The Notre Dame Leprechaun mascot walks the sidelines during the closing minutes. Notre Dame lost to Michigan, 38-0, Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Ann Arbor, Mich. ? Michigan’s off the hook for now. It’s Notre Dame’s turn to face the critics alone.

The Wolverines humbled the Fighting Irish, 38-0, Saturday in an unprecedented matchup of major-college football’s winningest programs – without a win or ranking between them.

Mike Hart ran for 187 yards on 35 carries and scored two touchdowns to back-up his guarantee of a victory, and freshman Ryan Mallett threw for three scores in a game that seemed over soon after it began.

“I like being in the spotlight. For the wrong reasons? No,” Hart said. “Hopefully, we’ll be in the spotlight for right reasons now.”

Michigan (1-2) avoided its first 0-3 start in seven decades, and handed the Irish their worst loss since beating them by the same score four years ago.

Notre Dame (0-3) is winless after three games for just the second time in school history, putting coach Charlie Weis in unwanted company with Bob Davie. The Irish have lost five straight for the first time since the 1985-86 seasons, Gerry Faust’s last year and Lou Holtz’s first.

“My confidence isn’t shaken,” Weis said. “But as an organization, we haven’t done a very good job.”