The atmosphere has been building all week. NewsCenter16’s Barbara Harrington was out in the tail-gating lots.

Thousands of fans were out for hours getting pumped up for the big game, but many of them spent a good portion of the day huddled under tents, trying to stay dry.

Several rainstorms made it through the tailgating lots today, but fans did not let it rain on their parade.

They made the most of it and braved the elements.

It is said that Michigan and Notre Dame fans are some of the most dedicated out there, and many of them proved that Saturday.

“It is quite a monsoon out here,” said Notre Dame fan Pat Dowling. “We've been out here when it's 100 degrees and you're out here when it's 30 or 40 degrees, so it doesn't really matter.”

“We have been doing this for probably 25 years. And so this isn't our first time,” said Trell Wechter. “We made sure we brought stuff to cover the food, cover the tent, we had wind barriers, ways to tie the tent to the car so they don't blow away, and a generator out back to keep the food warm.”