Eric Boggs 
Sparty and the Irish will Renew Rivalry
Notre Dame and Michigan State are set to reignite their storied rivalry with a home-and-home series in the 2026 and 2027 football seasons. Notre Dame Stadium will host the Spartans on September 19, 2026, while Michigan State will welcome the Fighting Irish to East Lansing on September 18, 2027.
This marks the first encounter between the two teams since their last matchup in 2017.
“The Michigan State-Notre Dame rivalry is not only one of the oldest in college football but also one that holds significant meaning for Spartan players and fans. It’s fitting that the battle for the Megaphone Trophy renews in the 60th anniversary season of the 1966 Game of the Century.”
Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller per CBS Sports
Since 1949, Notre Dame and Michigan State have competed for the Megaphone Trophy, which is currently held by Notre Dame following their 38-18 victory in 2017. However, the rivalry itself dates back to November 25, 1897, when Notre Dame secured a 34-6 win.
In their 79 meetings, Notre Dame leads the series with a record of 47-29-1. The two teams played almost annually from 1948 to 2013, with only brief interruptions. The nine-year gap between the 2017 and 2026 games represents the longest hiatus in the rivalry since the period between 1921 and 1948.
However, it is worth noting that if Notre Dame were to join the Big Ten conference before these scheduled games, these future non-conference clashes would become null and void.
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