Michigan State series will continue, but 4 on, 2 off
(as previously reported) we won't play them in 2014-15.
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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130515/SPORTS0202/305150407
Chicago — While the Michigan-Notre Dame football series will end after next season, don't expect the same for Michigan State and Notre Dame.
That's not to say there won't be adjustments to the series that began in 1897, but as the Big Ten prepares to go to a nine-game conference schedule in 2016, Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said he is committed to keeping the Irish on the schedule.
"We want to have the Irish on our schedule because of the rivalry," Hollis said Wednesday at the Big Ten's spring meetings. "I was talking about the Big Ten being cool and hip and impressing the 14-year-olds at the same time as impressing the 60-year-olds. I think the Notre Dame game is a cool and hip game that builds off tradition and is one that is important to continue. I think we want them (on the schedule), but I'm not sure I would use the term 'need them' on the schedule."
Michigan State and Notre Dame have met 75 times and since 1948 have failed to face off only four times. They also played what has been called "The Game of the Century," a 10-10 tie in 1966 that pitted the top two ranked teams in the country.
The agreement between the team runs through 2032 at four seasons on and two off, with the first two-year break due in 2014 and 2015.
But Michigan State has also entered nonconference agreements with Alabama (2016-17), Oregon (2014-15), Miami, Fla. (2020-21) and Boise State (2022-23). It creates a difficult schedule in 2016 and 2017 with Alabama and Notre Dame being two of the three nonconference games and again is an issue in the Boise State seasons. The years Michigan State would play Oregon and Miami fall on off years in the Notre Dame series.
However, Hollis said he has been meeting with Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick on ways the teams might be able to adjust their agreement, an issue that is just as big for Notre Dame as it enters an agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference.
"Wherever that ends will be in the best interest of Notre Dame and Michigan State," Hollis said. "He's gonna have some bumps in the road with the ACC integration and we obviously have some seasons where you want to make sure (you ensure) the sanity of the coach and the excitement of the fans and balance the home and away (schedule) and keep seven home games. As you go through all the variables you encounter a few seasons where everything doesn't lineup and you have to make some adjustments."