Notre Dame to end Michigan football series

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ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Michigan officials Tuesday said they were informed by Notre Dame that the Fighting Irish will no longer play Michigan in football after 2014.

The teams have played 40 times, including last Saturday when Notre Dame beat the Wolverines 13-6, and had five games left on their agreement. Michigan leads the series 23-16-1.

Notre Dame said it won't schedule Michigan for football after a game next season in Ann Arbor, Mich., and a 2014 contest in South Bend, Ind. Games scheduled for 2015, '16 and '17 were called off.

"The decision to cancel games in 2015-17 was Notre Dame's and not ours," Michigan Athletic Director David Brandon said Tuesday. "We value our annual rivalry with Notre Dame but will have to see what the future holds for any continuation of the series.

"This cancellation presents new scheduling opportunities for our program and provides a chance to create some new rivalries."

The decision by Notre Dame could be related to its upcoming move to the Atlantic Coast Conference. While the football team will remain an independent, the Fighting Irish must schedule at least five ACC teams each season. That limits the number of other matchups possible.