The Megaphone Rivalry Is Back

By Jay Berry

The Megaphone Trophy rivalry between Notre Dame and Michigan State is being revived.

The megaphone rivalry dates back to 1897, and in their 79 meetings, the Irish lead the series 49-29-1. Michigan State will play at Notre Dame in 2026 and the Spartans will host Notre Dame in East Lansing in 2027.

Michigan State and Notre Dame have a history of intense competition, with a continuous series of 36 seasons from 1959 to 1994. The two schools last faced each other in 2016 and 2017 in a home-and-home series, with both schools winning while playing away, showcasing the unpredictable nature of this rivalry.

The Megaphone Trophy, a symbol of the rich history and tradition of this rivalry, was introduced in 1949. It is a half blue with a gold ND monogram and half white with a green MSC. The trophy, a testament to the past glories, lists all previous game scores.

The "Game of the Century" highlights the rivalry, a 10-10 tie between No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Michigan State on November 19, 1966. The game occurred at Spartan Stadium, and the 60th anniversary will be in the fall of 2026.

"The Michigan State-Notre Dame rivalry is not only one of the oldest rivalries in all of college football, it's a series that is meaningful to Spartan players and fans alike," said Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller. "It's fitting that the battle for the Megaphone Trophy renews in the 60th anniversary season of the 1966 Game of the Century."

Michigan State won five consecutive games after Notre Dame's 8-0 series run from 1987 to 1994, matching Michigan State's streak from 1955 to 1963 (except for 1958 when they didn't play).

Michigan State is second among all Notre Dame opponents in total wins over the Irish, trailing only USC, which has 38 victories against the program.

In their most recent meeting in 2017, Notre Dame secured a 38-18 victory over Michigan State.

This is one of many rivalries that will renew in the upcoming years.