Notre Dame – Michigan State Football Rivalry

Just ten years after its first game, Notre Dame reached out to Michigan State and began playing the Spartans in 1897. Except for a hiatus between 1921 and 1947, the two teams have engaged each other most years, with the Irish holding a 48-28-1 edge. The 79 games is nearly twice as many as the Irish have played against Michigan.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Though not two peas in a pod, Notre Dame and Michigan State share a common experience: attempted, but failed, oppression and suppression by the University of Michigan.

Yost’s hateful vendetta against Notre Dame blended a virulent anti-Catholicism with a personal animus toward the glib, popular, charismatic Rockne. It led Yost to Machiavellianly and successfully organize a boycott by Western Conference (the birth name of the Big Ten) teams of Notre Dame. Without a good religious hatred available to fuel the fire against Michigan State, Michigan doubled down on secular, academic, and instate animus.

Michigan wanted to be the golden child of the state legislature and constantly lobbied against expansion of aid to Michigan State and funding of special programs, agricultural and beyond. And the reason why Michigan State was not allowed to join the Big X conference until 1950 can not be discerned in East Lansing or Chicago. It resides in Ann Arbor.

Notre Dame and Michigan State always had a comfortable and easy working relationship. Michigan’s animosity was a bonding force.

Sleepy Jim Crowley, one of Rockne’s four horsemen, was the coach at Michigan State from ‘29-‘32.

Megaphone Trophy

The teams have played for the Megaphone trophy since 1949. Notre Dame’s side of the trophy is blue, Michigan State’s side is green. Since the institution of the Megaphone trophy, Notre dame is 34-26-1.

‘Biggie’ Mun

Then came a big man. And he showed up just as the postwar boom was fueling the auto industry, and workers from across America flocked to Detroit, Flint, Saginaw and other Michigan cities, bringing their large, athletic sons with them. Waiting with open arms was Clarence “Biggie” Munn who led the Spartans to the National Championship in ’52 and ’53. Munn had played for Fritz Crisler at Minnesota. Munn was rising just as Frank Leahy was nearing the end. Biggie Munn and his protégé Duffy Daugherty led the Spartans to wins in 9 of ten games against the Irish between 1950 and 1963.

Then Notre Dame hired Parseghian, and Notre Dame went 25-4-1. Just when Michigan State was losing hope as the century waned, their Messiah arrived, albeit in South Bend in the person of Bob Davie. Davie’s record against Michigan State was an unblemished, 0-4. But he actually got as close as six points in the 2000 loss.

Brian Kelly lost his first game against Michigan State in 2010 on the “little Giants” fake field goal play, but has won three since.

With the movement toward the ACC, Notre Dame will play its Midwestern rivals less frequently, but Michigan State was added back to the schedule in 2016 and 2017.

The most anticipated regular season game ever

Early during the ’66 national championship season, it became clear that Notre Dame and Michigan State were the two best squads.

While Alabama was on its way to an unbeaten season in 1966, it played in the segregated South and struggled to edge out a 11-10 win over Tennessee. Comparatively, Notre Dame and Michigan State were not only massive but also swift, passing the eye test with their impressive physicality and skill.

Several factors fueled the unparalleled frenzy surrounding the Notre Dame-Michigan State game. Televised games were rare, but this high-stakes matchup would be broadcast nationwide. Additionally, the first Super Bowl had yet to take place, adding to the game’s prominence. Michigan State, guaranteed to play its last game of the year due to Big Ten rules, could not return to the Rose Bowl after their appearance the previous year.

Notre Dame, still three years away from ending its 45-year bowl ban, had only the USC game left after facing Michigan State. Thus, the college football season and its champion would be decided on November 19, 1966, with no further opportunities for either team to claim the title.

Michigan State was unbeaten through nine games and had outscored its opponents 282-89. The unbeaten Irish had outscored their foes 301-28.

November 19, 1966

The sky was Armageddon gray as Michigan State and Notre Dame faced off in a game considered among the most talent-laden and physical football contests ever played. The 1967 NFL draft saw seven first-round picks from this matchup, including Michigan State’s Bubba Smith and Clinton Jones, and Notre Dame’s Alan Page and Paul Seiler. The intensity was palpable, with both teams showcasing a blend of modern athleticism and old-school, bone-crunching football. Despite the fierce competition, the game remained remarkably clean, with players relying on their raw power rather than penalties.

Memorable moments defined the clash, such as Jim Lynch’s interception followed by a dramatic tackle from Clinton Jones, captured by Sports Illustrated. Injuries sidelined key players like Terry Hanratty and George Goeddeke, yet Notre Dame’s coach Ara Parseghian remained unfazed. Michigan State struck first with a touchdown and a barefoot field goal, taking a 10-0 lead. However, Notre Dame responded when Coley O’Brien connected with Jim Gladieux for a 34-yard touchdown pass, reducing the halftime deficit to 10-7.

In the second half, Notre Dame gained the upper hand. Joe Azzaro’s field goal early in the fourth quarter tied the game at 10-10. Despite the intense back-and-forth, neither team could break the deadlock. Azzaro’s late field goal attempt narrowly missed, and with four minutes left, Michigan State opted for a tie. Notre Dame, led by a fatigued O’Brien, couldn’t capitalize in the final minute, ending the game at 10-10. The game concluded with unresolved tension, reflecting the intense competition and legendary standoff.

10-10. An elegant result for an elegant game, it just might have been the game of the century.

Irish and Spartans exchange periods of dominance

From 1969 through 1994, the two programs met yearly with Notre Dame dropping just three games to the Spartans over that 25 years span for a 22-3 record. A generation of Notre Dame fans only knew of beating up on the Spartans even if many of the contests were indeed close.

After a two year hiatus, the series resumed and Michigan State finally started fighting back. From 1997 to 2010, the Spartans compiled a record of 10-4 against the Irish. Not quite the complete domination that the Irish saw over their 25 year run of dominance, but a mark that displeased Notre Dame fans. Michigan State took advantage of a period of coaching ineptitude from Notre Dame that saw Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham, and Charlie Weis all get fired prior to their contracts ending.

Over the final five games of the series before the two schools stopped playing – at least for now – in 2017, the Irish at least got some revenge with a 4-1 mark.

Thrilling moments in the 2000s

• 2000: Bob Davie called an all-out blitz on 4th and 10 with less than 2:00 to go and Jeff Smoker hit Herb Haygood on a 68-yard touchdown to upset the Irish.
• 2002: Walk-on Pat Dillingham came off the bench and hit quarterback turned wide receiver Arnaz Battle for a 60-yard touchdown with 1:15 to beat the Spartans in East Lansing.
• 2005: Michigan State won an overtime thriller 44-41 after Notre Dame rallied from a 38-17 deficit to force overtime.
• 2006: Notre Dame fell behind big to the Spartans for the 2nd year in a row, but this time they completed the comeback with a miracle final 2:00.
• 2009: Kirk Cousins threw a game-clinching interception with the endzone in his sights for the Notre Dame victory.
• 2010: Michigan State pulled off the “Little Giants” play on a fake field goal on overtime for a shocker. Harrison Smith was 100% interfered with on the play, but no flag was thrown.
• 2013: Notre Dame was the only loss for the Spartans in the final year of the BCS preventing them from playing for a national championship.

Notre Dame vs Michigan State

Record: 49-29-1

No	W/L	Date	PF	Location	PA	Notes
1	W	11-25-1897	34	South Bend, IN	6
2	W	10-15-1898	53	South Bend, IN	0
3	W	09-30-1899	40	South Bend, IN	0
4	W	09-27-1902	33	South Bend, IN	0
5	W	10-03-1903	12	South Bend, IN	0
6	W	10-07-1905	28	South Bend, IN	0
7	W	10-27-1906	5	South Bend, IN	0
8	W	10-23-1909	17	South Bend, IN	0
9	L	10-29-1910	0	East Lansing, MI	17
10	W	11-18-1916	14	East Lansing, MI	0
11	W	11-17-1917	23	South Bend, IN	0
12	L	11-16-1918	7	East Lansing, MI	13
13	W	11-15-1919	13	South Bend, IN	0
14	W	11-25-1920	25	East Lansing, MI	0
15	W	11-24-1921	48	South Bend, IN	0
16	W	10-09-1948	26	South Bend, IN	7
17	W	11-05-1949	34	East Lansing, MI	21
18	L	10-28-1950	33	South Bend, IN	36
19	L	11-10-1951	0	East Lansing, MI	35
20	L	11-15-1952	3	East Lansing, MI	21
21	W	10-16-1954	20	South Bend, IN	19
22	L	10-15-1955	7	East Lansing, MI	21
23	L	10-20-1956	14	South Bend, IN	47
24	L	11-09-1957	6	East Lansing, MI	34
25	L	10-17-1959	0	East Lansing, MI	19
26	L	10-15-1960	0	South Bend, IN	21
27	L	10-21-1961	7	East Lansing, MI	17
28	L	10-20-1962	7	South Bend, IN	31
29	L	11-16-1963	7	East Lansing, MI	12
30	W	11-14-1964	34	South Bend, IN	7
31	L	11-20-1965	3	South Bend, IN	12
32	T	11-19-1966	10	East Lansing, MI	10
33	W	10-28-1967	24	South Bend, IN	12
34	L	10-26-1968	17	East Lansing, MI	21
35	W	10-04-1969	42	South Bend, IN	28
36	W	10-03-1970	29	East Lansing, MI	0
37	W	10-02-1971	14	South Bend, IN	2
38	W	10-07-1972	16	East Lansing, MI	0
39	W	10-06-1973	14	South Bend, IN	10
40	W	10-05-1974	19	East Lansing, MI	14
41	L	10-04-1975	3	South Bend, IN	10
42	W	10-02-1976	24	East Lansing, MI	6
43	W	10-01-1977	16	South Bend, IN	6
44	W	10-07-1978	29	East Lansing, MI	25
45	W	09-29-1979	27	South Bend, IN	3
46	W	10-04-1980	26	East Lansing, MI	21
47	W	10-03-1981	20	South Bend, IN	7
48	W	10-02-1982	11	East Lansing, MI	3
49	L	09-17-1983	23	South Bend, IN	28
50	W	09-15-1984	24	East Lansing, MI	20
51	W	09-21-1985	27	South Bend, IN	10
52	L	09-20-1986	15	East Lansing, MI	20
53	W	09-19-1987	31	South Bend, IN	8
54	W	09-17-1988	20	East Lansing, MI	3
55	W	09-23-1989	21	South Bend, IN	13
56	W	09-22-1990	20	East Lansing, MI	19
57	W	09-21-1991	49	South Bend, IN	10
58	W	09-19-1992	52	East Lansing, MI	31
59	W	09-18-1993	36	South Bend, IN	14
60	W	09-17-1994	21	East Lansing, MI	20
61	L	09-20-1997	7	South Bend, IN	23
62	L	09-12-1998	23	East Lansing, MI	45
63	L	09-18-1999	13	South Bend, IN	23
64	L	09-23-2000	21	East Lansing, MI	27
65	L	09-22-2001	10	South Bend, IN	17
66	W	09-21-2002	21	East Lansing, MI	17
67	L	09-20-2003	16	South Bend, IN	22
68	W	09-18-2004	31	East Lansing, MI	24
69	L	09-17-2005	41	South Bend, IN	44
70	W	09-23-2006	40	East Lansing, MI	37
71	L	09-22-2007	14	South Bend, IN	31
72	L	09-20-2008	7	East Lansing, MI	23
73	W	09-19-2009	33	South Bend, IN	30
74	L	09-18-2010	31	East Lansing, MI	34
75	W	09-17-2011	31	South Bend, IN	13
76	W	09-15-2012	20	East Lansing, MI	3
77	W	09-21-2013	17	South Bend, IN	13
78	L	09-17-2016	28	South Bend, IN	36
79	W	09-23-2017	38	East Lansing, MI	18
			1675	Totals	1250