With No. 4 Ohio State at No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday, the Big Game Factor should be considered - Irish coach Lou Holtz usually wins them, Buckeyes coach John Cooper usually loses them.
In his ninth season at Ohio State, Cooper is a commendable 67-28-5, but 1-6-1 against Big Ten rival Michigan. Although the Buckeyes beat the Irish last season, they lost their perfect season and national title shot with a 31-23 loss to the Wolverines.
The Irish, meanwhile, are 9-3-1 in South Bend against Top 10 teams in Holtz's 11 seasons, with two of those losses in 1986.
There have been wins against No. 1 teams - Florida State in 1993 and Miami in 1988.
This is just the fourth meeting between the teams, with the Buckeyes winning 45-26 last season in Columbus and the Irish winning in 1935 and 1936.
Why only three games for these storied programs, located about 200 miles from each other?
Woody Hayes, who coached the Buckeyes from 1951-78, used to say there's no reason to bring Notre Dame to Columbus because half the crowd would root for the Irish.
Cooper was asked if he'd like to continue the Notre Dame series, which ends after Saturday's game.
"I think it'd be great to play them later on - maybe 2005," Cooper said. "Let that next coach play them. In reality, I want to play him about as bad as he wants to play me."
The Buckeyes (2-0) rolled up 142 points in beating Rice and Pittsburgh, scoring on 20 of 26 possessions. The Irish (3-0) had a tough time against Vanderbilt and needed a last-second field goal to beat Texas 27-24 last week.
"They've been tested and we haven't been," Cooper said. "Maybe that gives them an edge, I don't know. I'm anxious to find out how we'll respond."
Some Irish players believe a win over the Buckeyes will put them on the road to a big season.
"We had a big win last week, but this week will pretty much sum up our entire season," Ohio State defensive end Melvin Dansby said.
"We win this one football game and it's almost smooth sailing for the rest of the way into the bowl game."
Led by linebacker Lyron Collins, the Irish defense allows just 60 yards per game. Tailback Autry Denson is the leading rusher with 283 yards and three touchdowns. He also has four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Ron Powlus is 51-of-88 for 581 yards and two touchdowns.
Ohio State leads the nation with a 71-point scoring average, with Pepe Pearson running for 222 yards and six touchdowns. Stanley Jackson and backup Joe Germaine have combined to hit 26-of-37 passes for 548 yards and eight touchdowns.
On defense, the Buckeyes are second nationally at 3.5 points per game.