For the second time in three weeks, the No. 10 Spartans (2-0) will host a prime-time matchup bathed under the lights at Spartan Stadium, as No. 20 Notre Dame (2-0) travels to East Lansing for the Battle for the Megaphone.
The fighting Irish routed the Spartans last year, 31-13 in South Bend, Ind., and hold the overall series record 46-28-1. However, MSU has won four consecutive night games in Spartan Stadium, including a 34-31 victory in overtime in 2010.
The Notre Dame game has become an early litmus test for MSU’s season the past few years, something head coach Mark Dantonio addressed during his press conference Tuesday.
“Last year, we lost to Notre Dame at Notre Dame, and people sort of wrote us off,” he said. “We responded and ended up winning 11 games and beat a great Georgia team in the bowl game.”
As the Spartans prepare for the Irish, they’ll be keeping their eyes on three major players: tight end Tyler Eifert, linebacker Manti Te’o and quarterback Everett Golson.
Last year, Te’o racked up 12 tackles against MSU.
“He’s a great player,” offensive coordinator Dan Roushar said about Te’o. “He runs sideline to sideline. He gets them lined up. He looks to be their leader on defense and makes a lot of great plays.”
Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi is concerned with stopping Eifert and Golson.
Eifert was a 2011 finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end, while Golson gives the Spartan front seven a challenge they haven’t yet faced this year: a quarterback who can escape the rush and move around effectively in the backfield.
Senior linebacker Chris Norman said when he looks at a player such as Golson, he recognizes the talent, but also a weakness MSU can exploit.
“I see a guy who’s real athletic; he can make some plays with his feet, and he throws a really nice ball too,” he said.
On offense, the Spartans look to build on last week’s performance at Central Michigan, where they exploded for 41 points and 495 total yards.
Junior running back Le’Veon Bell only ran 18 times for 70 yards and two touchdowns, while junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell found his rhythm with the wide receivers, tossing for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
Maxwell said if he can continue to be consistent as the season goes on, the Spartans should have no trouble being effective on offense.
With the stage set for a big showdown in a rivalry game, junior defensive tackle Micajah Reynolds has his mind focused on one thing: revenge.
“We left their house with a very sour taste, and we all look forward to doing the same and leaving them the same taste this year,” he said. “We don’t like losing, we don’t like being outphysicaled and we won’t allow that this year in our house.”
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