Why Notre Dame Lost to Michigan

Michigan just beat Notre Dame 38-34 on a touchdown with 11 seconds left on the clock. But even before that last play, three things told me Notre Dame would lose this game. They are:

Tate Forcier

I admit I may have been wrong about this kid. ND threw pressure at him all day long, and with few exceptions, he went past it, around it, or over it. Its hard to stop someone when they can make a deep pass, break a long run with one cut, and drop a pooch punt inside the 5 yard line all in the same game.

The Officiating

Forgetting the clock situation at the end of the game, which was probably correct, the officials were blowing calls all game long, mostly in Michigan's favor. I'm not saying they were playing favorites or anything, because ND got some questionable calls in their favor, too, but multiple times Michigan should have been flagged for pass interference and it wasn't called. Its hard to get a passing game going when the defender has his arm wrapped around the receivers like they're dating.

Charlie Weis's Play Calling

Nothing doomed ND's chances more than this. ND went for the sideline pass all day, and it didn't work. Then, late in the game and trailing by 5, they went for it twice on back to back plays. Both times it didn't work, the second time ending with Michael Floyd, the teams leading receiver in the game, getting hurt. They would take a 4 point lead on the drive, and would get the ball back. Then, after Armando Allen rushed for a first down, Robert Hughes was stuffed on 1st down with less than three minutes left to play. On 2nd and long, they went for the sideline pass. It didn't work. The next play would also be an incomplete pass. The resulting punt would give Michigan good field position, more than 2 minutes left in the game, and 2 time outs. After the game, Weis was asked about the play choice on that last position, and he claimed that pass had been working for them all day. I'm sorry, but I remember it not working a lot more than it worked. I also remember inside running plays working late in the game. After Hughes was stuffed, Weis said he saw a change in the defense, that they were stacking the box to take away the run. I don't doubt him. However, theres no excuse for not at least calling an outside run there. In my opinion, giving Michigan the ball with that much time and two time outs was what ultimately led to ND losing this game.