Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546639
20 SEPT. 26, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY JACK SOBLE AND KYLE KELLY I t was not pretty. And if you were Nolan James Jr. on Notre Dame's first drive of the second half, it didn't feel pretty, either. James compiled 10 touches on the 17-play, 77-yard drive that began at the Notre Dame 6-yard line. He found himself surrounded by white jerseys on most of them. But much like the Irish fought through a less-than-ideal per- formance in less-than-ideal weather conditions, James made do with what he had. The ugly yet effective, methodical yet grindingly slow possession ended with a 35-yard Spencer Porath field goal. It put the Irish up 20-10, giving them a two- score lead after an uncomfortably close first half. Sacks by defensive ends Loghan Thomas and Boubacar Traore on Michigan State's ensuing drive ensured the Spartans would not get closer. Notre Dame quarter- back CJ Carr punched in a 3-yard touch- down run to firmly put them away. Fifth-year head coach Marcus Free- man may put the Megaphone Trophy to good use when he reviews the film with his players. But the Megaphone Trophy will remain in South Bend for another season. Notre Dame defeated Michigan State 27-10, improving to 3-0. "It wasn't perfect, as everybody saw, but it was a good victory and a hard- fought victory," Freeman said after the game. "Those are the type of victories that you're going to have to win and find a way to win." FIXER UPPER Notre Dame put its mistake-filled first half aside and defeated Michigan State, 27-10