Grading Notre Dame's Bare-Knuckled Rivalry Win Over Michigan State
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Notre Dame won the Megaphone Trophy against rival Michigan State last Saturday, after defeating the Spartans 27-10 in a sloppy home matchup. The Irish looked on fire against Rice the week prior, but seemed slow and mild against Michigan State. Despite the surprisingly close game, players still stood out for outstanding (and some lackluster) performances.
CJ Carr - B+
CJ Carr once again benefited from Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock continuing to open up the playbook for longer passes. Carr was 18/24 on passing attempts. The eighteen completions culminated in 234 passing yards, with his longest throw being 61 yards. Carr also showed his underrated rushing ability in the red zone, running in a three-yard touchdown to seal the game in the fourth quarter, capping off an impressive four-play, 68-yard drive. Carr also benefited from having multiple targets, with five different players recording a catch. Overall, Carr looks good, but not great yet. Coach Marcus Freeman will need Carr to have more explosive plays when the Irish take on harder defenses as the season progresses. However, Carr did his job against Michigan State, and his grade reflects that.
Leonard Moore - A
The "Isle of Moore" continues to define the talent and playstyle of the jubilant junior, Leonard Moore. Opposing defenses fear his coverage and physical attack. Spartans Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic was hesitant to throw to the man Moore was covering, until he did. The pass was immediately broken up, as Moore finished with one target and one pass breakup for the game. Moore is the standout for an already top-of-class Notre Dame defense. I predict other offenses will make use of the same judgment to avoid him altogether.
Linebacker Core - B
The return of Kyngstonn Villiamu-Asa was a sweet symphony last week against Rice, as the junior punished the Owls' offense with his impressive physical play style. However, Villiamu-Asa didn't see much action against the Spartans, as he only recorded two total tackles in the slugfest after Jaiden Ausberry started the game at LB. Fellow LB Drayk Bowen performed to his standard after completing seven solo tackles against Michigan State. Jaylen Sneed performed exceptionally well in his first start of the 2026 season, finishing with four solo tackles. Although the linebacker room looked better put-together than it did in week one, there are still mistakes and miscommunication throughout all four quarters. This needs to be cleaned up if Notre Dame wants to compete against a good rushing, RPO or play-action style of offense.
Run Game - B+
Aneyas Williams continued to struggle to get breakout runs on Saturday, as he only gained 27 yards off nine carries. Nolan James Jr. continued to etch his name in the long history of Notre Dame RB studs, as he broke out for 121 yards over 26 attempts. The running back room is very convoluted, with a potential position battle emerging. The offensive line looked more solid than previous weeks, as fewer side blocks got blown up. Williams will need to take the next step if he wants to live up to Jermyiah Love's hefty legacy. James Jr. needs to continue dominating play after play, as well as stay healthy.
Passing Game - A-
Despite this being the first game in which CJ Carr didn't record a passing touchdown, the passing position was still potent. Five different receivers brought down catches, with Micah Gilbert as the standout receiver, as he brought home eight catches on nine targets, resulting in 170 yards. Gilbert's breakout speed was on display, as he brought in 33 YAC. Jordan Faison also saw time with the pigskin, recording five catches for 38 yards. The tight end room didn't see much action in the passing game, which is understandable when Gilbert and Faison are at the forefront of the attack. I enjoyed Denbrock opening up the passing tree, and I expect a breakout star to emerge from the receiving corps.
Secondary - A
Notre Dame's secondary is often considered among the best in College Football, and with good reason. Leonard Moore, Christian Gray, and Adon Shuler all give opposing passing game coordinators migraines. Shuler and Luke Talich both flipped the field with an interception each. 123 passing yards for an opposing offense is outstanding, although mistakes still occurred. It's difficult to determine whether the blame should be placed on the defensive backs or the coaching staff when misassignments and miscommunication occur; however, the problems seem to lessen as the weeks change. I predict this secondary will continue to make its case for the most talented in the country.
Notre Dame looked fair in the four-quarter battle against Michigan State. Problems remain in South Bend, and urgency must be a point of emphasis as the Irish start facing off against better opponents. The team needs a breakout offensive player. Carr, Faison, Williams, and James Jr. are all very good, but a player needs to take the next step in order to truly be feared come playoff season. Sights are still set for a National Championship, but the Irish aren't looking too far down the road as the 3-0 team travels south to West Lafayette, Indiana, to take on the in-state rival Purdue Boilermakers.
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