Heading into last year's showdown, Michigan was No. 3 in the nation. The Wolverines had gotten off to a shaky start against Northern Illinois, but they were expected to bounce back. Notre Dame was the No. 20 team, flying under the radar as much as it could in coach Charlie Weis's first season in South Bend.

This time around, things are a little different. After Michigan's 17-10 loss at home to Notre Dame last season, the Wolverines went on to lose two of their next four games en route to a disappointing 7-5 finish. This year, Michigan didn't have sky-high expectations placed on its shoulders. Two games into the season, the Wolverines sit at No. 11.

Instead, No. 2 Notre Dame is the highly ranked team that failed to impress in its season opener, a 14-10 win over Georgia Tech, though the Irish bounced back with a 41-17 clobbering of then-No. 19 Penn State last weekend.

Although their roles have reversed, one thing has remained the same: You never know what to expect when the two winningest programs in college football face off. Here's how the two teams match up:

Michigan passing offense vs. Notre Dame passing defense:

The Wolverines' aerial attack still hasn't gotten on track. After two games, Michigan is averaging just 135 passing yards per contest. The only team in the Big Ten that's worse through the air is Illinois, which was shut out in its loss to Rutgers last weekend. That said, it's hard to judge the Wolverines' passing game at this point because they have been riding their unstoppable rushing attack.

Notre Dame isn't a great defensive squad, and its defense has been inconsistent at best. But the Irish have held their opponents to an average of 183 passing yards per game. Look for the Wolverines to try to jump-start their sluggish passing attack against Notre Dame but find only modest success.

Edge: Push

Michigan rushing offense vs. Notre Dame rushing defense:

With an average of 250 yards on the ground per game, Michigan boasts the 10th-best rushing attack in the nation. Tailback Mike Hart ranks seventh in Division I-A with 262 yards. But the biggest reason for the resurgence of the Wolverines' run game has been their depth. Sophomore Kevin Grady had another solid game last week with 12 carries for 46 yards.

As great as Michigan has been running the ball, Notre Dame has been almost as bad defending against the run. Through two games, the Irish have given up 277 yards on the ground, making their run defense 73rd in Division I-A.

Even so, Michigan's backfield is too talented for Notre Dame's subpar run defense to slow it down.

Edge: Michigan

Notre Dame passing offense vs. Michigan passing defense:

Irish quarterback Brady Quinn started the year as the Heisman frontrunner, though his stock dropped a bit after his lackluster debut at Georgia Tech. But the senior's big game last week put him solidly back in the running. Quinn completed 25 of 36 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns against the always tough Penn State defense.

The Wolverines have made pressuring the quarterback an art form in their first two games this season. As a team, Michigan has recorded 10 sacks, third in Division I-A.

But the Wolverines haven't played an offense as talented as Notre Dame's yet, and the Irish receiving corps will test Michigan's cornerbacks. Quinn might get hit a few times, but the Irish should be able to move the ball through the air against the Wolverines.

Edge: Notre Dame

Notre Dame rushing offense vs. Michigan rushing defense:

With Notre Dame's high-powered offense getting most of the attention, tailback Darius Walker is almost an afterthought. After two games, Walker has 42 carries for 155 yards and one touchdown. The scary part for Michigan fans is that Walker always shows up big against the Wolverines. In 2004, Walker amassed 115 yards on 31 carries; last year, he gained 104 yards on 26 carries.

Michigan's run defense has been nearly impenetrable in its first two games. Against Vanderbilt, the Wolverines gave up 46 net rushing yards; last week they allowed just 16. Michigan's defense ranks fourth in the nation against the run. Through two games, the Wolverines have notched 19 tackles for loss, which places them in a tie for fifth in Division I-A.

Walker will give Michigan its first real test of the season, but the Wolverines' run stopping looks too good to let Walker have a big day.

Edge: Michigan

Special teams:

Michigan continues to play musical punters, using either fifth-year senior Ross Ryan or redshirt freshman Zoltan Mesko depending on the situation. On kickoffs, the lower tee has hindered Ryan's ability to kick the ball as high and deep as he did last season. That hurt the Wolverines' kickoff coverage last week, and Michigan gave up 188 yards on kickoff returns.