Notre Dame vs. Michigan State Football 2009
Spartans, Irish Aim to Rebound from Heartbreaking Defeats
Both teams will carry 1-1 records into the 3:30 pm. EST game. Michigan State is looking to bounce back from a 29-27 loss to Central Michigan, and the Fighting Irish will try to rebound from a 38-34 loss at Michigan last week.
Notre Dame's setback was particularly heartbreaking. While the Fighting Irish were just 7-6 in 2008, they're facing enormously high expectations in their fifth season under coach Charlie Weis.
Their schedule, excluding an Oct. 18 matchup with Southern Cal, did not seem tremendously daunting entering the season, so the Irish had Bowl Championship Series bowl aspirations.
Things were fine after a season-opening 35-0 victory over Nevada, but the loss to Michigan makes BCS dreams seem awful distant.
Yet the fact remains that there are still 10 games remaining in the season, and Notre Dame has plenty of opportunities to make good things happen.
Same goes for Michigan State, which is in its third season under coach Mark Dantonio. The young Spartans started the season well enough, routing Montana State 44-3. But they gave up two scores in the final seconds of their stunning defeat to Central Michigan.
A touchdown with 32 seconds left brought the Chippewas within a point. After a missed 2-point conversation attempt, Central recovered an onside kick, then moved 28 yard to boot a field goal with three seconds remaining.
Michigan State, 9-4 last season, will try to maintain some recent dominance of Notre Dame. The Spartans have beaten the Irish nine times in the last 12 years, including a 23-7 decision last year. MSU has also won six straight at Notre Dame Stadium.
Saturday's contest will be telecast by NBC.
Spartans Using Two-Quarterback System
Michigan State has alternated two sophomore quarterbacks, and the system has produced 404.5 yards of total offense per game, with 266.5 coming through the air.
Kirk Cousins, a dropback passer, has hit on 23-of-35 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns. His passing efficiency rating is a sterling 186.7. The more-mobile Keith Nichol is 12-fo-26 for 186 yards and three TDs. He’s run seven times for an additional 35 yards.
Neither quarterback has thrown an interception, and the MSU offensive line has yielded just one sack.
Having Blair White around has certainly helped. The 6-foot-2 senior wide receiver has 16 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore B.J. Cunningham has added seven catches for 117 yards, and also has two TDs.
The Spartans can no longer depend on Javon Ringer, who’s moved on the NFL after a brilliant Michigan State career. And so far in 2009, MSU is averaging just 134 yards per game rushing.
Two freshmen are leading the ground game. Caulton Ray has run 28 times for 122 yards and a TD, and Larry Caper has run 13 times for 67 yards.
Greg Jones Continues to Spearhead MSU Defense
Chippewas QB Dan LeFevour exposed Michigan State deficiencies in pass defense, throwing for 352 yards last week. Yet the Spartans, largely do to a dominating effort vs. Montana State, are still only yielding just 289 yards per game, and only 64 on the ground.
Linebacker Greg Jones, who racked up a team-high 127 tackles last season, has maintained that pace early in 2009. The junior has 29 this season, including four for losses and 1.5 sacks.
Sophomore safety Trenton Robinson and linebacker Brandon Denson have 13 tackles apiece, and cornerback Chris L. Rucker and linebacker Eric Gordon each have 10. End Trevor Anderson and freshman tackle Jerel Worthy pace the defensive line with seven tackles each.
The Spartans have managed to apply solid pressure, recording three sacks in each of their first game. They might need even more against Jimmy Clausen and Notre Dame.
Irish Offense Productive
The Fighting Irish have had little trouble moving the ball. They garnered 510 yards vs. Nevada, then gained 490 more vs. Michigan.
Clausen has completed 40 of 60 passes for 651 yards and seven touchdowns. He has yet to be intercepted, and Notre Dame’s offensive line has not yielded a sack.
Sophomore wide receiver Michael Floyd is off to a sizzling start, with 11 catches for 320 yards and four touchdowns, including an 88-yarder.
Golden Tate has added 12 receptions for 174 yards and two TDs, and sophomore tight end Kyle Rudolph has seven catches for 67 yards and a score.
Armando Allen Jr. is leading the running game, churning up 211 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 36 carries.
Safeties Lead Notre Dame in Tackles
Notre Dame gave up 307 yards to a highly rated Nevada offense. then surrendered 430 yards to Michigan and failed to deliver when the game was on the line.
On the season, the Fighting Irish are yielding 368.5 yards a contest – 171.5 rushing and 197 passing.
It might not be a good sign that Notre Dame’s two leading tacklers are both safeties. Strong safety Kyle McCarthy has a team-high 18 tackles and free safety Harrison Smith is second with 17 tackles. McCarthy’s also made a pair of interceptions.
Linebacker Brian Smith has 10 tackles and a sack, and linebacker Toryan Smith has nine tackles, including 3.5 tackles for losses and a sack. The Notre Dame defensive line has been led in stops by end John Ryan (6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup) and tackle Ethan Johnson (6 tackles). The Irish have recorded four sacks.
The watershed moment of the Michigan game was Tate Forcier’s game-winning touchdown pass to Greg Mathews with 11 seconds left. But equally damaging was a 94-yard kickoff return to Darryl Stonum that Notre Dame gave up late in the first quarter.
Michigan State-Notre Dame Series History
Saturday's matchup will be the 73rd between the schools. Notre Dame holds a 44-27-1 edge in a series that began in 1897. But of all Notre Dame opponents, only Southern Cal, with 33 wins, has defeated the Irish more than Michigan State.
After meeting Notre Dame, Michigan State will open Big Ten Conference play at Wisconsin on Sept. 26. The Fighting Irish will be at Purdue.
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