Michigan State’s perfect start gets a real stress test Saturday night.
The Spartans, 2-0 after wins over Toledo and Eastern Michigan, head to South Bend to face No. 3 Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept.
- Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
ET, with NBC carrying the game and streaming available on Fubo and Peacock.
Notre Dame enters unbeaten as well at 2-0, and it’s coming off a dominant 52-0 win over Rice in Week 2. That sets up a matchup that looks a lot different from Michigan State’s first two games, both against MAC opponents. The Irish bring one of the most loaded rosters in college football, which is why this is being framed as arguably Michigan State’s toughest challenge of the season.
The series adds a little extra edge, too. These schools have met plenty of times over the years, but not in nearly a decade. The last time they played, Notre Dame won 38-18 in 2017.
Michigan State is 28-36-1 all-time against Notre Dame in a series that dates back 102 years. The Irish are one of only three opponents the Spartans have faced more often than all but Michigan, Indiana and Purdue.
For Michigan State, the trip to South Bend opens a difficult stretch on the schedule. After Notre Dame, the Spartans return home to play Nebraska on Sept. 26, then continue with Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, UCLA, Michigan, Washington, Oregon and Rutgers later in the year.
Michigan State time vs Notre Dame
Date: Saturday, Sept. 19
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend
Michigan State channel vs Notre Dame
TV: NBC
Streaming: Fubo, Peacock
Michigan State odds vs Notre Dame
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday.
In Other News...
Michigan State Showed One Encouraging Sign In A Frustrating Notre Dame Loss
Michigan States 27-10 loss to Notre Dame had plenty of familiar frustrations, but there was still one part of the night that offered a little encouragement. The Spartans defense, with Jordan Hall helping set the tone, battled hard and played with real grit for much of the game, even if missed tackles and costly penalties kept knocking them off schedule.
The bigger concern remains on the other side of the ball, where Michigan State had a difficult time handling pressure and never found much rhythm. Quarterback Milivojevic threw two interceptions, and Cam Edwards was limited late after an injury, leaving the Spartans with even fewer answers as the game wore on. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Showed Something Against Notre Dame Fans Can Rally Around
Michigan State left South Bend with a 27-10 loss to No. 3 Notre Dame, but there were enough flashes on both sides of the ball to keep the night from feeling like just another straight-line disappointment. The Spartans made some strong defensive plays and showed a few encouraging offensive moments, even if mistakes and penalties kept them from turning those stretches into real pressure on a top-tier opponent.
Rodney Bullard Jr. and Cam Fancher helped the Spartans trim the margin before halftime, giving the game a brief sense of momentum and a reminder that there is at least something to build on. Add in the way fans responded to the effort and the early Pat Fitzgerald era, and the takeaway was less about the final score than about a team still trying to piece together a more complete performance. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremy Fears Jr. Just Put Michigan State In A New Spotlight
Evan Miyakawas preseason look at the top 30 NCAA players for the 2026-27 season put a familiar Michigan State name in an unfamiliar place. The statisticians rankings are built to weigh offense and defense through a mix of box-score production and recruiting pedigree, and the early buzz centers on players expected to shape the next college basketball season long before it begins.
For the Spartans, the notable part is not just that Jeremy Fears Jr. made the list, but the level of company he is keeping in a projection designed to identify elite value. His rise reflects how much national attention he has already earned, and it also hints at why pro evaluators are watching him closely as the next step of his career comes into view. [Read more 🡒]
