Report card: Michigan football team earns high marks in win against Notre Dame

Offense Tate Forcier is mature beyond his years at quarterback, and Brandon Minor (106 yards rushing) makes the running game complete. A few fits and starts early and Forcier’s late interception were the only negatives. Grade: A-minus

Defense As well as Michigan played in the second half, you can’t give up 490 yards of total offense and feel good about yourself. Notre Dame had a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers. Grade: B-minus

Special teams Darryl Stonum’s kick-return touchdown was the highlight, but usually-reliable Zoltan Mesko shanked a punt (18 yards) that led to a Notre Dame field goal and the Irish had a big third-quarter kick return they couldn’t take advantage of. Grade: B

Coaching Rich Rodriguez and his staff got the better of Charlie Weis. Michigan executed its two-minute offense to perfection, and Rodriguez made good use of his timeouts, spending one early to review a touchdown that was overturned and saving three late to stop the clock. Grade: A

Unsung hero Weis. The smartest man in the room was at it again, throwing twice in the final minutes when he had a chance to run out the clock - or at least make Michigan spend its timeouts.

Dave Birkett covers the University of Michigan football team for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidbirkett@annarbor.com