Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Michigan State Football: Getting to know the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Notre Dame is a not only a tough game this early for Michigan State football, but it is also a measuring stick for this year’s Spartans.

Notre Dame goes as junior quarterback DeShone Kizer goes. Yes that is an old cliche, however, Coach Brian Kelly has always built his teams around the QB. This was the case in his stops at Central Michigan, Cincinnati and now Notre Dame. Kizer has separated himself in their own quarterback battle and was given the opportunity to work out any kinks against Nevada. Notre Dame is hosting a Michigan State football team that is still searching for answers in South Bend, Ind.

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Notre Dame has recruited well under Kelly verses previous Irish coaches. While many will point to the Texas game for hope against the Irish the issue with that game was Texas freshman quarterback Shane Buechele. He torched the Irish secondary especially because they had suspended two defensive backs in the weeks leading up to the season.

Buechele is an exceptional freshman quarterback. The Irish defensive line was kept off kilter by Buechele’s running and quick passing skills. Tyler O’Connor will have to do his best Buechele impersonation for MSU to hang tough.

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A number of defensive players have been suspended. The school has been silent on any information regarding the players. In a Chicago Tribune article article by Chris Hine, Kelly was quoted as saying that he “still had the same practice roster, meaning none of the players had been reinstated.”

This may or may not be an issue because Notre Dame has the talent.

It is difficult to judge the Irish much like any team this early in the season. Kelly is a tactician and demands a high standard from his players. The Spartans could have used another game before this one in order to work out the many issues on offense and defense.

However, they didn’t get that luxury and thus will have to go into Notre Dame and stare down the famed “Touchdown Jesus” and show the grit and fortitude of Mark Dantonio-coached teams of the past in order to have a prayer in this game.

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