COLLEGE FOOTBALL / WEEK 2 : Failing Irish

Notre Dame recently turned down an invitation to join the Big Ten, but if its performance against the conference’s elite teams is any indication, the Irish are better off remaining an independent, or maybe joining the Big Sky Conference. A look at how Notre Dame has fared against Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State since 1990:

1990

lost to Penn St., 24-21

1991

lost to Michigan, 24-14

lost to Penn St., 35-13

1992

tied Michigan, 17-17

def. Penn St., 17-16

1993

def. Michigan, 27-23

1994

lost to Michigan, 26-24

1995

lost to Ohio St., 45-26

1996

lost to Ohio St., 29-16

1997

lost to Michigan, 21-14

1998

def. Michigan, 36-20

1999

lost to Michigan, 26-22

* Record against Big Ten elite: 3-8-1

* Record against all others: 76-20-1