Memorandum
- From
- Caroline Mercer via FOX News
- Date
- Filed
- Sports·3 min to read
- Re
Notre Dame Stifles Michigan State 27-10, Improves to 3-0
ReNotre Dame Stifles Michigan State 27-10, Improves to 3-0
No. 3 Notre Dame held Michigan State to 167 total yards and forced two turnovers in a 27-10 home win Saturday night, moving to 3-0 as CJ Carr threw for 234 yards and Micah Gilbert caught eight passes for 170 yards.
No. 3 Notre Dame remained unbeaten with a 27-10 victory over Michigan State on Saturday night in South Bend, controlling the game on defense by limiting the Spartans to 167 total yards and forcing two turnovers.
Quarterback CJ Carr completed 18 of 24 passes for 234 yards and added a three-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter that pushed the Fighting Irish lead to 27-10. Wide receiver Micah Gilbert led Notre Dame with eight catches for 170 yards, including a 61-yard reception that highlighted the passing attack.
Notre Dame built a 10-0 first-quarter lead behind a Spencer Porath field goal and a two-yard touchdown run by Nolan James Jr. James finished with 76 rushing yards, while Aneyas Williams also scored on the ground, restoring the Fighting Irish's two-touchdown advantage late in the first half after Michigan State had cut the deficit to seven.
Michigan State's only touchdown came on a 15-yard run by Cam Fancher, which pulled the Spartans within 17-10 with 3:21 remaining before halftime. Notre Dame held Michigan State scoreless the rest of the way, and the Spartans never found a rhythm against a defense that produced interceptions by Adon Shuler and Luke Talich off quarterback Alessio Milivojevic.
The win moves Notre Dame to 3-0 on the season, while Michigan State suffered its first loss and dropped to 2-1. The Fighting Irish defense consistently disrupted the Spartans' passing game and limited big plays, forcing Michigan State to rely on short gains that rarely translated into points.
Notre Dame's balanced offensive approach complemented the defensive effort. Carr spread the ball to multiple receivers, with Gilbert serving as the primary target, while the running game produced timely scores from James and Williams. The Irish scored in every quarter except the third, when both teams were held off the scoreboard.
Michigan State entered the game at 2-0 but struggled to sustain drives against a Notre Dame defense that has now held opponents in check through three games. The Spartans' 167 total yards marked their lowest output of the young season, and the two interceptions prevented any chance of a second-half comeback.
Notre Dame's 3-0 start keeps the program in the national conversation as the season progresses. The Fighting Irish will look to carry their defensive momentum into the next matchup, while Michigan State returns to work seeking to correct the offensive issues that surfaced in South Bend.
