Box Score
| Team stats | Michigan State Spartans | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 11 | 20 |
| Total yards | 167 | 395 |
| Passing yards | 123 | 234 |
| Rushing yards | 44 | 161 |
| Third down | 4-11 | 4-12 |
| Fourth down | 1-1 | 2-3 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Penalties | 2 | 3 |
| Penalty yards | 30 | 30 |
| Possession | 22:58 | 36:30 |
Box score from BALLDONTLIE, updating through the game.
| Michigan State | Notre Dame | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 2-0, unranked | 2-0, ranked No. 3 |
| Week 1 | Beat Toledo 30-20 | Beat Wisconsin 41-13 at Lambeau Field |
| Week 2 | Beat Eastern Michigan 35-7 | Beat Rice 52-0 |
| Quarterback | First real test of the season | CJ Carr, a preseason Heisman co-favorite |
What to Watch
Whether Michigan State can make CJ Carr uncomfortable. He has been protected well through two games and has not had to throw from a collapsing pocket, and Notre Dame’s offensive line has been the quiet strength of the team. If the Spartans cannot generate pressure with four, this turns into the kind of comfortable night the Irish have had twice already.
Michigan State’s path is a slow, physical, clock draining game that keeps Carr on the sideline. The two programs have been playing since the 1890s, and the series produced the 1966 Game of the Century that ended 10-10. The full breakdown is on our Michigan State vs. Notre Dame preview, and the rest of the weekend is on the Week 3 schedule.
The Bottom Line
Michigan State at Notre Dame kicks off Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The scoreboard above updates automatically.