Michigan State’s November trip through the Big Ten takes a sharp turn on Nov. 14, 2026, when Washington shows up as the next test on the schedule. In the prediction being laid out here, the Spartans enter that matchup at 5-4 overall and 3-3 in conference play, with the chance to punch their ticket back to a bowl game hanging right there in front of them.
This is also a series with a long gap in the wrong direction for Michigan State. The Spartans haven’t beaten Washington since 1969, and the Huskies have taken the last four meetings in the five-game all-time series. Washington swept the most recent home-and-home in 2022 and 2023, and this game will be the first time the teams meet as Big Ten opponents.
Michigan State is expected to arrive at this point in the season coming off some turbulence. The projection has the Spartans dropping back-to-back games for the first time all year, including a close loss to Michigan the week before. That leaves Pat Fitzgerald’s team needing to steady itself quickly before the season slips away.
Washington, meanwhile, is projected to be in the thick of things. The forecast has the Huskies sitting at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten entering the game, with their playoff hopes still alive and needing a win to stay on track.
The pick here is a Michigan State upset, 34-23. The reasoning is straightforward: Washington has to make the long cross-country trip in November, and Michigan State is staring at a must-win situation to secure bowl eligibility. In this projection, that combination is enough to send the Spartans back to the postseason for the first time in five years.
Next up in the schedule breakdown is a home Big Ten game against Oregon.
In Other News...
Central Michigan Is Starting To Change The In-State Football Conversation
Central Michigan is starting to look like more than just a neighbor on the schedule. Fox Sports recently labeled the Chippewas a dark horse in the MAC, and there is some real substance behind the buzz. Since Matt Drinkall took over after the 2024 season, the program has put together a 7-6 finish, its best mark since 2021, while also showing it can hang in tight games with a pair of one-possession losses.
The bigger reason the attention is growing is continuity. Central Michigan returns the third-most starters in the MAC, and the roster has already flashed enough on both sides of the ball to suggest another jump is possible. For Michigan State fans keeping an eye on the states football pecking order, it is another reminder that the Chippewas are becoming a more relevant part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Izzo Just Sent Another Clear Message About Michigan State's Future
Tom Izzo keeps making it plain that Michigan States future is not something hes leaving to chance. The Spartans are already putting real attention on the 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes, and an unofficial visit is lined up for a top-35 prospect in the 2028 group. Izzo has also extended an offer to Mateen Cleaves Jr., another sign that the Hall of Fame coach is still working the trail with the same energy that has long defined his program.
For Michigan State fans, the bigger takeaway is what all of this says about Izzo himself. After another stretch that reminded people why he remains one of the sports most competitive voices, he is still recruiting hard and still planning like a coach with years left, not one easing toward the finish line. Every move points the same direction, and the Spartans are acting like their next era is already being mapped out. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Is Pushing For A Top In-State TE Early
Michigan State is heading into its final week of fall camp under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and the program is already making an early push in a place it wants to strengthen. One of the names to watch is AJ Henley, a three-star tight end in the 2028 class, who has lined up an unofficial visit to East Lansing on Sept. 12 as part of a fall schedule that includes several stops around the country.
Henley still does not have an offer from Michigan State, but the visit alone says plenty about where the Spartans hope to make their presence felt. Tight end has become a position of emphasis as Fitzgerald and his staff put their stamp on the roster, and getting an in-state prospect on campus this early gives Michigan State a chance to keep building that relationship before the recruitment gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]