2016 Notre Dame Schedule Preview: Michigan State

The Michigan State Sparatns come to town in September for the first time since 2013. (Photo: Mike Carter // USA TODAY Sports)Michigan State is back on the Notre Dame schedule in 2016 for the first time since 2013. The brief hiatus in the series after meeting 17 consecutive seasons from 1997-2013. The Spartans that travel to Notre Dame Stadium on September 17th, however, will look a bit different than the ones Notre Dame fans have watched from a far the last couple seasons.

[Related: The Notre Dame – Michigan State rivalry]

Last year, Michigan State won the Big Ten title and finished in the top 10 of the AP poll. Their cup runneth over. But this year, with only 9 starters returning, the cup is…