Michigan State Football Falls to Notre Dame 27-10

On Saturday, it was a rivalry renewed as Michigan State football took on Notre Dame. It was the first time in nine years that the Spartans played the Irish, and first time in 10 seasons that the Spartans traveled to Notre Dame Stadium.

The Fighting Irish entered as heavy favorites by 28.5 points, and the favorites emerged victorious. Pat Fitzgerald suffered his first loss as the Spartan head coach, the Spartans falling 27-10.

Here is a recap of the action.

First Quarter

The Spartans won the coin toss, and elected to kick. The very first play from scrimmage was a 61-yard pass, where Tre Bell got burnt as his backup safety help bit on the play action. The Spartans held Notre Dame to a field goal with a strong stand by Jordan Hall. It also cost the Irish a timeout when Marcus Freeman was indecisive on a fourth down call.

The Spartans were unable to retaliate, being forced to punt after Alessio Milivojevic was sacked. The punt was blocked, and the Spartans were unable to stop the Irish from their first touchdown of the night.

MSU had momentum on their next drive, with Milivojevic finding Rod Bullard Jr. for a first down. However, his next target to Bullard was picked off on a deep throw, giving the Irish the ball on their own 27-yard-line and up 10 points.

Devin Vaught intercepted the ball on the ensuing play, but Chuck Brantley was flagged for pass interference. The Spartans forced a punt, and the Irish ran a fake after a re-kick due to a hold. Keshawn Williams and Cal Thrush got the stop after 12 yards when the Irish needed 13.

A Cam Edwards rush for nine yards ended the quarter.

Second Quarter

The Spartans drove the ball, including multiple Cam Fancher packages and a two-quarterback play. However, a Kenneth Williams drop in the end zone made the Spartans settle for a field goal.

The Irish drove down the field, with a Kenny Soares Jr. sack not being called after CJ Carr barely stayed up. Aneyas Williams punched the ball in to make it 17-3.

The Spartans had their own drive after, with Alessio Milivojevic driving the ball on a throw to Rod Bullard, who held onto it even with video review.

Notre Dame and the Spartans exchanged punts. Nikai Martinez broke a pass up with 8 seconds left, and Carr kneeled it to half.

MSU 10, Notre Dame 17 at half.

Third Quarter

The Spartans got the ball out of half and returned it to the MSU21. After a first down, the Spartans were forced to punt.

Notre Dame walked down the Spartans, taking nearly the rest of the quarter before a field goal with one minute to play in the quarter.

Milivojevic found Jayden Savoury and Fredrick Moore to push the ball to the Irish 43-yard-line to end the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

The Irish came alive to start the fourth quarter, sacking Alessio Milivojevic twice and breaking up a pass to force a punt.

The Irish drove down the field, especially with Tyran Chappell in the medical tent. CJ Carr targeted Chuck Brantley in coverage, setting up Carr’s two-yard touchdown run to make it 27-10.

Alessio Milivojevic threw an interception on the field play of the drive, but Jordan Hall and the defense came up strong to force a kick attempt, which the Irish missed.

The offense was forced into 3^rd down, where Milivojevic was sacked. The Spartans, facing fourth-and-20, kicked it away.

From there, the Irish were able to get first downs to avoid Pat Fitzgerald’s timeouts in an attempt to get the ball back, kneeling the ball out.

Final

Michigan State Football 10

Notre Dame 37

The Spartans fall to 2-1, and return to Spartan Stadium next week to take on Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are favored by 5.5 points. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. EST.

Injury Updates

Jay Coyne was spotted in an air cast in the second half, Tyran Chappell was spotted vomiting into a trash can before going to the medical tent and not returning to action. Cam Stodghill and Jordan Hall each suffered injuries but returned to the game. Cam Edwards suffered a lower body injury but had his helmet at the end of the game, and offense was not on the field after his injury to see if he would return.

Brady Pretzlaff exited the game in the first half and did return. Cal Thrush exited the game after the opening kickoff of the second half and did not return, although he was spotted in the defensive huddle with his helmet on.