EAST LANSING ~ The MSU Spartans will face No. 3 Notre Dame in South Bend, IN on Saturday in the historic Battle for the Megaphone. MSU is seeking its first win over the Fighting Irish in a decade, entering the matchup as a 29.5-point underdog.
Fitzgerald addressed the lopsided projections Wednesday on 760 WJR’s ‘JR Morning, saying the focus remains internal. “It’s not about who we play. We’re going to assume we’re going to get their best preparation, their best effort. They’re going to be really well-coached with really talented guys. It’s more about how we prepare, and then, you know, do we have the maturity to take that into game day and then respond to the ebb and flow of game day.”
PODCAST:
Sept. 16, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick, Jamie Edmonds, and Steve Courtney talk with Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald about the recent win over Eastern Michigan and the upcoming game against Notre Dame.
Despite Notre Dame’s ranking, the Irish haven’t always held a decisive home‑field edge in the rivalry. MSU won six straight road games in the series from 1997 to 2007, a stretch that remains one of the Spartans’ most successful runs away from East Lansing.
Weather may add another variable Saturday, with rain in the forecast for both teams that have played exclusively in clear conditions this season. Fitzgerald said “any time the weather’s poor, you got to be able to control the line of scrimmage.” MSU showed that ability last week, outgaining Eastern Michigan 472–219. Fitzgerald said that control “always starts up front with those big guys,” including running back Cam Edwards, who helped anchor MSU’s ground game.
Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff marks the 80th meeting between the programs since their first meeting in 1897. The rivalry adopted the Megaphone trophy in the 1940s and includes the 1966 “Game of the Century,” when the teams tied 10-10 and shared the title. Despite nearly 130 years of history between the teams, in an era shaped by NIL and the transfer portal, both rosters have undergone significant turnover, making long‑term trends harder to apply to this year’s matchup. Listen to WJR pregame coverage starting at 6:00p.m.
