Michigan State has beaten Notre Dame in six of the teams’ last seven meetings. The reason?
“Michigan State believes it plays its best football against Notre Dame,” said Irish coach Tyrone Willingham, who played at Michigan State in the mid-’70s. “That belief has been passed on going back probably many, many years, that they just feel like that is a game they play great in.”
That mind-set, Willingham added, was apparent even when he was a player.
And Michigan and Michigan State, he said, “will be two of the more physical ballgames you play, especially the Michigan State game. I have history with that game. You know what’s said in the locker room, you know what they think, what they want to do in that particular game.”
The Irish hold a 42-24-1 edge over the Spartans. From 1969-94, the Irish dominated, going 23-3.
– Next: Saturday at Michigan State, 6 p.m., ESPN