Few rivalries across the nation carry as much history as the one between MSU and Notre Dame. Wild comebacks, colossal upsets and breathtaking finishes have been normal in a rivalry that has been anything but. Here’s a look at a few of the many peculiar matchup trends that have made this rivalry stand out like a finely polished Notre Dame helmet.
1) Road dominance: The visiting team has won each of the past six games by an average of 6.6 points per game. Only last year’s game, which MSU won 31-14, was decided by more than a touchdown. All-time, Notre Dame has a 16-11-1 record at Spartan Stadium, while MSU has won its last six games at Notre Dame Stadium.
2) Golden finishes: Many of the games between the teams this decade have featured fantastic comebacks by Notre Dame. During 2006’ infamous “Monsoon Game,” No. 12 Notre Dame rallied from a 16-point fourth quarter deficit to drown the Spartans, 40-37.
The year before, No. 10 Notre Dame erased a 21-point third quarter deficit to extend the game to overtime in a contest the Spartans eventually won, 44-41, thanks to a 19-yard game-winning touchdown run by Jason Teague in the first overtime.
In 2002, No. 12 Notre Dame head coach and former MSU football player Tyrone Willingham watched his Irish comeback from a late fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Spartans 21-17, courtesy of an Arnaz Battle touchdown reception with 1:15 remaining.
3) Changing trend: Notre Dame boasts a 44-26-1 all-time series lead to MSU, but the Spartans have won eight of their last 11 games against the Irish. Considered one of the best football games of all-time, the one tie between the schools came in 1966, when No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 MSU finished in a 10-10 lock.
4) Looking ahead: MSU and Notre Dame will continue to meet every season until 2013, but the rivalry will then take a two-year hiatus. Notre Dame will reappear on MSU’s schedule between 2016-2019, disappear once again between 2020-2021 and then re-emerge between 2022-2025.
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