Michigan State football opens as 4-point underdog vs. Notre Dame; get to know Irish

Fast facts

Matchup: Michigan State (2-0) vs. Notre Dame (2-1)

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing.

TV/radio: Fox (Channel 2 in Detroit), WJR-AM (760).

Line: Notre Dame by 4.

Know the foe: Notre Dame improved to 2-1 Saturday with a 49-20 win at Boston College, one week after a 20-19 home loss to No. 13 Georgia and dropping out of the Associated Press Top 25. The Irish went 4-8 last season, which included a 36-28 home loss to MSU on Sept. 17, 2016 – after which the Spartans lost seven straight. Last year marked coach Mark Dantonio’s first win over Brian Kelly and the Irish since the “Little Giants” fake field goal gave MSU an overtime win in 2010.

More Spartans:Brian Kelly thinks Michigan State, Notre Dame running QBs must make throws this week

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!