Michigan gave away the football six times in a 35-17 blowout defeat.

Michigan gave away the football six times in a 35-17 blowout defeat.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — A busted up knee could hardly put a damper on this day for Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis.

After a season of disappointment and an uninspiring opening-game victory against a heavy underdog, the Fighting Irish have something to truly celebrate — Notre Dame 35, Michigan 17.

“We definitely showed up against a good opponent and it’s sweet,” said Weis, on crutches after tearing his ACL and MCL in his left knee Saturday when he was hit in the second quarter along the sideline. “This was a big win for our program and our kids.”

Ripping a page out of the playbook that Michigan used for consecutive blowout wins over the Irish the past two seasons, Notre Dame took advantage of mistakes by the Wolverines to jump to a three-touchdown lead. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said his team’s six turnovers too much to overcome.

“I don’t think we’re that far off. We’ve just got to play better,” he said. “I’ve said it many times, we’re not good enough to play poorly and win. We’re not right now.”

Jimmy Clausen, who was sacked eight times by the Wolverines last year, was 10-of-21 passing for 147 yards with two touchdown passes, two interceptions and he wasn’t sacked. Robert Hughes ran for two touchdowns for the Irish.

After losing 38-0 and 47-21 to the Wolverines the past two seasons, Clausen said the victory Saturday was big.

“It feels great. I was talking to a bunch of the guys before the game, I said, ‘Remember what we felt like last year after this game. That’s not going to happen again.’ ”

The 18-point victory was the third largest in the 37-game series for the Irish (2-0), but well short of the 38-0 loss to Michigan (1-2) two years ago and 47-21 setback last season, part of a humbling 3-9 campaign for the Irish.

The Irish scored their first two touchdowns off turnovers and went ahead 21-0 in the first quarter.

“Neither one of us is really built at this time to play from behind in a significant margin,” Weis said.

Considering how sloppily Michigan played in the second consecutive meeting between the two rivals with neither team ranked, it’s hard to qualify this as a breakthrough victory for the Irish. But Weis said it answered some questions that lingered after a 21-13 win over San Diego State.

“Because the question was for everyone. It wasn’t just for media. It was for coaches, it was for players, for everyone. Where are we going to go from here?” he said.

Linebacker Brian Smith, who returned a fumble recovery 35 yards for the only touchdown of the second half early in the fourth quarter, said the Irish showed they are an improved team.

“Last year at Michigan, we were embarrassed as a team. We remembered that as we were training and getting ready for the season,” Smith said.