No. 3 Notre Dame has opened the 2026 season looking every bit like a team built for a deep run, and Saturday night gives the Fighting Irish another chance to back that up at home.
Marcus Freeman’s team has already rolled through two tests, pounding Wisconsin 41-13 in Week 1 before blanking Rice 52-0 in Week 2. Now the schedule tightens a bit with Michigan State coming to town on Saturday, Sept. 19, for a 7:30 p.m.
EST kickoff. The Spartans arrive unbeaten as well, though they’re still unranked after beating Toledo and Eastern Michigan to start 2-0.
The biggest mismatch in this game starts with Notre Dame quarterback C.J. Carr.
The Heisman candidate has been sharp from the jump, completing 71.4 percent of his passes for 492 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions while taking just one sack through two games. He hasn’t needed to do much with his legs, but the passing production has been clean and efficient, including an 80 percent completion rate against Rice with four touchdowns.
Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has also been efficient, throwing for three scores without a pick and completing more than 70 percent of his passes. But this is a far bigger challenge than the two games the Spartans have already played. Notre Dame’s defense has been stout early, ranking No. 32 in the country in EPA/Play on defense and 23rd in early down EPA/Play on defense.
The Spartans’ passing game has been their bright spot so far, with a T-22nd start in offensive success rate through the air. The problem is the run game, where Michigan State sits 112th in the country in EPA/Rush. If that ground attack doesn’t hold up, the Irish can force the Spartans into a one-dimensional script that could unravel fast.
Notre Dame has already shown it can handle a physical Big Ten opponent after allowing just 13 points against Wisconsin. And offensively, the Irish should have room to operate against a Michigan State defense that ranks 60th in EPA/Pass and gave up 20 points to Toledo in Week 1.
The line reflects that gap. Notre Dame is nearly a 30-point favorite at home, and with the Irish already 2-0 against the spread after wins by 28 and 52 points, the number makes sense. If Carr keeps playing like one of the country’s best passers, Notre Dame should be in position to move to 3-0 overall and 3-0 against the spread.
In Other News...
Ex-Notre Dame Walk-On's Sudden Firing Leaves One Big Mystery
Tyler Plantzs abrupt dismissal at Providence Catholic High School has raised eyebrows well beyond the local football scene, especially for Notre Dame fans who remember him as a former walk-on fullback with the Irish. His tenure ended despite a 4-0 start and a strong overall record, leaving the program in the middle of a promising run when the school opted to make a change.
Providence Catholic said only that it wanted to move in a new direction, offering no detailed explanation for the move. Plantz has said concerns were raised about recruiting and organizational issues, which he disputes, and the lack of clarity has left the firing with one big unanswered question: why a coach who was winning got let go now. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Still Has One Offensive Concern Fans Can't Ignore
A 52-0 shutout over Rice gave Notre Dame plenty to feel good about, especially after safety Adon Shulder sparked the early tone with a defensive play that helped set up Boubacar Traores scoop-and-score. The Irish controlled the game in every obvious way, and the opener looked like the kind of clean, convincing win a top program wants to stack in September.
Still, the performance did not erase one lingering concern: the run game has not yet shown the kind of burst Notre Dame wants. The Irish have drawn criticism for a lack of explosiveness on the ground, and Marcus Freeman acknowledged after the win that more big plays are needed there. For a team with bigger goals ahead, getting the rushing attack moving from steady to dangerous remains one of the most important things to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Is Trying To Separate In A Crowded Chase For 2028 Wing
The early chase for Kingsley Rogers is already starting to take shape, and Notre Dame is in the middle of it. The 6-foot-7 guard-wing from the 2028 PSA Cardinals has drawn interest from a long list of programs that also includes Utah, Hofstra, Rutgers, Baylor, Marquette, Auburn, Syracuse and Buffalo, but the Irish have been especially active in staying connected with him as the evaluation process begins to build.
Rogers has pointed to frequent contact from Notre Dame and Utah, while assistant coaches from Hofstra and Utah have also been in steady pursuit. Notre Dame is set to attend an open gym session at Rogers' school, another sign that the Irish want to keep separating themselves in a crowded field before this recruitment gets even more competitive. [Read more 🡒]