EAST LANSING – Here are three things to watch as Michigan State football prepares to hit the road to face No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday, Sept. 19, after beating Eastern Michigan, 35-7, in Week 2 at Spartan Stadium.
Daunting task
After a nine-year pause, the MSU-Notre Dame rivalry finally resumes. And it presents the first major challenge of the Pat Fitzgerald era for the Spartans.
MSU has lost nine straight games against Associated Press top-10 opponents since a thrilling 2021 win over then-No. 6 Michigan, when the Spartans were ranked eighth. The program has lost 14 of its past 15 games against Top 10 foes since 2018.
In two meetings with the Irish while he was coach at Northwestern, Fitzgerald delivered a 43-40 overtime road win in 2014 and a 31-21 loss in 2018
in Evanston, Illinois. He was 3-17 in games against Associated Press top-10 opponents while coaching the Wildcats from 2006-22, with the wins coming in 2009 at No. 8 Iowa, in 2011 over No. 9 Nebraska, and in 2020 over No. 10 Wisconsin.
Fitzgerald also owns another memorable win at Notre Dame Stadium from his time as a former All-American linebacker, a shocking 17-15 win in 1995. That victory in South Bend 31 years ago – with the Wildcats as 28-point underdogs – is still considered the biggest win in Northwestern history. It was ranked this summer No. 52 by ESPN in its “100 Games that Explain College Football” list.
In their bagpipes
Notre Dame has become a juggernaut once again under coach Marcus Freeman. He is now 45-12 in his fifth full season and guided the Irish to the College Football Playoff championship game in 2024, where they lost to his alma mater Ohio State. Notre Dame got snubbed by the CFP committee last season despite finishing 10-2.
In two outings this season, the Irish have continued to roll with a suffocating defense that has played shutout football in its past five quarters and allowed just one touchdown this season in dominating Wisconsin in the second half of a 41-13 victory and then blowing out Rice on Saturday, 52-0. Notre Dame has allowed just 206 yards in its two wins, which ranks 13th in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and is 14th against the run (65.5 yards). That includes two defensive touchdowns coming on six forced turnovers, five fumble recoveries and a pick-6 interception.
Offensively, led by quarterback CJ Carr and top target Jordan Faison (eight catches, 135 yards, two TDs), the Irish are averaging 414 yards and rank 26th in passing offense at 299.5 yards a game. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, is completing 71.4% of his passes with six TDs and no interceptions and has been sacked only once. On the ground, running back Aneyas WIlliams has 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
MSU also has some insight into Freeman’s program, with Fitzgerald having hired away his linebackers coach/co-defensive coordinator Max Bullough from Notre Dame in the offseason to return to his alma mater.
Echoes of past
This will be the first meeting between the two storied programs since Sept. 23, 2017, a 38-18 Notre Dame victory at Spartan Stadium. The last time they played at Notre Dame Stadium, on Sept. 17, 2016, MSU won, 36-28, before both teams’ seasons fell apart.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the legendary 10-10 tie to close the 1966 regular season in East Lansing. Notre Dame was ranked No. 1 and the Spartans No. 2 at the time in what is considered one of the best games of the 20th Century. The Irish own a 49-29-1 all-time edge in a rivalry that began in 1897, including a 29-13 margin at Notre Dame Stadium.
Next up: Fighting Irish
Matchup: Michigan State (2-0) vs. Notre Dame (2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19; Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN.
TV/radio: NBC, WJR-AM (760).
Line: Notre Dame by 29 1/2.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: More Fitzmagic at Notre Dame? MSU coach has good history in South Bend
