For more any Irish players, including freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen, Saturday will be the first chance to ever play at the Big House.

For others---like senior offensive captains John Carlson, John Sullivan and Travis Thomas--- it will be the final chance to play at the Big House.

"It doesn't matter what our records are," Carlson says. "It's going to be an intense game, a physical game."

"I think anytime you have to go into the big house and play---it's exciting," the senior tight end explained. "It's a great opportunity for us to come together in a hostile environment and hopefully come out with a win."

Sullivan says the Irish have a lot of respect for Michigan.

"It doesn't matter if Notre Dame and Michigan are 0-2, it's still going to be an intense rivalry," the senior center says.

"It's going to be a highly contested game. We're going in there expecting a battle for 60 minutes."