Michigan State and Illinois meet Saturday in East Lansing with both teams still searching for their first Big Ten win, and that alone gives this one a different kind of edge. These are two 2-3 squads, both 0-2 in conference play, both staring at a game that could matter a lot for keeping bowl hopes from slipping further away.
Kickoff is set for Saturday, October 10 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1, with the early forecast calling for a beautiful fall day and temperatures in the 70s.
For Michigan State, the conference start has been rough in every sense. The Spartans have been outscored 62-16 in losses to Nebraska and Wisconsin, and both of those teams put up 31 points while Michigan State’s offense sputtered. The numbers tell the story clearly: Michigan State ranks last in the Big Ten in scoring and total yards, and sits 15th among 18 league teams in both rushing and passing.
The slide has been especially ugly after a promising opening stretch. Michigan State scored 65 points over its first two games, then managed just 26 across the last three. That drop-off has left the Spartans looking for answers, and they’ll need them quickly if they want to protect home field on Saturday.
One factor that could shape the afternoon is the absence of star running back Cam Edwards. Without him last week, Michigan State couldn’t even reach the end zone against Wisconsin.
Now the Spartans get an Illinois defense that has allowed the second-most passing yards in the Big Ten and has faced the second-most plays in the league. If Michigan State is going to get rolling, this has the feel of a spot where Alessio Milivojevic could be asked to carry plenty of the load.
Illinois comes in with its own problems, though the Fighting Illini have at least shown a little more life on offense. Their two wins came against UAB and Southern Illinois, while the losses have come against Duke, Ohio State and Purdue. Across those three defeats, Illinois has scored 63 points, far more than Michigan State’s 26 over its last three games.
The defense, though, has been out of sync. Purdue worked Illinois over early last week and finished with 24 points in a seven-point win. Illinois did make a push late, nearly trimming the margin to two, but a holding penalty wiped out a touchdown and the drive ended with a turnover on downs.
So Saturday sets up as a meeting of two teams that badly need something to change. Neither has played well enough to inspire much confidence, but neither is buried, either. One of them will leave East Lansing one step closer to bowl eligibility, while the other will be left still trying to dig out of an early hole.
It should be a competitive one, and FS1 has the coverage at 3:30 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Michigan State Volleyball Is Getting National Attention For A Big Reason
Michigan State volleyball is back in the national conversation, and Malayah Long is a big reason why. The redshirt sophomore setter was named Big Ten Setter of the Week for the first time after helping power a 2-0 conference weekend, capped by a career-best 65 assists against USC.
The recognition comes at a time when the Spartans are starting to draw wider attention again, with Michigan State checking in at No. 22 in the AVCA Coaches Poll for its first national ranking since 2018. For a program looking to reestablish itself among the Big Tens top groups, Longs rise gives the Spartans another sign that this start may be worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Is Getting The Kind Of Preseason Respect Fans Crave
The preseason buzz around Michigan State is starting to sound like the kind of respect Spartan fans have been waiting to hear. In a poll of 28 media members conducted by The Columbus Dispatch, Tom Izzos team was picked to finish second in the Big Ten for the 2026-27 college basketball season, a sign that the league expects the Spartans to be right in the mix again after bringing back key pieces and adding to the roster.
Jeremy Fears Jr. was also a major presence in the voting, earning Preseason Player of the Year honors and standing alone as the only unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection. With Coen Carr back and Anton Bonke arriving from the transfer portal, Michigan State has the kind of returning talent and fresh help that can fuel a serious run, even if the real test will come once the games start and the conference race begins to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Already Looks Like A Real Big Ten Problem For MSU
Michigans backcourt is already looking like one of the early storylines in the Big Ten, and that matters plenty for Michigan State. Elliot Cadeau, a senior point guard and Final Four Most Outstanding Player, and Trey McKenney, a sophomore coming off All-Freshman Team honors, were both picked for the 2026-27 Preseason All-Big Ten Team, giving the Wolverines a pair of recognized pieces before the league even tips off.
For Michigan, the nods add to a program history that now includes 26 players earning preseason All-Big Ten recognition, and it is one of only three conference teams with multiple selections this time around. For the Spartans, it is another reminder that the race at the top of the league is shaping up to be crowded, with Michigan already carrying the kind of preseason credibility that can make head-to-head meetings feel even bigger. [Read more 🡒]