Junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell struggled with regular pressure from Notre Dame’s defense, completing 23-of-45 passes for 187 yards, and was sacked three times, as the offense was limited to just a first half field goal.

Notre Dame got on the scoreboard first, with sophomore quarterback Everett Golson finding senior receiver John Goodman for a 36-yard touchdown pass on the Fighting Irish’s second drive of the game. The score was set up by a three-and-out by the MSU offense to open the game, and a 37-yard punt by sophomore punter Mike Sadler that gave the Fighting Irish the ball at the Notre Dame 49-yard line.

The Spartans attempted to respond on the following drive, travelling 49 yards on 10 plays, but senior kicker Dan Conroy was unable to connect on a 44-yard field goal, preserving Notre Dame’s seven-point lead.

After MSU was unable to move the football on its opening drive of the second quarter, Notre Dame capitalized, with Golson capping off a five-play, 51 yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run to put the Fighting Irish ahead 14-0. Notre Dame was able to get into the Spartans red zone after sophomore running back George Atkinson III broke free for a 32-yard run.

MSU followed Notre Dame’s touchdown with a 13-play drive spanning 7:07, but after junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell was sacked on second down, the Spartans were unable to convert a third and long. But this time Conroy was able to put MSU on the scoreboard, with a 50-yard field goal that brought the Spartans within 14-3.

MSU’s offense continued to struggle in the second half, gaining just 116 total yards.

The Spartans were never a threat to score, and the Fighting Irish tacked on two field goals in the game’s final seven minutes to put the game out of reach.

Golson finished the game completing 14-of-32 passes for 178 yards, with one touchdown passing and one rushing.