 With both teams undefeated, untied and ranked atop the national polls going in (The Fighting Irish were ranked #1 at 8–0–0, the Spartans #2 at 9–0–0), the match-up was hyped as the college "Game of the Century".Early in the first quarter, Smith tackled Notre Dame starting quarterback Terry Hanratty, who suffered a separated left shoulder.Hanratty was replaced for the remainder of the game by Coley O'Brien.