Michigan State to Play Notre Dame in 2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Michigan State and Notre Dame will square off in men's basketball for the first time in 35 years this upcoming season.

The Spartans and Irish will tip off in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday, Dec. 3 in South Bend.

The last time the two programs met was in the 1979 NCAA tournament regional finals. MSU, led by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, upset Digger Phelps Notre Dame squad in Indianapolis en route to the Spartans' first-ever national title.

More from an MSU press release:

Michigan State will play at Notre Dame in the 2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday, Dec. 3. This will be the first meeting between the Spartans and the Fighting Irish since the 1979 NCAA Tournament.

MSU defeated Notre Dame, 80-68, in the regional final of the 1979 NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis, as the Spartans would go on to capture the NCAA Championship. The last on-campus contest was a 76-73 Spartan victory at Notre Dame on Feb. 5, 1975. The Fighting Irish lead the all-time series, 59-35.

“We are very excited to be playing Notre Dame in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge,” said MSU coach Tom Izzo. “It’s great to renew a natural rivalry, one that has provided some great games in both football and basketball over the years. I’ve loved watching the football games both at MSU and in traveling to Notre Dame, and now I’m excited to take part in it first-hand. With the two schools separated by just a couple of hours, I know this matchup will excite both of our fan bases. Mike Brey and I have been friends forever, and I have a lot of respect for his program and what they have achieved.”

The Spartans are ranked No. 18 in the 2014-15 ESPN Preseason Top 25 (April 28), and will be led by 2014 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player Branden Dawson, as he averaged 11.2 points and a team-best 8.3 rebounds in 2013-14. Last season, Michigan State posted a 29-9 record, including 12-6 in the Big Ten, captured the Big Ten Tournament title and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame posted a 15-17 record last season, including 6-12 in its first season of competition in the ACC.

Overall, MSU is 6-8 in Big Ten/ACC Challenge history. In each of the last two seasons, the Big Ten and ACC split the challenge with six wins each. Before that, the Big Ten had won three straight challenges (2009-11), following the ACC winning the challenge in each of the first 10 seasons. (1999-2008).

MSU in Big Ten/ACC Challenge History
1999 - MSU 86, North Carolina 76 - Chapel Hill, N.C.
2000 - MSU 77, North Carolina 64 - East Lansing
2001 - MSU, Virginia - Cancelled - Richmond, Va.
2002 - MSU 82, Virginia 75 - East Lansing
2003 - Duke 72, MSU 50 - East Lansing
2004 - Duke 81, MSU 74 - Durham, N.C.
2005 - MSU 88, Georgia Tech 86 - East Lansing
2006 - Boston College 65, MSU 58 - Chestnut Hill, Mass.
2007 - MSU 81, North Carolina State 58 - East Lansing
2008 - North Carolina 98, MSU 63 - Detroit
2009 - North Carolina 89, MSU 82 - Chapel Hill, N.C.
2010 - Duke 84, MSU 79 - Durham, N.C.
2011 - MSU 65, Florida State 49 - East Lansing
2012 - Miami 67, MSU 59 - Coral Gables, Fla.
2013 – North Carolina 79, MSU 65 – East Lansing

2014 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Schedule*

Monday, December 1st
Nebraska @ Florida State
Rutgers @ Clemson

Tuesday, December 2nd
Illinois @ Miami
Minnesota @ Wake Forest
NC State @ Purdue
Ohio State @ Louisville
Pittsburgh @ Indiana
Syracuse @ Michigan

Wednesday, December 3rd
Duke @ Wisconsin
Georgia Tech @ Northwestern
Iowa @ North Carolina
Michigan State @ Notre Dame
Virginia @ Maryland
Virginia Tech @ Penn State

* Times and networks to be announced at a later date.