Game Preview: Michigan State faces No. 3 Notre Dame as the battle for the Megaphone Trophy is revived

Michigan State's first two games under Pat Fitzgerald have gone about as well as the Spartans could have hoped.

After opening the season with a victory over Toledo, Michigan State followed it up with a convincing 35-7 win over Eastern Michigan, improving to 2-0 and showing steady progress on both sides of the ball. The Spartans have (mostly) controlled the line of scrimmage, protected the football, and established an identity built around physicality and discipline.

While the competition now takes a significant step up, Michigan State enters week three with some confidence and momentum.

That momentum will be put to the test Saturday night as the Spartans travel to South Bend to renew one of college football's most historic rivalries. For the first time since 2017, Michigan State and Notre Dame will meet with the Megaphone Trophy on the line.

The Irish enter the matchup ranked No. 3 in the country and represent, by far, the toughest challenge of the young season, making this an early measuring-stick game for a Michigan State team still attempting to establish itself under a new coaching staff.

It should be noted as well, that linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Max Bullough spent the previous three seasons at Notre Dame, serving as their linebackers coach from 2024-2025 and as a graduate assistant in 2023. It will be interesting to see how his familiarity with the Fighting Irish program could provide an advantage for the Spartans.

Game Info

Time: Saturday, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel: NBC
Radio: Spartan Media Network
Location: Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, IN)
Weather: Forecasts call for temps in the lows 70s at kickoff with potential rain in the forecast throughout the night. 

Notre Dame Notables

The Fighting Irish enter Saturday with a 2-0 record and the No. 3 ranking in both major polls after dominant victories over Wisconsin and Rice. Notre Dame opened the season with a 41-13 win over the Badgers at Lambeau Field before dismantling Rice 52-0 in its home opener in South Bend. Through two games, Marcus Freeman's team has looked every bit like a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.

One of the biggest reasons for Notre Dame's early success has been the play of junior quarterback CJ Carr. Through two games, Carr has completed 35-of-49 passes for 492 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. He ranks among the national leaders in passing efficiency and has consistently pushed the ball downfield while avoiding mistakes. His ability to distribute the football and keep the offense on schedule has helped Notre Dame average 46.5 points per game.

The Irish have not relied heavily on the running game, but junior running back Aneyas Williams has been productive when called upon. Williams leads the team with 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns while averaging over four yards per carry. While Notre Dame's offense has been driven primarily by the passing attack, the ability to remain balanced has prevented defenses from focusing solely on Carr.

At receiver, senior Jordan Faison has emerged as the top playmaker. He leads the team with 135 receiving yards and two touchdowns while averaging nearly 17 yards per catch. Faison is also dangerous as a return specialist, giving Notre Dame another weapon capable of changing the game in an instant. The Irish have spread the ball around effectively, with multiple receivers already finding the end zone through the first two weeks.

Defensively, Notre Dame may be even more impressive. The Irish rank among the nation's leaders in scoring defense, allowing just 6.5 points per game, and are giving up only 206 total yards per contest. Senior linebackers Jaiden Ausberry and Drayk Bowen lead an experienced unit that has consistently overwhelmed opposing offenses. Junior defensive end Bryce Young has been particularly disruptive, already recording 3.5 tackles for loss and emerging as one of the most productive pass rushers in the country.

Saturday also marks the renewal of one of college football's most historic rivalries.

This will be the 80th meeting between the programs, with Notre Dame holding a 49-29-1 advantage in the all-time series. Although the Irish have won the most recent matchup, Michigan State has enjoyed considerable success in the rivalry over the years, including 11 wins in the last 19 meetings and a victory in the Spartans' most recent trip to South Bend in 2016.

Michigan State Notables

The Spartans arrive in South Bend with a perfect 2-0 record after defeating Eastern Michigan 35-7 last weekend. While the final score was convincing, perhaps the most encouraging development was Michigan State's continued improvement offensively. The Spartans piled up 472 total yards and rushed for 258 yards, their highest rushing output in nearly four seasons.

Graduate transfer running back Cam Edwards has quickly become the centerpiece of the offense. After rushing for 98 yards against Toledo, Edwards exploded for 152 yards and two touchdowns against Eastern Michigan. Through two games, he leads the Big Ten with 250 rushing yards and has already established himself as one of the conference's most productive backs.

Fitzgerald's commitment to a physical rushing attack has been evident, and Edwards has rewarded that trust with consistent production.

Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has also been steady through the first two games.

The redshirt sophomore is completing over 70 percent of his passes and has thrown for 417 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. While Michigan State has not asked him to carry the offense, his ability to make smart decisions and avoid costly mistakes has been a major factor in the team's early success.

Defensively, Michigan State continues to be led by senior linebacker Jordan Hall, but several newcomers have made immediate impacts. With Hall’s status for Saturday’s game still somewhat up in the air, the Spartans may need these newcomers to step up in a big way. Illinois transfer Eli Coenen has been particularly impressive, recording three sacks through two games and emerging as one of the Big Ten's most productive defensive linemen.

The Spartans currently rank among the conference leaders in sacks and have consistently pressured opposing quarterbacks throughout the opening weeks of the season.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Michigan State has been its ability to establish an identity so quickly. The Spartans have controlled possession, played disciplined football, and largely avoided the self-inflicted mistakes that plagued previous Spartan teams.

Saturday's matchup will provide the clearest indication yet of just how far this team has progressed under Fitzgerald.

Overview

Notre Dame possesses elite talent on both sides of the ball, is playing at home, and enters the game ranked No. 3 in the country. The Irish have dominated their first two opponents and appear to be one of the most complete teams in college football through the opening weeks of the season.

For Michigan State, the challenge will be maintaining the formula that has worked so well through the first two games. The Spartans need to establish Cam Edwards early, keep the offense on schedule, and avoid putting Milivojevic in obvious passing situations against an aggressive Notre Dame defense.

Defensively, generating pressure on CJ Carr without sacrificing coverage will be critical if Michigan State hopes to slow down one of the nation's best passing attacks.

The atmosphere in Notre Dame Stadium will undoubtedly be one of the most difficult environments many of these Spartans have experienced. However, there is reason to believe Michigan State can be competitive.

Fitzgerald has won in Notre Dame Stadium before as both a player and a coach, and his team has shown maturity and discipline beyond what many expected through the first two weeks of the season.

Ultimately, this game feels less about the final result and more about measuring Michigan State's progress against one of the nation's premier programs. Notre Dame deserves to be favored and has the advantage in overall talent, depth, and experience. Still, if the Spartans can continue playing physical, mistake-free football, they could have an opportunity to make things interesting and gain valuable experience that could pay dividends once Big Ten play arrives.