Notre Dame’s defense has spent the first two games doing more than just holding serve. It has actually outscored opponents, 14-13, and that kind of start is a big reason the 3rd-ranked Fighting Irish are 2-0 heading into tonight’s matchup with Michigan State.
Now comes a tougher assignment. The Spartans are improved, and if Notre Dame wants to keep rolling, the defense has to handle this one the right way from the opening snap.
The first priority is simple: start fast. Michigan State has not been a quick-start team this season, and if the Spartans can string together early drives, that could give a portal-built group the confidence it needs.
Notre Dame can take that away quickly by setting the tone early. If the Irish defense comes out sharp and controls the first phase of the game, the pressure shifts squarely onto Michigan State.
The longer this stays close, the more the Spartans can believe. A fast defensive start makes that much harder.
From there, the Irish need to win on first down. Michigan State wants to run the ball, make short and intermediate throws, and stay on schedule.
That is not a formula built for playing from behind, and it is not one designed to thrive when the offense is forced into obvious passing situations. Through two games against MAC opponents, Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has attempted just four passes that traveled at least 20 yards down the field, and over 57-percent of his throws have gone nine yards downfield or less (PFF).
If Notre Dame’s pass rush and coverage unit can push the Spartans into longer-yardage situations, the Irish should have the edge.
That makes stopping the downhill run game a major piece of the night. Transfer back Cam Edwards has been the engine for Michigan State, rushing for 250 yards and three touchdowns in two games.
His production last season at UConn - 1,240 yards, 5.9 yards per carry and 15 touchdowns - shows exactly what he can do when he gets rolling. When Edwards is gaining steady ground, the entire Michigan State offense changes shape.
Notre Dame’s defensive tackles have to hold up at the point of attack the way they did in the first two games. That stout interior play helped the Irish limit their first two opponents to 65.5 rushing yards per game and 2.02 yards per carry. If the tackles can occupy blockers and create that kind of disruption again, it frees up the linebackers to attack downhill and makes life much harder for Edwards.
The final warning sign for Notre Dame is the bag of tricks Michigan State is likely to bring. The Spartans were already expected to lean on trick plays, gadget plays and double moves, and that idea only gets stronger after Notre Dame allowed four big plays against Wisconsin on double moves. Michigan State knows straight-up football probably won’t be enough against the Irish, so expect motions, shifts, post-snap switch concepts, double moves and trick plays as part of the plan to manufacture chunk gains.
For Notre Dame, the formula is clear: start fast, win first down, bottle up Edwards and stay alert for the surprise stuff.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Has One Thing To Prove Against Michigan State
Notre Dames matchup with Michigan State carries the feel of a measuring-stick game, even with the Irish entering as the clear favorite. It will be the 78th meeting between the longtime rivals, and the betting market has made the gap plain, with Notre Dame given a large point spread and a strong edge on the moneyline.
What makes this one interesting is the pressure that comes with being expected to handle business. The Irish have the record, the coaching stability and the talent advantage on paper, but these kinds of games are about more than just winning. For Notre Dame, the real question is whether it can look every bit like the team the numbers say it should be, or leave room for a conversation afterward. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Faces Its First Real Pressure Test Under The Lights
A Saturday night in South Bend brings the first real measuring stick of the season for Notre Dame, with Michigan State coming to Notre Dame Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Both teams are unbeaten at 2-0, but the mood around this one is different after the Irish rolled past Rice 52-0 and the Spartans handled Eastern Michigan 35-7. It is the kind of early-season matchup that starts to sharpen the picture of where each team really stands.
The buildup includes the usual game-week details, from injury updates to broadcast information and the weather forecast, but the spotlight is on how Notre Dame responds once the lights are on and the opponent is closer to its own level. After two lopsided wins, this is the kind of night that can either reinforce the early optimism or force a more honest conversation about what still needs cleaning up. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Offense Faces Real Pressure To Deliver Against Michigan State
Notre Dame heads into its matchup with Michigan State ranked third, unbeaten at 2-0 and chasing a 13th straight victory, but the offense has room to prove it can carry more of the load. Against a defense that has been stingy through two games, the Irish will need to get moving early, find a cleaner rhythm on the ground and make life easier on themselves if they want to keep control of the night.
The list of concerns is familiar enough: start faster, block better up front, hit a few explosive plays and avoid giving the ball away, especially with rain in the forecast. Michigan State has given up just 13.5 points per game, and that kind of opponent tends to expose small offensive flaws quickly, which is why this feels like more than a routine September test for Notre Dame. [Read more 🡒]