UHND.com - Notre Dame Football, Basketball, & Recruiting

1. Michigan - Love this pick. Act like they're the best program ever, yet Michigan has one consensus national championship in the last 100 years without an asterisk (1948). Lloyd Carr was a gentleman but his sole title in '97 witnessed ESPN stealing the Heisman from Peyton Manning to give it to Charles Woodson, and the coaches had Nebraska as #1. I'm shocked they haven't had '23 title stripped for Stalions and Harbaugh yet. They led the movement that kept ND out of the Big 10 that led to the Irish barnstorming to become the first National Program outside the Ivies and Academies.

2. Miami - the shine of the rivalry has worn off - we rarely play them in games that matter anymore. But for fans who watched games in the 80's they are the devil, so for history's sake I think it's a good choice.

3. USC - Like many ND fans, I don't hate them, but they are our biggest rival. I have a few Navy buddies who did ROTC there, and it's tough to hate Californians even if you hate California because they are so chill. The bad Californians don't care about football anyway. I think USC - ND is closer to Army/Navy than Auburn/Alabama or Michigan/Ohio State. There is too much respect and class between the programs and alumni, and the lack of geographic proximity tempers the fan friction that usually results in bitter rivalries. Most ND and USC grads don't bump next to each other at the water cooler.

4. Ohio State - I don't have a problem with Ohio State - unlike Michigan they actually have a reason to be proud of their football product. Also, tough to call this a rivalry since they're 6-0 vs ND in the past 90 years, more of a bugaboo for ND fans. Not enough games, and while a few were close, most were blowouts. I guess the Jaylon Smith injury adds fuel to the fire, but I'd put Michigan State here before Ohio State. More games, more impact, more back and forth, with some classic finishes. I'll never forget John L. Smith slapping himself. It's a shame they've fallen off a cliff the past several years, because I'd love for them to beat Michigan.

5. Penn State - Not enough games for a true rivalry , but their fans are pretty obnoxious in a similar vein to Michigan fans. Honestly, I'd put Boston College here. Notre Dame is the big brother, but they've punched the Irish in the nose a few times. I was too young to remember '88/'89, but I remember beating Florida State in '93. The loss to Boston College the next week was end of Holtz's Renaissance - and the last season he coached at ND with <3 losses. ND hasn't finished a season with 1 loss since (2012 vacated)