Michigan State visits No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, a prime time renewal of one of the oldest rivalries in the sport. Notre Dame Stadium under the lights on NBC is the network’s showcase window, and the Irish arrive unbeaten with a Heisman co-favorite at quarterback.
Odds and Spread
Michigan State +17.5 | total 37.5
| Sportsbook | Michigan State spread | Notre Dame spread | Total | Michigan State ML | Notre Dame ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | +17.5 (-2000) | -17.5 (+750) | |||
| DraftKings | +17.5 (-7400) | -17.5 (+2300) | 37.5 (+2200) | ||
| BetMGM | +17.5 (-2000) | -17.5 (+900) | 38.5 (+850) | ||
| Caesars | +17.5 (-2500) | -17.5 (+900) |
Lines from BALLDONTLIE and refreshed automatically. Numbers move, so confirm at your sportsbook before betting.
Notre Dame is a comfortable home favorite, reflecting both the ranking gap and the fact that the Irish have not trailed meaningfully in either game. The total is the number to watch: a low one says the market expects Michigan State to keep this slow and physical. Confirm at your book before kickoff.
Start Time, TV Channel and How to Watch
| Date | Saturday, September 19, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT |
| TV | NBC |
| Streaming | Peacock, plus Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Sling Blue |
| Rankings | Notre Dame No. 3 in the AP Top 25, Michigan State unranked |
| Stadium | Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana |
How Both Teams Got Here
Notre Dame is 2-0 and has not been threatened. The Irish beat Wisconsin 41-13 at Lambeau Field to open the season, then beat Rice 52-0 in the home opener. CJ Carr, the redshirt sophomore quarterback and grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, opened 2026 as a Heisman co-favorite after setting the Notre Dame single season passer rating record last year.
Michigan State is also unbeaten but against softer competition: 30-20 over Toledo in Week 1 and 35-7 over Eastern Michigan in Week 2. This is the first real measuring stick on the schedule.
The Rivalry
Notre Dame and Michigan State have been playing since the 1890s, and the series has produced some of the sport’s defining games, including the 1966 Game of the Century that ended 10-10. The teams no longer meet every year, which makes each renewal feel like an event rather than a scheduled date.
What to Watch
Whether Michigan State’s defense can make Carr uncomfortable. He has been protected well through two games and has not had to throw from a collapsing pocket. 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.
Related
CJ Carr · Notre Dame football score · Big Ten standings · AP Top 25 · Heisman odds
The Bottom Line
Michigan State at No. 3 Notre Dame kicks off Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, streaming on Peacock. Both teams are 2-0, but Notre Dame has beaten the better opponents by wider margins. The live odds table above updates automatically.