Notre Dame Tops Michigan State in Sloppy Slugfest

48 minutes ago

2 min read

Via USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It wasn't entirely pretty, both with the rain showers and the on-field result in Notre Dame's 27-10 victory over Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium.

The main concern coming out of Notre Dame's triumphant victory over Rice was the Irish's inability to run the football effectively. They leave this matchup with Michigan State with more questions that answers.

The combination of Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr. were serviceable, finishing with 4.17 yards a carry on 35 combined runs. On Notre Dame's 17-play, 77 yard drive in the 3rd quarter that ended with a field goal, James found a bit of momentum rushing the ball, but the Irish are still without a sure answer.

Notre Dame and Arkansas are the only Power 4 program that have yet to have a rush of 20+ yards, as reported by Pete Sampson of The Athletic.

While the run game shuffled its feet, CJ Carr was as effective as ever through the air, finishing the game 18/24 with 234 yards and a rushing touchdown. Tonight was the only game in CJ Carr's starting career that he did not have a touchdown pass.

Tonight, Micah Gilbert was the star of the receiving room, totaling 170 yards on eight receptions. It marked the most single-game receiving yards by a Notre Dame player since Chase Claypool totaled 180 yards against Wake Forest on November 4, 2017.

This key breakout performance was one that fans have been clamoring for. Gilbert's rise, and ability to stretch the defense vertically, gives Carr another option to look to alongside Jordan Faison, who finished this game with 38 yards on five catches.

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Defensively, Chris Ash's unit kept Michigan State off the scoreboard for most of this game, outside of one terrible drive that featured the Irish getting beat for 53 yards through the air and a 15-yard touchdown run by Michigan State's backup QB, Cam Fancher, that had parade of missed tackles.

The rest of the game the defense was able bear down and created two interceptions, cashed in by safeties Luke Talich and Adon Shuler. The defensive front was able to create pressure all night on the Spartan passing attack as well as the Irish combined for four total sacks.

While this wasn't the 30+ point splattering that most fans, and betters across Las Vegas, could've predicted, it was still a dominant performance that resulted in a 17-point win.

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