Michigan State football just took its first ‘L’ of the Pat Fitzgerald era, falling 27-10 to No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday night. Yeah, it was a loss, but let’s be real: this team was a four-touchdown underdog going into that hostile environment, and they gave the Fighting Irish way more of a scrap than anyone outside of East Lansing expected.
Fitz Was ‘Pissed,’ But Fans Are Stoked
Look, Pat Fitzgerald was absolutely “pissed” after the game, and you gotta love that. He ain’t accepting moral victories, even against a national championship contender like Notre Dame. Statistically, yeah, the Irish ran wild with over 200 more total yards, a plus-two turnover margin, and nearly ten more first downs. But here’s the wild part: the game didn’t *feel* like that kind of beatdown. This Michigan State squad, a program with a 4.5 wins total projection entering the season, felt different against a top-tier team compared to what we’ve seen in recent years. For a team trying to get off the mat, coming out of that only down a touchdown at halftime is a huge vibe shift for fans. I wouldn’t be saying this in two years, but right now, it’s a positive outcome for where this program is at.
Offense Needs A Jolt, Defense Is Clutch
While we’re all feeling good about the overall fight, let’s be real: the offense needs to wake up. They got only 167 total yards on 45 plays. Their only touchdown came from two back-to-back explosive plays, and the short field goal was literally handed to them after Notre Dame botched a fake punt. Yeah, Notre Dame probably has the best defense in the country, and Michigan State won’t see another secondary that talented, but finishing under 200 total yards? That just ain’t gonna cut it, period. The bright spot? That defense was legit all night, keeping them in the game early and staying strong. Giving up 395 total yards over 67 plays isn’t perfect, but they bought time and kept this game from getting out of hand.
So, Michigan State drops to 2-1, and now it’s all about Big Ten play. Next up is Nebraska for the conference opener. Can this squad take the lessons from fighting a powerhouse and translate that into consistent play? The rebuild is underway, and that next game against Nebraska is gonna be huge to keep this early momentum rolling!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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