Notre Dame and Michigan State set home and away games

Notre Dame and Michigan State haven’t met on the football field since 2017, but that’s about to change as the two programs have announced a home-and-home series for 2026 and 2027.

The Megaphone Trophy will be up for grabs again when Notre Dame hosts the Spartans on September 19, 2026. Michigan State will then welcome the Fighting Irish to East Lansing on September 18, 2027.

Notre Dame has played Michigan State 79 times in program history, including 36 consecutive seasons from 1959 to 1994 before taking a two-year break and playing 17 consecutive years.

The 2026 meeting will also mark the 50th anniversary of the 10-10 tie between No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Michigan State, which was named the “Game of the Century.”

“The rivalry between Michigan State and Notre Dame is not only one of the oldest rivalries in all of college football, it is also a series that is meaningful to Spartan players and fans alike,” Michigan State vice president and athletic director Alan Haller said in a statement. “It is fitting that the battle for the Megaphone Trophy will resume in the 60th anniversary season of the 1966 Game of the Century.”

The Fighting Irish won the last meeting in 2017 in East Lansing by a score of 38-18. It was probably a turning point for the Notre Dame program, as it was the first major victory since the disaster of 2016.

Julian Love made a key pick-six, while three players scored rushing touchdowns for the Irish and Justin Yoon scored a perfect 5 of 5 extra points and added a 46-yard field goal to the win.

Notre Dame leads the all-time series at 49-29-1.

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