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Michigan State Football: Top 5 moments vs. Notre Dame in Mark Dantonio era

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 15: Le'Veon Bell #24 of the Michigan State Spartans takes a first quarter pitch while playing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Spartan Stadium Stadium on September 15, 2012 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 15: Le'Veon Bell #24 of the Michigan State Spartans takes a first quarter pitch while playing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Spartan Stadium Stadium on September 15, 2012 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State football is heading into Notre Dame week and here are the five most memorable moments from the series in the Mark Dantonio era.

It’s that time again. Notre Dame week is upon us and fans are gearing up for what should be a heck of a party on Saturday in East Lansing. The late kickoff means that the game will be under the lights in East Lansing as Michigan State football looks to improve to 3-0 on the year.

Notre Dame, on the other hand, is 2-1 and looking to improve to 3-1. The Irish lost a couple of weeks ago at home to Georgia, 20-19, but they look to be an improved team compared to last year’s 4-8 squad in which Michigan State beat on the road, 36-28.

Over the years, there have been plenty of memorable moments from the MSU-Notre Dame rivalry, and since Mark Dantonio took over, the games have gotten more exciting. In fact, the memorable moments occur almost every time they meet up.

Let’s take a look at five of the biggest moments from the series in the Dantonio era.

5. Javon Ringer’s 200 yards (2008)

This is one of those games that goes under the radar, but in Mark Dantonio’s second season with the Spartans, Javon Ringer had one of the best games of his career. Coming off the Spartans’ first win against Notre Dame in the new head coach’s tenure (2007), Ringer made it his mission to get No. 2.

Michigan State scored just two touchdowns in the 2008 victory over the Fighting Irish and both came on the legs of Ringer. He rushed for 201 yards on 39 carries and had a huge 63-yard rush that set up a score. If not for Ringer, Dantonio wouldn’t have recorded his second straight win over the Irish.

There’s no exact “moment” to target here, other than the fact that Ringer’s huge day led to a big celebration in East Lansing. The Spartans won 23-7 and Ringer had his second straight 200-yard game — an unheard of feat. He came just short of three straight as he rushed for 198 yards the following week against Indiana.

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