Notre Dame football holds Michigan State to 167 total yards in 27-10 home victory

No. 3 Notre Dame continued its unbeaten start to the season with a 27-10 victory over Michigan State on Saturday night in South Bend.

Quarterback CJ Carr completed 18 of 24 passes for 234 yards and added a three-yard rushing touchdown that extended the Fighting Irish’s lead to 27-10 in the fourth quarter.

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Micah Gilbert led Notre Dame’s receivers with eight catches for 170 yards, including a 61-yard reception. Nolan James Jr. rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Aneyas Williams also scored on the ground.

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. celebrates after scoring a touchdown during a game against the Michigan State Spartans on Sept. 19, 2026, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Notre Dame controlled the game defensively, limiting Michigan State to 167 total yards and forcing two turnovers. Adon Shuler and Luke Talich each intercepted Spartans quarterback Alessio Milivojevic.

The Fighting Irish built a 10-0 first-quarter lead behind a Spencer Porath field goal and James’ two-yard touchdown run. Michigan State cut the deficit to seven before Williams restored Notre Dame’s two-touchdown advantage late in the first half.

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman reacts after an Irish touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium on Nov. 15, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

Cam Fancher scored the Spartans’ only touchdown on a 15-yard run, pulling Michigan State within 17-10 with 3:21 remaining before halftime. The Spartans were held scoreless for the rest of the game.

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Notre Dame improved to 3-0, while Michigan State suffered its first loss and fell to 2-1.

Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.