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Michigan St.-Notre Dame Preview
Michigan State Spartans at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- The Irish lead the all-time series 45-28-1, including a 27-13 record in games played in South Bend, and a 16-13 mark in games played in Notre Dame Stadium. The Spartans have won 10 of the last 14 meetings in the series, including six of the last seven games played in Notre Dame Stadium.
- Last week, Michigan State's defense limited Florida Atlantic to only one first down, tying a school record (Maryland, 1944). The Spartans became the first FBS team to hold an opponent to one first down since Oklahoma accomplished the feat against UT-Chattanooga on Aug. 30, 2008.
- Michigan State leads the Big Ten in total defense (151.0 yards per game), scoring defense (3.0 points per game), passing defense (76.0 ypg.) and pass efficiency defense (77.2 rating). Michigan State has surrendered only six points in the first two games, the fewest allowed in the first two games of the season combined since 1965 (UCLA - 3 points; Penn State - shutout).
- Notre Dame's Brian Kelly succeeded Michigan State's Mark Dantonio as head coach at Cincinnati. Dantonio (2004-06) and Kelly (2007-09) each enjoyed three-year stints with the Bearcats.
- Only nine FBS schools have gained more yards of total offense than Notre Dame's 1,021 yards. In fact, the 1,021 total yards is the most over the first two weeks of a season by an Irish team since the 1974 season.
- Fifth-year senior B.J. Cunningham became MSU's all-time leader in receptions with his 7-yard grab on a third-and-4 play on the first series against Florida Atlantic. Cunningham finished with five catches for 73 yards (153 career receptions) against the Owls.
By JEFF BARTL
(AP) -- Four of the last six matchups between Michigan State and Notre Dame have been decided by three points, though possibly none more thrilling than the Spartans' overtime victory last season.
Just ask Mark Dantonio.
Nearly one year to the day after suffering a heart attack following that game, Dantonio leads No. 15 Michigan State against turnover-prone Notre Dame on Saturday in South Bend.
The play called "Little Giants" - a fake field goal resulting in a 29-yard touchdown pass from holder Aaron Bates to Charlie Gantt - made national headlines and gave the Spartans a 34-31 victory over the Fighting Irish on Sept. 18.
Soon after, Dantonio was in the hospital recovering from a mild heart attack which would keep him off the sidelines the next four games.
"Had it not won the football game, it would be a bad big play, I guess," Dantonio said. "Because of the circumstances in the game, all the circumstances after the game, the whole thing, it probably took on a little bit more of a meaning."
The fifth-year coach for the defending Big Ten co-champion Spartans (2-0) has attempted to downplay last year's excitement leading up to the rematch, especially given his squad's performance in last Saturday's 44-0 victory over Florida Atlantic.
The Spartans held FAU to one first down - the first time a Michigan State team had done that since 1944 - and limited the Owls to 48 yards of total offense.
Kirk Cousins, who threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns last season against Notre Dame, went 16 for 20 for 183 yards and two scores.
"It was good to play a much cleaner game," Cousins said after the Spartans struggled in a season-opening 28-6 win over Youngstown State. "Certainly (Saturday) is going to be a great test for us, but that's why you come to Michigan State - to play in games like this."
Nine of the last 11 meetings have been decided by seven points or less, and Saturday's matchup could be just as exciting if Notre Dame (0-2) can hold onto the ball.
The Irish committed five turnovers in each of their two defeats, negating 500-plus yards of offense in both games. They're coming off a tough 35-31 loss at Michigan last Saturday, allowing the winning touchdown pass with two seconds remaining after taking the lead with 30 seconds left.
"The one stat that really matters for me is the turnover takeaway, and there's a direct correlation to percentage of winning when you turn the ball over," coach Brian Kelly said. "There's no stat for me that tells the story more than that."
Sophomore Tommy Rees, who has supplanted Dayne Crist as the Irish's starting quarterback, threw two interceptions but had 315 yards and three touchdown passes.
Junior running back Cierre Wood rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown, while Michael Floyd caught 13 passes for 159 yards.
Kelly has been happy with the movement of the offense, but the amount of turnovers has limited scoring opportunities. He seems confident Notre Dame can turn it around.
"If we do not beat ourselves, we've got a chance to be the kind of football team that we all believe that we can be," Kelly said. "I can see it. I've coached almost 250 football games. I can feel and see a football team coming together.
"They've got to take care of the football. They've got to execute better, and they will. I know it's just a matter of time for them."
Dantonio, who is 3-1 against the Irish, knows Saturday will be a tough matchup despite Notre Dame's recent struggles.
"Notre Dame's a rivalry game for us, exciting for us," Dantonio said. "When you look at that, we're a 2-0 team, they're where they're at. You really have to throw out the records."
Irish receiver Theo Riddick, who caught two TDs last week, had 128 yards and a score in last season's matchup.
B.J. Cunningham, Michigan State's all-time leader with 153 receptions, had 101 yards and a score in that meeting.
Updated September 13, 2011
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