No. 3 Notre Dame gets back into one of college football’s familiar rivalry spots Saturday night, welcoming Michigan State to Notre Dame Stadium for the Battle for the Megaphone. The Irish are 2-0, the Spartans are 2-0, and Notre Dame is aiming at more than just another win - a 13th straight, which would be the program’s longest run since an 18-game streak from 1992 to 1993.
The setting could matter just as much as the matchup. Heavy rain is expected, and that puts the spotlight on the parts of the game that usually decide ugly September nights: defense, field position and which offense can stay on schedule. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET on NBC/Peacock, with Notre Dame listed as a 29.5-point favorite and the over/under at 52.5.
What stands out most about Notre Dame through two games is how lopsided the defense has been compared with everything else. The Irish have scored 14 defensive points while allowing just 13 on that side of the ball. That kind of production is a big reason the staff projections all lean heavily toward Notre Dame, even if the offense is still finding its footing with a new-look group.
Bryan Driskell sees the Irish controlling the line of scrimmage and the ground game in a 38-9 Notre Dame win. He notes that Michigan State is improved, but still doesn’t match up well with Notre Dame’s defense.
He also points out that this will be the toughest offensive line the Irish have faced so far, though the matchup still favors Notre Dame. With the weather in play, Driskell says the run game should be a major factor, and he believes quarterback CJ Carr will still make plenty of plays if the line does its part.
The second prediction from the staff goes even more lopsided: 38-6. That outlook leans on the same theme - Notre Dame’s defense is playing at a level Michigan State simply can’t match, and the Irish should eventually separate after a tighter first half. The note there is clear: the offensive line has to show it can hold up for 60 minutes, but the Spartans’ offense doesn’t have the overall talent to stay with Notre Dame’s defense.
Vince DeDario is on the Irish by a 38-7 count, and he backs that up with the start Carr has put together. Through two games, Carr has completed 71.4% of his passes with six touchdowns and no interceptions.
DeDario also notes Notre Dame’s two early wins - 41-13 over Wisconsin and 52-0 over Rice - while pointing out that Michigan State is making its first road trip of the season. He expects the Spartans to find some early success with Alessio Milivojevic and their physical offense, but says Notre Dame’s defensive speed and overall talent should take over.
Andrew McDonough has Notre Dame winning 30-6, with weather again shaping the approach. He sees the Irish leaning on defense and special teams, especially if they can control field position. McDonough also says Michigan State ranks 90th in the country in yards per play despite opening with back-to-back games against MAC opponents, and that a Notre Dame team controlling field position should leave the Spartans settling for a couple field goals.
On offense, McDonough expects Michigan State to try to slow down a Notre Dame rushing attack that has sputtered at times. If the Irish keep having issues in the run game, he thinks the Spartans could force some stalled drives and field goals in the red zone.
He also says Mike Denbrock knows the only way Michigan State can make this a game is by forcing turnovers, which could lead Notre Dame to be more conservative in longer down-and-distance situations. If the Irish clean up the run game and stay ahead of the chains, McDonough believes a score above 40 is still in play even with the weather.
For Notre Dame, the formula is simple enough: let the defense keep doing the heavy lifting, handle the rain, and find enough balance on offense to turn a rivalry game into another comfortable win.
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On the field, Notre Dames case is just as strong, with the Irish sitting No. 3 in the SP+ ratings and No. 1 on offense after the early stretch of games. Even so, the bigger question fans cannot ignore is whether that profile can hold when the schedule eventually tightens, especially with the program also looking ahead to future marquee matchups like Nebraskas return to the slate in 2032 and 2033, the first meeting between the schools since 2001. For now, the Irish are stacking accomplishments, but the real test still waits down the road. [Read more 🡒]