Depending on the average fan’s opinion, Notre Dame is usually either Michigan’s second or third most important rival on the field. But on the recruiting trail, Michigan and Notre Dame square off for prospects far more often than Ohio State or Michigan State.
The two programs exemplify the idea “narcissism of small differences” considering how similar the programs are in their culture, history and success while hating each other’s guts. The similarities in the programs is why the overlap in the recruiting pool is so large, and it’s showing up more than ever in the 2023 class.