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Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry
First contestedNovember 25, 1897
Notre Dame 34, Michigan State 6
Number of meetings79
Most recent meetingSeptember 23, 2017
Notre Dame 38, Michigan State 18
Next meeting2026 in South Bend
All-time seriesNotre Dame leads, 47–29–1 (.617)
Largest victoryNotre Dame, 53–0 (1898)
Longest win streakNotre Dame, 8 (1897–1909, 1987–94)
Michigan State, 8 (1955–63)
Current streakNotre Dame, 1 (2017–present)
StadiumsNotre Dame Stadium
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Spartan Stadium
East Lansing, Michigan, U.S.

The Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Michigan State Spartans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The first game between the teams took place on November 25, 1897. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 47–29–1.

Since 1949, the teams competed for the Megaphone Trophy, a trophy introduced by the Alumni Clubs of Notre Dame and Michigan State to be presented to the winner of the game.[1] Notre Dame leads the Megaphone Trophy series 33–27–1.[2]

The Notre Dame side of the trophy is blue, while the Michigan State side is green, and the year of the game and teams' respective scores running down the middle. The current trophy is the third trophy as the prior two trophies no longer have space for the respective games to be included.[1]

The rivalry includes several notable games, such as the 1966 game, arguably one of the greatest college football games ever played. Notre Dame currently leads the series. Games played prior to 1949 also appear on the trophy to commemorate the entire series.[3] Notre Dame is the current holder of the trophy, with a 38–18 victory on September 23, 2017. They will hold the Megaphone Trophy until 2026 when the two teams are scheduled to play again.[4]

Recent games[]

After an 8–0 series run by Notre Dame from 1987 to 1994, tying the series win streak set by Michigan State from 1955 to 1963 (they didn't meet in 1958), Michigan State won five games in a row. Michigan State won 44–41 in double overtime at Notre Dame in 2005. Notre Dame pulled out a thrilling come from behind 40–37 victory in East Lansing in 2006. The trend continued in 2007 for Michigan State under new head coach Mark Dantonio who defeated the Fighting Irish 31–14, recording MSU's sixth straight victory at Notre Dame. On September 20, 2008, MSU defeated Notre Dame 23–7 in East Lansing, ending the series "jinx" of home teams always losing since 2001. Notre Dame returned the favor the following year by defeating MSU at Notre Dame. The 2010 meeting had one of the most exciting finishes to the start of the college football season. A back and forth battle the entire game, Notre Dame took the lead in overtime off of a field goal. After Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins was sacked on third down, Michigan State lined up for a field goal to tie the game at 31. They faked it, and the holder Aaron Bates tossed a game-winning touchdown pass to Charlie Gantt to win it 34–31 for the Spartans. In 2011, the Irish reclaimed the trophy with a 31–13 victory in which they led all the way.[5] Notre Dame's 17–13 victory in South Bend in 2013 made it three wins in a row for the Irish and was perhaps the most controversial game in memory.[6] The teams renewed the rivalry in 2016, as No. 12 Michigan State reclaimed the trophy by defeating No. 18 Notre Dame in South Bend 36–28.[7]

In 2017, Notre Dame traveled to East Lansing to take on the Spartans once again. Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush threw for a touchdown and ran for another as Notre Dame routed Michigan State 38–18.[8][9] Notre Dame's defense forced three turnovers in the game, including an interception thrown by MSU QB Brian Lewerke. The interception was returned for a touchdown by Irish defensive back Julian Love on MSU's first possession, giving the Irish an early 14–0 lead. Both teams then swapped touchdown drives. Down 21–7, Michigan State drove deep into Notre Dame territory, and appeared to score to make it a one touchdown game as running back LJ Scott rumbled into the endzone late in the first half. However, Scott had the ball jarred free at the half-yard line by Notre Dame defensive back Shawn Crawford. Crawford also recovered the forced fumble in the end zone, resulting in a touch back. The play resulted in a 14-point swing, as Notre Dame drove the length of the field in just four plays, taking a commanding 28–7 lead into halftime off of the three devastating Michigan State turnovers.

Game results[]

Michigan State victoriesNotre Dame victoriesTie gamesVacated wins[n 1]
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 November 25, 1897 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 34–6
2 October 15, 1898 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 53–0
3 September 30, 1899 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 40–0
4 September 27, 1902 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 33–0
5 October 3, 1903 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 12–0
6 October 7, 1905 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 28–0
7 October 17, 1906 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 5–0
8 October 23, 1909 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 17–0
9 October 29, 1910 East Lansing, MI Michigan Agricultural 17–0
10 November 18, 1916 East Lansing, MI Notre Dame 14–0
11 November 17, 1917 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 23–0
12 November 16, 1918 East Lansing, MI Michigan Agricultural 13–7
13 November 15, 1919 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 13–0
14 November 25, 1920 East Lansing, MI Notre Dame 25–0
15 November 24, 1921 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 48–0
16 October 9, 1948 South Bend, IN No. 1 Notre Dame 26–7
17 November 5, 1949 East Lansing, MI No. 1 Notre Dame 34–21
18 October 28, 1950 South Bend, IN No. 15 Michigan State 36–33
19 November 10, 1951 East Lansing, MI No. 5 Michigan State 35–0
20 November 15, 1952 East Lansing, MI No. 1 Michigan State 21–3
21 October 16, 1954 South Bend, IN No. 8 Notre Dame 20–19
22 October 15, 1955 East Lansing, MI No. 13 Michigan State 21–7
23 October 20, 1956 South Bend, IN No. 2 Michigan State 47–14
24 November 9, 1957 East Lansing, MI No. 4 Michigan State 34–6
25 October 17, 1959 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 19–0
26 October 15, 1960 South Bend, IN No. 14 Michigan State 21–0
27 October 21, 1961 East Lansing, MI No. 1 Michigan State 17–7
28 October 20, 1962 South Bend, IN Michigan State 31–7
29 November 16, 1963 East Lansing, MI No. 4 Michigan State 12–7
30 November 14, 1964 South Bend, IN No. 1 Notre Dame 34–7
31 November 20, 1965 South Bend, IN No. 1 Michigan State 12–3
32 November 19, 1966 East Lansing, MI Tie10–10
33 October 28, 1967 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 24–12
34 October 26, 1968 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 21–17
35 October 4, 1969 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 42–28
36 October 3, 1970 East Lansing, MI No. 4 Notre Dame 29–0
37 October 2, 1971 South Bend, IN No. 4 Notre Dame 14–2
38 October 7, 1972 East Lansing, MI No. 7 Notre Dame 16–0
39 October 6, 1973 South Bend, IN No. 8 Notre Dame 14–10
40 October 5, 1974 East Lansing, MI No. 7 Notre Dame 19–14
41 October 4, 1975 South Bend, IN Michigan State 10–3
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
42 October 2, 1976 East Lansing, MI No. 18 Notre Dame 24–6
43 October 1, 1977 South Bend, IN No. 14 Notre Dame 16–6
44 October 7, 1978 East Lansing, MI Notre Dame 29–25
45 September 29, 1979 South Bend, IN No. 15 Notre Dame 27–3
46 October 4, 1980 East Lansing, MI No.7 Notre Dame 26–21
47 October 3, 1981 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 20–7
48 October 2, 1982 East Lansing, MI No. 11 Notre Dame 11–3
49 September 17, 1983 South Bend, IN Michigan State 28–23
50 September 15, 1984 East Lansing, MI Notre Dame 24–20
51 September 21, 1985 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 27–10
52 September 20, 1986 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 20–15
53 September 19, 1987 South Bend, IN No. 9 Notre Dame 31–8
54 September 17, 1988 East Lansing, MI No. 8 Notre Dame 20–3
55 September 23, 1989 South Bend, IN No. 1 Notre Dame 21–13
56 September 22, 1990 East Lansing, MI No. 1 Notre Dame 20–19
57 September 21, 1991 South Bend, IN No. 11 Notre Dame 49–10
58 September 19, 1992 East Lansing, MI No. 7 Notre Dame 52–31
59 September 18, 1993 South Bend, IN No. 4 Notre Dame 36–14
60 September 17, 1994 East Lansing, MI No. 8 Notre Dame 21–20
61 September 20, 1997 South Bend, IN No. 17 Michigan State 23–7
62 September 12, 1998 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 45–23
63 September 18, 1999 South Bend, IN Michigan State 23–13
64 September 23, 2000 East Lansing, MI No. 23 Michigan State 27–21
65 September 22, 2001 South Bend, IN Michigan State 17–10
66 September 21, 2002 East Lansing, MI No. 12 Notre Dame 21–17
67 September 20, 2003 South Bend, IN Michigan State 22–16
68 September 18, 2004 East Lansing, MI Notre Dame 31–24
69 September 17, 2005 South Bend, IN Michigan State 44–412OT
70 September 23, 2006 East Lansing, MI Notre Dame 40–37
71 September 22, 2007 South Bend, IN Michigan State 31–14
72 September 20, 2008 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 23–7
73 September 19, 2009 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 33–30
74 September 18, 2010 East Lansing, MI Michigan State 34–31OT
75 September 17, 2011 South Bend, IN Notre Dame 31–13
76 September 15, 2012 East Lansing, MI No. 20 Notre Dame 20–3
77 September 21, 2013 South Bend, IN No. 22 Notre Dame 17–13
78 September 17, 2016 South Bend, IN No. 12 Michigan State 36–28
79 September 23, 2017 East Lansing, MI Notre Dame 38–18
Series: Notre Dame leads 47–29–1
† Vacated by Notre Dame.

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Vowles, Joshua (September 14, 2016). "Notre Dame vs Michigan State: The Battle For The Megaphone". http://www.onefootdown.com/2016/9/14/12911136/notre-dame-vs-michigan-state-the-battle-for-the-megaphone.
  2. "Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Michigan State Spartans football series history". Winsipedia. http://www.winsipedia.com/michigan-state/vs/notre-dame. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  3. College Football's Unusual Trophies Sports Illustrated
  4. "Michigan State-Notre Dame rivalry hits longest break in about 70 years". http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2017/09/22/michigan-state-notre-dame-rivalry-history/691141001/. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  5. Gano, Rick (September 17, 2011). "Irish get first win, beat No. 15 Spartans 31–13". Associated Press. https://news.yahoo.com/irish-first-win-beat-no-15-spartans-31-231616481.html.
  6. "Notre Dame edges Michigan State on controversial call". https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/09/21/notre-dame-michigan-state-game-story/2847409/.
  7. "Michigan State vs. Notre Dame: RECAP, score, stats (9/17/16), College Football Week 3". http://www.nj.com/super-bowl/index.ssf/2016/09/michigan_state_vs_notre_dame_live_score_updates_and_stats_91716_college_football_week_3.html.
  8. Trister, Noah. "Opportunistic Notre Dame handles Michigan State 38–18" (in en-US). chicagotribune.com. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-notre-dame-beats-michigan-state-20170923-story.html.
  9. "Notre Dame vs. Michigan State - Game Summary - September 23, 2017 - ESPN". http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=400934575.
  10. NCAA orders Notre Dame Fighting Irish to vacate wins from 2012, 2013 seasons. ESPN, 2016-11-22.
  11. Low, Chris (June 16, 2009). "What does vacating wins really mean?". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/4734/what-does-vacating-wins-really-mean. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  12. Taylor, John (July 4, 2009). "Vacated Wins Do Not Equal Forfeits". NBCSports.com. NBC Sports. http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/07/04/vacated-wins-do-not-equal-forfeits/. Retrieved July 9, 2011.

References[]


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