“We didn’t give ourselves a chance with our self-inflicted wounds, and we have got to get those things fixed,” head coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “It wasn’t like there were a lot of busts. We just got beat one-on-one.”

It took one play for the Fighting Irish faithful to explode. Saline, Michigan-raised quarterback CJ Carr uncorked a 61-yard deep ball to wide receiver Micah Gilbert on Notre Dame's first play of the game. That reception jump-started Gilbert’s extraordinary game, in which he finished with eight catches for 170 yards.

After the chunk play, defensive coordinator Joe Rossi's defense needed to show it could respond. MSU stonewalled No. 3 Notre Dame, behind a phenomenal effort by senior linebacker Jordan Hall, miraculously holding the Fighting Irish to a field goal. 

The Spartans took to the offensive side of the ball, and their drive ended almost as fast as it began: in three plays. MSU’s defense was right back on the field, which became a fairly common saying throughout the night.

On the subsequent drive, the Fighting Irish faced little resistance on their way to the end zone: 10-0. Five rushes and five passes brought Notre Dame to the 2-yard line, where running back Nolan James Jr. punched in the score.

The 10-point deficit was a wake-up call, and sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic saw an opportunity to take the top off the defense. The second-year starter fired a 31-yard pass intended for graduate receiver Rodney Bullard Jr., but Notre Dame's Luke Talich read it the whole way for his first interception of the season.

Milivojevic took full accountability for the interception, explaining that it's his responsibility to take care of the football and get his guys into successful situations.

“To be honest, it’s just eyes,” Milivojevic said. “You’ve got to hold players. It was a whole player and a one-high safety that caught those picks. So, it’s just me holding them on the other side so I can make those windows open for my receivers.”

MSU’s defense stood tall nonetheless, and the offense found a rhythm. Graduate quarterback Cam Fancher initiated the drive, splitting time with Milivojevic. 

Fancher’s impact on the ground game, as rain started to come down, was invaluable, catching the Irish off guard with a pass that left junior running back Kenneth Williams wide open in the back of the end zone, but Williams couldn’t corral the pass as it slipped through his grasp. The Spartans settled for a 32-yard field goal. 

The 10-3 lead quickly turned into a two-touchdown lead after Notre Dame  stormed down the field, averaging 7.5 yards per play on the drive. Running back Aneyas Williams rushed in the 1-yard score, leaving it up to MSU’s offense again.

For the third time in the game, the Spartans’ drive lasted three plays. Instead of a three-and-out, Milivojevic actually connected with Bullard Jr., this time on a 53-yard bomb, the longest play of the season. Fancher followed with a 15-yard rushing touchdown, bringing the score to 17-10 headed into halftime.

MSU opened with possession, looking to carry its newfound momentum into the second half, but the Spartans ran the ball six straight times before having to punt back to the Irish again.

With a commanding lead, Notre Dame took possession with only one goal in mind — burn as much clock as possible. Notre Dame executed its plan, moving the chains methodically, one rush at a time, before nearly the entire third quarter vanished. The Irish tacked on another three points, regaining a 10-point advantage.

Milivojevic opened the drive with 18-yard and 13-yard completions, knowing he needed a score to prevent Notre Dame from chewing the rest of the clock. A series that started promising quickly lost its spark after Milivojevic took two sacks in three plays. MSU had no choice but to punt. 

It took four plays for Carr to reach the end zone. He concluded the drive with a quarterback keeper for a 3-yard rushing touchdown. That touchdown was his only as he ended the game 18-24 for 234 yards. Carr showed the ability to efficiently take care of the football and lead his team to the 27-10 victory.

“I think everybody on the team believes in the guys that we have in the room,” Hall said. “All the goals that we had on the table before the year are still on the table, and we’re going to continue to try to achieve those goals.”

“There’s no such thing as a moral victory,” Fitzgerald said. “You guys know me: I’m a competitive SOB, so I’m not very happy right now. But you fix it by getting back to work.”

MSU moves to 2-1 before returning home to Spartan Stadium to kickstart Big Ten play against Nebraska. The Spartans host the Cornhuskers at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.