Michigan football beat writer Dave Birkett lists his top five moments from Michigan's 4-2 first half. What are yours?

Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier and head coach Rich Rodriguez celebrate with the fans as they walk off the Michigan Stadium field following the Wolverines' 38-34 win over Notre Dame on Sept. 12. (Photo: Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com)

1. The drive - In one of the most dramatic games the Michigan-Notre Dame rivalry has ever seen, Tate Forcier carved a spot in Michigan lore - and a place in the national conscious - when he hit Greg Mathews with the game-winning 5-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds to play. Forcier, a true freshman, completed six of seven passes on the nine-play drive (his only incompletion was a drop) and afterward reminded everyone of his nerves of steel.

2. Wet and wild - With allegations of NCAA violations hanging overhead, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez delivered a tearful 14-minute soliloquy about how he loves his players “like his own family” and would never do anything to hurt them. Eventually, he got around to denying the accusations that he and his staff required players to devote more time to practice than the NCAA allows.

3. Forcier does it again - As if the Notre Dame dramatics weren’t enough, Michigan overcame two fourth-quarter deficits to beat Indiana in its Big Ten opener. Forcier led a methodical 13-play, 75-yard drive early in the period, and after Indiana answered with an 85-yard touchdown run, he hit Martavious Odoms for the game-winning score with 2:29 to play.

4. And again (almost) - In a steady rain, at hostile Michigan State, Forcier led the most clutch drive of his young career. Michigan trailed by 14 with five minutes to play. A 60-yard touchdown pass to Darryl Stonum cut MSU’s lead in half, and Forcier capped a 92-yard march with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Roy Roundtree with two seconds left. Forcier’s

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson plows under Iowa's A.J. Edds to score a fourth-quarter touchdown on Oct. 10. (Photo: Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com)

heroics were all for naught, however, when was intercepted in the end zone in overtime and MSU scored on a 23-yard run for the win.

5. But doesn’t get a chance to do it a fourth time - A minute and a half to play, down two, on your own 17, no timeouts. Who do you turn to for another game-winning drive? If you’re Rodriguez ... Denard Robinson? With Forcier benched after three scattered quarters, Michigan turned to another true freshman to try and beat Iowa. Robinson ran for a score to put the Wolverines in striking distance, then was intercepted on his final pass with 46 seconds to play. He's thrown three interceptions in 15 attempts this year.

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.