must have been some helluva drug UM

was on. They should have shared.

Oh, wait.

Also shows the huge dropoff after the top 8 this year

Record vs. 4 highest ranked opponents

1. 4-0
2. 2-2
3. 4-0
4. 3-1
5. 4-0
6. 4-0
7. 3-1
8. 3-1

9. 2-2
10. 2-2
11. 0-4
12. 1-3
13. 3-1
14. 1-3
15. 2-2
16. 1-3
17. 2-2
18 2-2
19. 1-3
20. 1-3

I think Football Outsiders do a great job with NFL stats. I don't agree with their college stats because the opposition is so disparate and most of their stats are opponent-adjusted. Is Georgia really significantly better than we are? Is Central Florida really nipping at our heels? Is 7-4 Mississippi State really the 11th best team in the country when they have gone 0-4 against the top 21? Is 7-4 Missouri really the 12th best? Is Fresno State really the 13th best having playing essentially no one? Is 7-5 Michigan State really 18th best? Should Auburn really be ranked in the top 30 if they are 2-4 against other top 30 teams? Or Stanford at 0-4?

They have Syracuse ranked #40. Northwestern #34

Michigan State looked horrible against 1-11 Rutgers. I can’t believe they are a top 20 team in any rankings.