Jordan Faison (6), had four catches good for two touchdowns against Rice. (Photo: Joe Weiser/Fighting Irish Preview)
A Weekly Look at Notre Dame Football
Ah yes — a 2-0 start.
For the first time since 2020, the Irish have started a perfect 2-0. I think I speak for all Notre Dame fans when I say the coffee tastes better each morning, I am more cheerful each day, I’m sleeping better — you name it. Life is good. And it is good to be a fan of the No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
I’ll admit there was a small thought in my head before Saturday’s game against Rice. Nerves started to kick in before kickoff, as they always do, with that slight fear of another Northern Illinois, Marshall, Tulsa or South Florida experience.
Not to be.
This team just feels different from some of those Notre Dame teams that stumbled early in seasons past. The Irish completely handled Rice, 52-0, and somehow it wasn’t even that close.
Now comes the difficult part: not looking ahead.
Notre Dame’s schedule before traveling to Provo to face No. 11 BYU on October 17 includes Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina and Stanford. The Irish figure to be substantial favorites in all four.
Should be four wins, right? Right??
I am already fighting the urge to fast-forward to October 17 and see how Notre Dame matches up in what looks like its first major test of the season. Honestly, I think Irish fans faced a similar dilemma last year. Let’s just get through the schedule and sim to the College Football Playoff, right?
Well, unfortunately, we all know how that story ended.
So maybe we shouldn’t take these Saturdays for granted. Let’s enjoy every week of what will hopefully be relatively stress-free Notre Dame football for a while. And if the Irish somehow slip up before BYU, you can put the blame on me. I’ll take it.
For now, the focus turns to Michigan State — a rivalry that dates all the way back to 1897.
I used to love these games growing up. Notre Dame-Michigan State seemed to arrive every September, and one in particular helped make me the Notre Dame fan I am today.
2006. A rainy night in East Lansing.
I still remember sitting in our basement with my Dad and Uncle, staying up way past my bedtime — something my Dad can certainly attest to — watching that game. Michigan State seemed to have everything under control. John Carlson had a huge touchdown catch in the third quarter to cut it to two scores, but Michigan State marched right back down the field and scored again.
Then the rain really started coming down. And I mean pouring.
All seemed lost. Notre Dame was down 37-21 in the fourth quarter, playing in a torrential rainstorm in East Lansing, and somehow that was when one of the craziest Irish comebacks I can remember began.
Quinn to Jeff Samardzija for a touchdown on fourth-and-5 changed everything. That led to another touchdown by Rhema McKnight, who is still one of my favorite Notre Dame players of all time.
Then came Terrail Lambert.
Lambert’s pick-six put Notre Dame ahead late in the fourth quarter, but he wasn’t finished. He sealed the game with ANOTHER interception — and maybe the craziest interception I have ever seen. Lambert caught the ball on a Michigan State receiver’s back, and the Irish won 40-37.
All of it happening in that pouring East Lansing rain.
It was one of those games that helped spark my love for Notre Dame football.
Let’s not mention what happened against Michigan State the year before…
Nearly two decades later, the Spartans are coming back to Notre Dame Stadium and the rivalry is finally back after a nine-year absence. New Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald is still looking for his first signature victory.
Let’s hope he has to keep looking.