No. 15 Michigan State has had no trouble so far this season, beating FCS team Youngstown State and Florida Atlantic by a combined count of 72-6. The Spartans held FAU to one first down — the first time a Michigan State team had done that since 1944 — and limited the Owls to 48 yards of total offense. QB Kirk Cousins has been excellent so far, completing nearly 80 percent of his passes for 405 yards, three scores and no picks.

The Irish are trying to avoid their first 0-3 start since losing the first five in 2007. They have lost five straight September games, none more likely heart-wrenching than last week’s instant classic to Michigan. The Irish fell 35-31 to the Wolverines, allowing the winning TD pass with two seconds left after taking the lead with only 30 seconds remaining. Notre Dame has committed five turnovers in each of its two defeats, negating 500-plus yards of offense in both games.

You may remember the MSU-Notre Dame matchup last year, a 34-31 State win. Spartans coach Mark Dantonio stunningly called for a fake field goal in overtime – a play dubbed “Little Giants” — that led to a game-winning 29-yard touchdown pass. It was such a thrilling finish, in fact, that Dantonio had a mild heart attack after the game. He wouldn’t be able to coach on the field for four games afterward.

The Spartans have had Notre Dame’s number in winning 10 of the last 14 matchups, but four of the last six games were decided by three points and nine of the past 11 have been decided by seven points or less. The Fighting Irish are 5-2-1 in the last eight games facing a ranked Michigan State team.

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