Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546555
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 19, 2026 37 GAME PREVIEW: MICHIGAN STATE BY JACK SOBLE MICHIGAN STATE RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE Michigan State ranked outside the top 100 in rushing offense last season, in terms of yards per carry. The Spartans do not appear to be much better in 2026. In Week 1 against Toledo, Michigan State rushed 49 times for 150 yards (3.1 yards per carry). Take out 3 sacks for 24 yards and it looks a little better (3.8), and it's also worth noting that the Rockets ranked third nationally in opponent yards per carry last season at 2.68. Still, this is not a matchup Notre Dame should have much issue with. First-year offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan worked with Kalen DeBoer at both Washington and Alabama, and he brought DeBoer's spread offense to East Lansing, Mich. You'll see a great deal of run- ning out of the shotgun from Connecticut transfer Cam Edwards, who carried the ball 27 times for 98 yards and the Spartans' lone rushing touchdown in Week 1. Edwards is shifty if you let him get outside the tackle box, and the spread gives him more space because it will force Notre Dame to play with six in the box. Containment is key as well; Wisconsin's Abu Sama showed he could bounce runs outside if the Irish were not careful and Edwards likes to do the same. Fortunately for Notre Dame's front six, it should win its matchup against an offensive line that fea- tures three transfer additions — North Dakota State import Trent Fraley graded best in Week 1 — and just one returning starter, right guard Con- ner Moore. Senior linebacker Drayk Bowen looked like the 2024 version of himself in Week 1, and junior linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, the best run de- fender on the team, will be a week removed from his season debut. The defensive line also showed out against Wisconsin, limiting the Badgers to 31 carries for 67 yards (2.2-yard average). The Badgers should be a better rushing team than the Spartans, so if the Irish play to their stan- dard, this shouldn't be close. Advantage: Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE Junior quarterback Alessio Milivojevic impressed enough down the stretch in 2025 to get a shot with a new coaching staff, led by head coach Pat Fitzgerald, in 2026. He played well against Toledo, completing 26 of 34 throws for 247 yards (7.3 yards per attempt) with 1 touchdown. Milivojevic (pronounced Mili-VOY-evick) is not mobile, though, and he takes too many sacks. He was sacked 12 times in his first two starts alone last On PaPer Fifth-year running back Cam Edwards, a transfer from Connecticut, logged 27 carries for 98 yards and 1 touchdown in the Spartans' season-opening victory over Toledo Sept. 4. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN STATE ATHLETICS