Although the record gives the impression that the Fighting Irish (0-2) frequently dominate MSU (2-0), in recent years, the Spartans have started to take control of the series, winning 10 of the last 14 games.

What’s more, nine of the last 11 games the teams have played were decided by seven points or less, proving that, like any other rivalry, it’s a fight to the very end, and both teams return the following year hungry for more.

“The motivation for both teams will be just fine,” MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. “I think that’s their M.O. — I’ve never seen Notre Dame not play hard, never seen that.”

MSU won the only two games that weren’t decided by seven points in the last 11 meetings. The first was the Spartans’ 31-14 road win in 2007, and they followed up the next year with a 27-3 victory at Spartan Stadium.

Other than those two games, the recent matchups have been close with the game still up for grabs heading into the fourth quarter.

In 2005 at Notre Dame Stadium, the teams were tied at 38 to force overtime. After Notre Dame put up a field goal, the Spartans pulled through with a touchdown for a 44-41 overtime win.

In both 2006 and 2009, the Fighting Irish came out on top, and MSU’s quarterbacks had very similar, costly mistakes to end the games.

Former MSU quarterback Drew Stanton was looking to extend MSU’s 37-33 lead with about three minutes remaining in the 2006 home game. But he threw an interception that Notre Dame returned for a touchdown and clinched the lead.

On the Spartans’ final drive with a chance to take back the game, Stanton threw another interception with less than a minute to play, giving the Fighting Irish the 40-37 victory.

In a similar fashion three years later, Notre Dame got its first win over MSU at Notre Dame Stadium since 1993, and again, MSU’s hope ended with an interception.

With about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame had a slight 26-23 lead when then-sophomore quarterback Kirk Cousins completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to former wide receiver Blair White. As MSU tried to hold on, then-Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate grabbed what became the winning touchdown.

On MSU’s last-chance drive with about a minute left in the game, Cousins — in the same position as Stanton three years earlier — threw an interception from Notre Dame’s 18-yard line, and the game was over.

Two years later, Cousins will return to South Bend, Ind., but as a matured player, he said he has a better perspective on the game.

“2009 left a sour taste in my mouth, and I want to get back and hopefully have a chance to play much better down there,” Cousins said. “So we’ll see what happens, but I’m excited to get a chance to go back down there and hopefully end it the right way this time.”

The most recent MSU-Notre Dame matchup in 2010 most likely will go down in history as one of the Spartans’ best games with both teams duking it out until the end.

After going into overtime tied at 28, Notre Dame had a field goal up on MSU, and then-sophomore kicker Dan Conroy lined up for a 46-yard field goal for the tie.

In the play known as “Little Giants,” former punter Aaron Bates took the snap and stood up to throw the ball as former tight end Charlie Gantt ran down the field unguarded. The Spartans completed the fake field goal trick play for a 34-31 overtime win.

“Michigan State-Notre Dame — it’s always been a great game all the way down to the wire,” said sophomore linebacker Max Bullough, who was on the field goal team in 2010.

“It’s going to be another (one), and we expect nothing different on Saturday.”