Big Ten’s top game is renewal of Michigan State-Notre Dame rivalry

Things to watch this weekend in the Major Ten. Game of the week.

Key points

• Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald posted upset wins at Notre Dame as a Northwestern linebacker in 1995 and as Northwestern's coach in 2014.
• This is the 80th matchup between these teams, but they haven't met since a Notre Dame 38-18 victory at Michigan State in 2017.
• These two former Atlantic Coast Conference rivals face off for the first time since Maryland's 54-10 blowout victory in the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl.
• Virginia Tech (2-0) at Maryland (2-0), Saturday, 7: 30 p.m.
• 3 Notre Dame (2-0), Saturday, 7: 30 p.m.

Michigan State (2-0) at No. 3 Notre Dame (2-0), Saturday, 7: 30 p.m. ET (NBC).

This is the 80th matchup between these teams, but they haven't met since a Notre Dame 38-18 victory at Michigan State in 2017. Although Notre Dame leads the series 49-29-1, only Southern California has beaten the Fighting Irish more often than the Spartans have.

Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald posted upset wins at Notre Dame as a Northwestern linebacker in 1995 and as Northwestern's coach in 2014. Notre Dame is favored by 29 ½ points.

Virginia Tech (2-0) at Maryland (2-0), Saturday, 7: 30 p.m. ET (FS1).

These two former Atlantic Coast Conference rivals face off for the first time since Maryland's 54-10 blowout victory in the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl. Maryland has won 20 straight nonconference games. It represents the longest active streak of any Bowl Subdivision team.

Taken together, the developments around big Tens top game is renewal of Michigan State point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.