Denard Robinson capped another electrifying performance Saturday by running for a 2-yard touchdown with 27 seconds left, sending Michigan to a 28-24 victory over Notre Dame.

The start of the Brian Kelly era attracted a large television audience for Notre Dame. Saturday's preliminary rating was up 77 percent from last year's opener.

After jumping out ahead of Purdue, 20-3, in the first game of the Brian Kelly era, Notre Dame's lead began to slip away as the Boilermakers notched a safety followed by a touchdown to close the gap to eight. But the Irish defense clamped down and David Ruffer notched his third field goal as Notre Dame held on for the 23-12 win Saturday in South Bend.

Notre Dame's new coach Brian Kelly has analyzed and studied the roster and heard about all the expectations for one of the country's proudest programs that has gone 16-21 over the last three seasons. Now, he says, it's time to start making improvements and progress on the field.

Walters: A common nuisance may be how many Notre Dame students, particularly those who live off-campus, would describe the police presence at an off-campus party that was raided by police on Saturday. That consuming alcohol before the age of 21 is illegal is not in question. However, it is hard not to consider Saturday's police presence excessive. And repressive.

Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly is feeling better about the Fighting Irish three practices after proclaiming: "We stink right now." Kelly doesn't want to dwell on an overall assessment nearly midway through spring practice. He prefers to say the team is coming along.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said the tragic death of a standout high school football player who fell from fifth-floor hotel balcony should cause people to think about what students do on spring break.

A "drunk and belligerent" 17-year-old Notre Dame football recruit was killed in a fall from a fifth-floor hotel balcony during his senior-year spring break in Florida, authorities said Saturday.

Troubles switching to spread offense, Crist's struggles upset new coach.

The first play in the first practice of the Brian Kelly era had not yet been completed when the new Notre Dame coach and his assistants began yelling for players to hurry up and line up for the next one.

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick says the possible expansion of the Big Ten could create changes in major college football that force the Fighting Irish to give up their football independence.

Notre Dame's 2010 recruiting class includes two players from the Sporting News Top 100. Seven of the players rank among the top 250 in the country, according to Rivals.com. Of the 23 new Irish, two made USA Today's All-American team; one earned the honor from Parade.