Despite repeating as Big Ten champion, the Spartans knew going into the season they would not be going to a bowl game.
The College Football Researchers Association selected Michigan State as national champion, while the Helms Athletic Foundation, National Football Foundation (NFF), and Poling System selected them as co-national champion.
[1]: 113 Notre Dame was selected as national champion by the AP and Coaches polls.
[7] The game was played in Michigan State's Spartan Stadium on November 19, 1966.
Notre Dame elected not to try to score on its final series, thus the game ended in a 10–10 tie with both schools receiving national champion selections.