MSU football fans eager for renewed rivalry with Notre Dame – The State News

The fight for the Megaphone trophy is back on with the renewal of MSU and Notre Dame Football rivalry with a home-and-home series in 2026 and 2027, the MSU Athletics Department announced Thursday morning. 

Michigan State and Notre Dame have met 79 times in a series that dates back to 1897. MSU ranks second among opponents in all-time victories, with 29 wins over Notre Dame. USC has posted more wins over the Irish than the Spartans with 38 wins. UND leads the all-time series, 49-29-1.

The Spartans will travel to Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 19, 2026, and host the Fighting Irish in East Lansing on Sept. 18, 2027.

“The Michigan State-Notre Dame rivalry is not only one of the oldest rivalries in all of college football, it’s a series that is meaningful to Spartan players and fans alike,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller said in a statement. “It’s fitting that the battle for the Megaphone Trophy renews in the 60th anniversary season of the 1966 Game of the Century.”

Haller did not respond to The State News’ request for comment at the time of publication.

Since 1949, the winner of the Michigan State-Notre Dame game has been presented the Megaphone Trophy, sponsored jointly by the Detroit alumni clubs of both schools. The megaphone is printed half blue, with a gold ND monogram, and half white, with a green MSU logo. All previous game scores are listed on the trophy.

Michigan State and Notre Dame played 36 consecutive seasons from 1959-94 until a two-year interruption of the series in 1995-96. MSU and Notre Dame then played 17 straight seasons from 1997-2013 before another two-year break in 2014-15. The two schools last met in a home-and-home series in 2016 and 2017, with both schools winning on the road.

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

Recent social relations and policy and international policy graduate Devin Roberts expressed his excitement for the revival of the two school’s rivalry.

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

Speaking on what he hopes to see with the return of the century-old rivalry, Roberts said he is hoping that his alma mater is in a good enough spot as a program to make the games competitive and hopefully come out victorious.

“I am somewhat confident, but if we build then I think we can be favored in 2027 and maybe pull a surprise in 2026,” Roberts said.

Leading the Spartans into its battle for the megaphone trophy is head coach Jonathan Smith, along with his newly revamped coaching staff and assistants. With a powerhouse roster and potential commitment leading to new players, Roberts is hopeful with the direction coach Smith will lead the players into.

“We are still at least two years and seasons away, but I think that if Smith can recruit players that fit the identity of MSU Football like in the Mark Dantonio era, specifically in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, then I think that is the roadmap back for MSU Football,” Roberts said.

Sports journalism freshman Aaron Jimenez has also shared his excitement and enthusiasm for the future matchups between the Spartans and the Fighting Irish.

“The MSU and Notre Dame rivalry being revived is amazing,” Jimenez said. “We haven’t seen this match up in nearly eight years and now we’ll get to see two historic teams go head to head again.”

Jimenez said growing up in Chicago, there’s a lot of Notre Dame fans representing the Gold and Blue, including his brothers.

“When it came time for me to pick a team I wanted to roll with the Fighting Irish,” Jimenez said. “ But now I’m attending Michigan State and rocking Spartans merch over the gold and blue. I had known about the rivalry for a while but now that it can happen when I’m attending will make it extra especial watching my childhood team vs my future Alma mater.”

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

“For the first matchup, I’m looking forward to getting together with friends and family to enter into Notre Dames stadium and just have a great time watching the teams I love play each other,” Jimenez said. “As for the ’27 matchup, I’m looking forward to getting with some friends and seeing a sea of green and white packing the stadium to the max. Of course, I want the Spartans to go 2-0 and maintain control of the Megaphone trophy but the future is never guaranteed.”

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

“Coach Freeman has been making a name for himself in college football,” Jimenez said. “He’s led Notre Dame to bowl games and never had a losing season.  As for Michigan State, we’ve had our struggles we went 11-2 in 21’ but we haven’t had much success since Coach Dantonio. But I trust Coach Smith, he’s won a coach of the year in one of the toughest divisions and taken the Beavers to the bowl games.” 

 Jimenez had one piece of advice for Spartan fans.

“Spartan fans should be ready to fill up those stands this coming fall,” Jimenez said. “It’s a new era for MSU football and this is only beginning.”