Massive Michigan State football schedule update with heated rival Notre Dame

Finally. After what will be a nine-year drought, Michigan State football has announced a two-game series against their biggest non conference rival.

It's no secret that Michigan is the Spartans' biggest rival, but next in line in my opinion is Notre Dame. The Irish are MSU's only big non conference rival so it is always extremely exciting when Michigan State gets to play the Irish.

Thankfully we won't have to wait much longer as Michigan State will take on Notre Dame in a two game series beginning in 2026. The first matchup will be in South Bend, Ind., with a return matchup in East Lansing in 2027.

This is one of the most historic rivalries between non conference opponents in the country, but unfortunately it is one that doesn't get played anymore. This rivalry was played annually from 1997-2013 and was always a game the entire country looked forward to. The programs took a few years off then played each other once again in 2016 and 2017. That was the final time these historic programs have played until the sides meet once again in South Bend in 2026.

Michigan State trails the Irish in this series 29-49-1 including four losses in the last five matchups. The last matchup in 2017 saw Notre Dame win convincingly at Spartan Stadium 38-18, but the year before in 2016 MSU surprisingly got one of their three wins that season at Notre Dame 36-28.

I personally can't wait for these games to get here, and I might just have to make the short trip down to South Bend to attend the first meeting. This series falls perfectly in MSU's upcoming schedules as the Spartans play Boston College the next two years before this marquee matchup. MSU has't announced any other big time non conference matchups other than BYU in 2032, but we likely will have another big opponent scheduled for the two years after this Notre Dame series.

And if we're lucky, maybe it will be with Notre Dame again.