MSU football fans eager for a new rivalry with Notre Dame

The Michigan State-Notre Dame football rivalry will resume with a home-and-home series in 2026 and 2027, resuming the battle for the Megaphone Trophy, the Michigan State University athletics department announced Thursday morning.

Michigan State and Notre Dame have met 79 times in a series dating back to 1897. Michigan State has 29 wins against Notre Dame, second most all-time against any opponent. USC has 38 wins against IUCN, more than the Spartans. North Dakota leads the all-time series with 49 wins, 29 losses and one tie.

The Spartans will visit Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 19, 2026, before hosting the Fighting Irish in East Lansing on Sept. 18, 2027.

““The Michigan State-Notre Dame rivalry is not only one of the oldest in college football, but it is also a meaningful series for both Spartans players and fans,” Vice President and Athletic Director Alan Haller said in a statement. “It is fitting that the battle for the Megaphone Trophy will resume during the 60th anniversary season of the 1966 Game of the Century.”

Haller did not respond to The State News' request for comment at press time.

Since 1949, the winner of the Michigan State-Notre Dame game has been presented with a megaphone trophy, co-sponsored by the Detroit alumni clubs of both schools. One half of the megaphone is blue with a gold ND monogram and the other half is white with a green MSU logo. The trophy lists all the scores from previous games.

Michigan State and Notre Dame played against each other for 36 consecutive seasons from 1959-1994, before taking a two-year hiatus from 1995-1996. Michigan State and Notre Dame then played against each other for 17 consecutive seasons from 1997-2013, before taking another two-year hiatus from 2014-2015. The schools last met in a home-and-home series in 2016 and 2017, with both teams winning on the road.

The fall of 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the famous “Fight of the Century” 10-10 tie between No. 1-ranked Notre Dame and No. 2-ranked Michigan State on Nov. 19, 1966 at Spartan Stadium.

Devin Roberts, a recent social relations policy and international relations graduate, expressed excitement about the revival of the rivalry between the two schools.

“I'm very happy,” Roberts said, “I don't think Notre Dame should have stopped the rivalry in the first place. I think it's a good business decision to bring it back in this new era of college football.”

As for his expectations for reviving the century-old rivalry, Roberts said he expects his alma mater to be competitive and have the program strong enough to hopefully win.

“I'm reasonably confident, but I think if we strengthen our team we can have an advantage in 2027 and maybe even surprise in 2026,” Roberts said.

Leading the Spartans in their battle for the Megaphone Trophy will be head coach Jonathan Smith and his newly revamped coaching staff and assistants. With a strong roster and potential commitments that could lead to new players, Roberts is excited to see the direction Coach Smith will take his players.

“We're still at least two years and two seasons away, but if Coach Smith can get players that fit the identity of MSU football, especially in the Midwest and Great Lakes region, like they did under Mark D'Antonio, I think that's the road map for the resurgence of MSU football,” Roberts said.

Sports journalism freshman Aaron Jimenez also shared his excitement and enthusiasm for the upcoming matchup between the Spartans and Fighting Irish.

“It's great to see the Michigan State-Notre Dame rivalry revived,” Jimenez said. “We haven't seen this matchup in nearly eight years, and now we'll get to see these two historic teams go head-to-head again.”

Jimenez said growing up in Chicago, there were plenty of Notre Dame fans representing the Gold and Blue, including his siblings.

“When it came time to choose a team, I wanted to choose the Fighting Irish,” Jimenez said, “but now I'm at Michigan State, wearing the gold and blue and all my Spartans merchandise. I've always known about the rivalry, but when it happens while I'm in school, it's special to see the team I went to as a kid play against my future alma mater.”

Jimenez then spoke about his plans for the two fights, saying he plans to experience them with friends and family.

“I'm looking forward to gathering with friends and family at Notre Dame Stadium for our first matchup, watching our favorite teams face off and having a great time,” Jimenez said. “I'm looking forward to seeing a sea of ​​green and white with my friends in the stadium for our 27th matchup. Of course, I'd love for the Spartans to go 2-0 and defend the Megaphone Trophy, but the future is not guaranteed.”

Jimenez then spoke about the two coaches who lead the Spartans and Fighting Irish on the football field.

“Coach Freeman has made a name for himself in college football circles,” Jimenez said, “He led Notre Dame to a bowl game and never had a losing season. Michigan State has struggled, going 11-2 in '21, but they haven't had much success since Coach D'Antonio. But Coach Smith won coach of the year in one of the toughest divisions and has a track record of leading the Beavers to a bowl game, so I have confidence in him.”

Jimenez had one piece of advice for Spartan fans.

“Spartan fans should be ready to fill the stands this fall,” Jimenez said. “A new era for Michigan State football is just beginning.”