No. 3 Notre Dame Set to Host Michigan State
No. 3 Notre Dame Set to Host Michigan State
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Key Points
1
The most famous game in the series was the 1966 matchup between the nation’s top two teams, which ended in a 10-10 tie; that game marks its 60th anniversary this year.
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Notre Dame won the teams’ most recent meeting in 2017, defeating Michigan State 38-18.
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The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday and will be televised nationally on NBC.
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Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has completed 38 of 54 passes this season for a 70% completion rate, with three touchdown passes, no interceptions and five sacks taken.
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The forecast for Saturday calls for a 60% chance of rain, with temperatures expected to range from a high of 74 degrees to a low of 57 degrees.
No. 3 Notre Dame hosts Michigan State on Saturday night in their first matchup since 2017, with the Fighting Irish favoring by nearly 30 points after outscoring opponents 95-13 in dominant wins over Wisconsin and Rice. The game marks the 80th meeting between the two programs and renews a rivalry that has defined both schools' football identities for generations South Bend Tribune.
Michigan State enters under new coach Pat Fitzgerald with a 2-0 record after wins over Toledo and Eastern Michigan, while Notre Dame reports no major new injury concerns ahead of Saturday's 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC WSBT. The forecast calls for a 60% chance of rain with temperatures between 57 and 74 degrees WSBT.
A Historic Rivalry Renewed After Six Years
Notre Dame and Michigan State have played 79 times before, with the Fighting Irish holding a 49-29-1 edge in the all-time series South Bend Tribune. Yet in the past 22 meetings, each team has won 11 games, showing how evenly matched the rivals have been in recent decades. The most famous game came in 1966, when the nation's top two teams played to a 10-10 tie — a game now marking its 60th anniversary this year South Bend Tribune.
Their last meeting in 2017 saw Notre Dame win decisively, 38-18 South Bend Tribune. This Saturday marks Michigan State's first visit to Notre Dame Stadium since 2016, making the rivalry's renewal even more significant after a six-year gap WSBT.
Notre Dame's Dominant Start Overshadows Spartans' Improvement
Notre Dame has crushed its first two opponents by an overwhelming margin, outscoring Wisconsin and Rice 95-13 combined South Bend Tribune. The dominance has made the Irish heavy favorites despite a rivalry known for competitive, unpredictable games. Michigan State, meanwhile, has won its first two games under Pat Fitzgerald with wins over Toledo and Eastern Michigan, establishing what South Bend Tribune describes as a developing tough, physical identity.
Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has shown early promise with a 70% completion rate, completing 38 of 54 passes with three touchdown passes and no interceptions through two games South Bend Tribune. However, he has taken five sacks, a weakness the Irish defense will likely target in Saturday's matchup.
Why This Rivalry Should Be Played Every Year
The distance between the schools is just three hours, yet college football scheduling changes and Notre Dame's ACC commitments have left gaps in the rivalry One Foot Down. Arguments have emerged that the two programs should return to an annual matchup given the tradition, geographic proximity, and mutual value of the game Yahoo Sports.
South Bend Tribune columnist notes that Michigan State has felt the absence of Notre Dame deeply, describing the rivalry as "sorely missed" by Spartans fans. Next season marks the last scheduled game between the rivals under current arrangements, making Saturday's matchup a reminder of what college football loses when traditional rivalries go dormant South Bend Tribune.
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