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College Football Preview: #14 Michigan vs. #12 Notre Dame

By Eric Robinson

BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 14: Karan Higdon #22 of the Michigan Wolverines runs for a touchdown during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 14: Karan Higdon #22 of the Michigan Wolverines runs for a touchdown during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 16: Donovan Peoples-Jones #9 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after running a 79 yard punt return for a touchdown during the third quarter of the game against the Air Force Falcons at Michigan Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 16: Donovan Peoples-Jones #9 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after running a 79 yard punt return for a touchdown during the third quarter of the game against the Air Force Falcons at Michigan Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Michigan Keys To Victory

Fluster Wimbush: When Wimbush has been completely off his game, it has been very ugly. Against Miami’s athletic defense, Wimbush was a complete non-factor and was 10-of-21 for 119 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He was also held to just 24 rushing yards. His outing against Georgia was not great either and was his bowl game against LSU was brutal. It’s no secret that Wimbush is not the greatest passer in the world and making him uneasy will make for a long day for the Notre Dame offense.

Establish Donovan Peoples-Jones: DPJ entered college football last season as the 12th overall player and #1 receiver in the 2017 recruiting class. So he has the “it” factor. He totaled 22 catches and four touchdowns along with 320 punt returns yards last season which is decent for a freshman receiver with inconsistent quarterback play. However, now DPJ has a legitimate quarterback in Patterson and with fellow teammate Tarik Black being on the shelf for a while due to injury, DPJ is easily Michigan’s best weapon at receiver. Time to unleash.

Find a comfort level for Patterson: It is Patterson’s first game in a Michigan uniform and it so happens to come in the friendly confines of Notre Dame Stadium. There may be a little jitters here and there but this is not the first rodeo as a starting quarterback on the collegiate level for Patterson. So whether it’s establishing a run game early behind running backs Higdon and Chris Evans or it’s incorporating a trick play or two, Patterson needs to find a particular zone where his mental state is calm and focused in front of a large crowd at hand and millions watching on television.

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