Thursday, January 8, 2026

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Sports

FOOTBALL

Humbled

When Mark Dantonio looked at the box score following Saturday night’s game, he had one simple statement: “There’s not a lot there.” It was a struggle from start to finish, as the No. 10 MSU football team (2-1) fell to No. 20 Notre Dame (3-0) 20-3, with the Spartans offense never managing to reach the red zone.

FOOTBALL

Column: Notre Dame loss illuminates holes in MSU's arsenal

For the defense, it was the first time this season an offensive touchdown was allowed. For junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell, it was the first time all season he was sacked (and then the second, third and fourth times soon after). And for the juniors and younger, it was their first ever loss in Spartan Stadium.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Report: MSU women basketball players suspended

Two MSU women basketball players, Kiana Johnson and Akyah Taylor, are suspended for the first nine games of the upcoming season, according to the Associated Press. MSU officials said NCAA guidelines “related to receipt of extra benefits” were violated. Keep checking statenews.com and future print editions of The State News for more on this developing story.

FOOTBALL

History In The Making

It began in 1897. Back then, MSU was “State Agricultural College.” Notre Dame was “Notre Dame” — it always has been. Playing in South Bend, Ind., the Fighting Irish trounced the Spartans — then the Aggies — by a score of 34-6 in the first-ever meeting between the two football teams.

FOOTBALL

MSU faces Irish in high-octane matchup

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.

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FOOTBALL

Memories of Little Giants play lingers

For Le’Veon Bell, it was the longest four seconds of his life. As the 2010 MSU football team lined up for a fake-field goal to beat Notre Dame in overtime, the play was designed for punter Aaron Bates to throw a pass to Bell, but the running back was taken to the ground and thought the game had been lost.

SOCCER

Women's soccer defeats Western Michigan 1-0

?In the last game before the start of the Big Ten season, the MSU women’s soccer team defeated Western Michigan on a goal by senior forward Olivia Stander that moved her into a tie for 10th all time on the career scorers list.

Omari Sankofa II ·
BASKETBALL

Students aim for free Izzone tickets in contest

When electrical engineering freshman Seth Purucker woke up Wednesday morning, he never thought he would be attending all of the MSU men’s basketball games for free this season. But as Izzone tickets went on sale just after midnight on Wednesday, Purucker was one of 20 students who received free tickets from the Student Alumni Foundation, or SAF, and the athletics department after making a half-court shot at the rock on Farm Lane on Wednesday morning.

VOLLEYBALL

Spartans use road trips as solid learning experiences

The MSU volleyball team heads to Charleston, S.C., this weekend to play in their final invitational prior to the start of Big Ten play. The Spartans already played on the road once this season in Storrs, Conn., but they’re hoping to use this weekend as a test run for what they’ll experience in conference play, head coach Cathy George said.

SOCCER

Column: Big Ten stage will test depth of Spartans

Most people feel comfortable belting out their favorite tune in the shower, but when it comes to singing in front of Simon Cowell, that’s a completely different story. In many ways, this season for the MSU women’s soccer team can be seen the same way. No disrespect to Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan, but the Big Ten is the Simon Cowell of the season.