The No. 18 Fighting Irish are 1-1, while the No. 12 Spartans are 1-0.
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It’s beeen 50 years since “The Game of the Century”, the de facto 1966 national championship game played between No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Michigan State that ended in a 10-10 tie. In seconds, the No. 18 Fighting Irish had a lead on the rival Spartans.
On the offense, Notre Dame averages 221.5 yards in passing and 222.5 yards in rushing. He played tailback, carrying one time for 1 yard.
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said he couldn’t recall the last time the Spartans dominated as they had late in the second quarter and early in the third. Over that same span, the Irish are 3-7.
The Spartans won six straight at Notre Dame Stadium from 1997-07, the longest streak ever for an opponent in South Bend.
Could this Notre Dame team make the CFP as a two-loss team?
That’s because the latest member of what could be described as the first family of Michigan State football happens to be part of a family with plenty of ties to Notre Dame. The Spartans come in at 1-0 and are ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll after beating Furman in week one and not playing last Saturday.
This is generally a strength for Michigan State. State will be fired up for their biggest home game in school history. And Michigan State’s Bubba Smith knocked out quarterback Terry Hanratty on a first-quarter sack. It was the longest Notre Dame punt since October 10, 1998 when Hunter Smith drilled one that traveled 79 yards in a 28-9 victory at Arizona State.
Yet after the Spartans took the slim lead, it finished the half on a 92-yard drive that featured four O’Connor completions of 10-plus yards, including a flip to R.J. Shelton for a touchdown.
DeShone Kizer responded on the drive after a 73-yard touchdown run by Gerald Holmes with a touchdown pass to Equanimeous St. It also will be an interesting matchup of two outstanding position coaches: Michigan State defensive line coach Ron Burton and Notre Dame offensive line mentor Harry Hiestand. The Spartans got impressive play from back row players Abby Monson and Kristen Brashear, who both were in double-digit kills by the middle of the third set.
The Irish forced a three-and-out, but couldn’t move the ball when they got it back and had to punt. And senior quarterback Tyler O’Connor showed pockets of brilliance and game-managing skills, but this weekend will prove to be a tough test for him. “But their team is a challenge, if that’s what you mean”.
During the decisive third quarter when Michigan State scored 21 unanswered points within a five-minute span to extend its advantage to 36-7, it totaled 192 yards total offense – with 166 coming on the ground.
But when Mark Dantonio took the podium after the game, he wasn’t concerned. Michigan State was called for holding four times and pass interference twice. Monty Madaris led in receiving with 85 yards in 5 catches while Felton Davis III had 40 yards and a touchdown in 3 receptions.
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Three recruiting targets from Detroit – wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, cornerback Ambry Thomas and safety Jaylen Kelly-Powell – still have commitment decisions to make with Notre Dame, Michigan State and Michigan all on their offer lists.
