The Game of the Century: The 1966 Notre Dame–Michigan State Showdown

The 1966 Michigan State–Notre Dame game was the most anticipated college football matchup in two decades. The top-ranked Fighting Irish and second-ranked Spartans entered the contest with star-studded rosters, boasting 11 first-team All-Americans between them, five second-team honorees, and eight future Hall of Fame players and coaches.

Notre Dame’s challenges began even before kickoff. Unanimous All-America halfback Nick Eddy suffered a shoulder injury after slipping in the snow while disembarking the train in East Lansing. Early in the game, the Irish were dealt another blow when quarterback Terry Hanratty was sidelined following a hard hit from Michigan State’s Bubba Smith. His replacement, Coley O’Brien, managed the offense while battling his own challenges as a diabetic, relying on candy bars and oranges on the sidelines to maintain his blood sugar levels.

Michigan State struck first in the second quarter, with Regis Cavender capping a drive with a four-yard touchdown run. The lead extended to 10-0 after Dick Kenny, the Spartans’ barefoot kicker from Hawaii, nailed a 46-yard field goal.

Notre Dame responded before halftime with a 34-yard touchdown pass from O’Brien to Bob Gladieux—stepping in for the injured Eddy—making it 10-7 at the break.

The second half opened with a series of turnovers, one of which gave Michigan State possession deep in its own territory. Following a punt exchange, the Spartans again found themselves pinned near their goal line. From his own end zone, quarterback Jimmy Raye launched a long pass to Hall of Famer Gene Washington, advancing the Spartans to midfield. The drive eventually stalled, returning the ball to Notre Dame.

The Irish embarked on a determined march into Spartan territory, culminating in Joe Azzaro’s 27-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 10-10.

Momentum briefly shifted toward Notre Dame when Tom Schoen intercepted Jimmy Raye on consecutive drives. The second pick positioned the Irish inside the Spartans’ 20-yard line, but Azzaro missed a 41-yard field goal—his fourth attempt of the season.

As time wound down, Notre Dame took over at its own 30-yard line with just 90 seconds remaining. The Irish converted a crucial fourth down near their own 40 but were stopped in their tracks by another sack from Bubba Smith. O’Brien scrambled on the game’s final play, signaling the end of a contest as evenly matched as its participants.

Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian faced criticism for his conservative play-calling in the closing moments, with many speculating that he was content to settle for a tie. Parseghian defended his decisions, citing an offense missing three starters, an exhausted quarterback managing diabetes, and the risk of a costly turnover that could give Michigan State a chance to win with their reliable kicker.

The 10-10 tie left Notre Dame narrowly ahead of Michigan State in the AP poll by just three points. The Big Ten’s “no-repeat” rule prevented the Spartans from making a Rose Bowl appearance, ending their season that week. Meanwhile, Notre Dame solidified its claim to the national championship with a resounding 51-0 victory over 10th-ranked USC in their final game.

Relive the legendary 1966 Notre Dame–Michigan State game—a clash of unbeaten teams, Hall of Famers, and unforgettable moments. Watch the full recap now on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yK2pjLwcR0E.