MSU head coach Mark Dantonio’s squad is 2-0, winning with a dominating defense that has given up just a single touchdown thus far. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly’s team, on the other hand, leads the nation in turnovers (10) and sit at 0-2.

But in a rivalry game, especially one as close and as storied as the MSU-Notre Dame one has been in recent years, senior quarterback Kirk Cousins said records have no relevance.

“You can just throw records out the window,” Cousins said. “They’re going to want to beat us badly whether they’re 2-0, 1-1 or 0-2, and we’d be the same way.”

For both teams, Saturday’s game will be about vengeance.

Cousins steps foot inside Notre Dame Stadium for the first time since 2009, when he threw a last-second interception to seal a Fighting Irish win.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd and his teammates likely are still fighting off nightmares of “Little Giants,” the fake field goal pass which capped the Spartans’ overtime victory last season.

Players involved in the play have admitted it will be a moment they never forget.

However, senior safety Trenton Robinson hopes this weekend’s game has an alternate ending.

“To be honest with you, I don’t want the game to have to come down to us having to use a ‘Little Giants’ play or something like that,” he said. “I want our defense to go out there and dominate.”

Robinson and the Spartans defense will certainly have their work cut out for them.

Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees completed about 70 percent of his passes in a loud Michigan Stadium last weekend. Running back Cierre Wood is averaging 100 yards on the ground, and Floyd has 25 receptions and 313 yards.

Kelly said he believes the only thing his Fighting Irish team must do is eliminate mistakes, and Cousins agreed. He said he fully expects Notre Dame to correct its turnover problem.

“Just in time for us,” Cousins joked.

However, containing the Spartans offense certainly won’t be a cakewalk either.

Although they have less total yards (830), the Spartans offense is just as, if not more, efficient.

Cousins ranks fifth in the country in completion percentage (79.1) and 14th in passer rating (181.2). His main target — senior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham — torched the Notre Dame for 101 yards and a score last season.

And, of course, the Spartans have a trio of running backs in junior Edwin Baker, junior Larry Caper and sophomore Le’Veon Bell, who can punish the Fighting Irish defense in different ways.

“I think both teams will be motivated,” Dantonio said. “I think that’s the way this rivalry thing works. … At the same time you understand that both teams are going to play extremely hard and do everything they can to win.”