Notre Dame has decided to opt out of its series with Michigan after the 2014 season. The teams will still play each of the next two years, once in Ann Arbor and once in South Bend, but the scheduled games for 2015, 2016 and 2017 were canceled by the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame, although independent in football, is set to leave the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference. One of the stipulations of its new agreement calls for the Fighting Irish to play at least five football games per season against members of the ACC, leaving only seven dates for other matchups. Notre Dame and Michigan have met 40 times in football, including each year since 2002, and had been considered one of the Wolverines' chief rivals, along with Michigan State and Ohio State.

M-S-U and Ohio State meet this weekend in East Lansing for their Big Ten opener. The Spartans are 3-and-1 but coming off an inconsistent lack luster win at home against Eastern Michigan while Ohio State is 4-and-0 after its victory Saturday over Alabama-Birmingham.