Michigan State
Notre Dame
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Megaphone Trophy Series Archive All-Time: ND Leads 47-29-1
First contested in 1897; the Megaphone Trophy was jointly sponsored by the Detroit alumni clubs of both schools in 1949.
| Year | Location | Winner | Score | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | South Bend, IN | MSU | 36 – 28 | Spartans jumped to 36-7 lead, held off late Irish rally. |
| 2013 | South Bend, IN | ND | 17 – 13 | Defensive battle; Irish pass interference calls proved decisive. |
| 2010 | East Lansing, MI | MSU | 34 – 31 (OT) | "Little Giants" fake FG touchdown by Aaron Bates to Charlie Gantt in OT. |
| 1966 | East Lansing, MI | TIE | 10 – 10 | "Game of the Century": #1 Notre Dame vs #2 Michigan State; legendary deadlock. |
| 1949 | East Lansing, MI | ND | 34 – 21 | Inaugural trophy contest; Frank Leahy's Irish claimed the Megaphone. |
Gridiron Leverage & 4th-Down Science
College football rivalry games often hinge on single high-leverage inflection points. Here is how advanced metrics evaluate game theory in South Bend.
Expected Points Added (EPA)
EPA quantifies the net value of a play by comparing expected points of the subsequent down and distance against the initial state. A 3-yard run on 4th & 2 at the opponent 34 adds over +2.4 expected points.
South Bend Wind Vectoring
Notre Dame Stadium's open bowl configurations create notorious swirling end-zone crosswinds. College field goal kickers convert from 50+ yards at a 44% clip in crosswinds exceeding 15 mph.
The Megaphone Trophy Lore
From Ara Parseghian running out the clock in 1966 to Mark Dantonio calling 'Little Giants' in 2010, this series has consistently created iconic tactical gambits in college football history.