Notre Dame heads into tonight’s matchup with Michigan State still carrying plenty of offensive upside, but also plenty of room to clean things up. The Fighting Irish are 2-0, ranked No. 3, and chasing a 13th straight win and a third victory in the 2026 season. Michigan State comes in at 2-0 as well, and the Spartans have shown early signs of progress on defense under Pat Fitzgerald, allowing just 13.5 points per game.
That means the Irish offense doesn’t just need to be functional. It needs to hit on the right notes early and keep pressing throughout the night.
The first thing Notre Dame has to do is get rolling quickly. That doesn’t simply mean scoring on the opening series.
It means settling in, finding a rhythm, and stacking early scoring drives. The Irish looked better in that department last week against Rice, and that kind of start matters a lot for this group.
Since the start of 2024, Notre Dame is 14-1 and averaging 47.8 points per game when it scores on at least three of its first five possessions. The only loss in that stretch was the 41-40 defeat to Texas A&M last season.
When the Irish fall short of that standard, they’re 12-3 and averaging 30.5 points per game, including a 3-3 mark when they score just once in their first five possessions.
A fast beginning would do more than put points on the board. It would help the offense build confidence and force Michigan State into a chase, which is not where the Spartans want this game to go.
The next issue is the offensive line, and this group has to show more in the run game. Pass protection has been solid, but the run blocking has been underwhelming.
Outside of the second half against Wisconsin, the ground attack has been, by any honest measure, bad. The running backs have taken a lot of the criticism, but the line hasn’t been good enough for the results to be any different.
These same issues showed up last season and again in two of the first three games of 2024. That’s a bigger-picture problem for another day.
For tonight, the key is whether the line can finally play to its level. Notre Dame will have the same starting five for a second straight game, and that kind of continuity could help the group settle in.
There’s also hope that line coach Joe Rudolph has this unit ready to bring more physicality this week.
If the line does its job, the offense should open up.
Notre Dame also has to find explosive plays. That was an issue in the win over Wisconsin, and it’s the kind of thing that becomes harder to ignore against better opponents. Michigan State has some areas the Irish can attack, especially with double moves and post-snap switch situations, so there should be chances to push the ball downfield.
The run game needs that same spark. Notre Dame still hasn’t produced a run of at least 20 yards, and that has to change quickly.
Better blocking will help, but the backs also need to make better decisions. The scheme has looked flat at times, and the footwork hasn’t always matched the call.
Some adjustment is needed there, and this game offers a chance to show it.
One more thing could loom large: the weather. Rain is expected, and that puts a premium on ball security. If Notre Dame takes care of the football, it gives itself a strong chance to control the night.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Keeps Rolling But One Irish Debate Just Got Louder
Notre Dames strong start kept rolling with a 27-10 win over Michigan State, pushing the Irish to 3-0 and giving them another solid overall performance to point to heading into the heart of the season. Micah Gilbert flashed as a real weapon in the passing game with eight catches for 170 yards, Nolan James Jr. added balance on the ground with 121 rushing yards and a touchdown, and linebacker Luke Talich continued to show up all over the field on defense.
Even so, the afternoon was not clean everywhere, and the parts that were less tidy may wind up drawing as much attention as the win itself. Aneyas Williams had a quiet day, while special teams left points and momentum on the table with a missed field goal and an unsuccessful fake punt, giving the Irish a few more issues to sort through even as the record keeps looking better. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Has One Thing To Prove Against Michigan State
Notre Dame heads into its game with Michigan State carrying the kind of expectation that comes with being a heavy favorite. It is the 78th meeting between the programs, a matchup that has long carried more meaning than a typical nonconference game, and this one arrives with the Irish on firmer footing in the standings, a clear edge in the betting market and the kind of pressure that comes from being the more established team in the moment.
Still, the challenge is about more than simply being expected to win. Between the records, the coaching situations and the history between the schools, this is the sort of game that can reveal whether Notre Dame can handle being the more complete side without letting the setting turn into a trap. The Irish have the edge on paper, but this trip through an old rivalry will say plenty about how well they can back that up. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Faces Its First Real Pressure Test Under The Lights
Notre Dames first real pressure point of the season arrives under the lights Saturday night, when Michigan State comes to Notre Dame Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Both teams are unbeaten at 2-0, with the Irish rolling past Rice 52-0 and the Spartans following up a win over Eastern Michigan, setting up a matchup that should offer a much clearer read on where Marcus Freemans team stands early in the season.
The usual game-day details add to the significance of the night, from injury updates to the broadcast information and a weather forecast that could factor into the atmosphere. For Notre Dame, this is more than just another September tune-up, it is the kind of home spotlight game that can sharpen the conversation around a team trying to build on a dominant start while handling a more credible test. [Read more 🡒]