Michigan State’s 2026 season opens with a clean slate, a new coach, and a whole lot of unknowns. Pat Fitzgerald takes over in East Lansing with the Spartans set to face Toledo on Friday night, and the first order of business is obvious: build something that lasts. After missing a bowl game every year since 2021, Michigan State needs 2026 to look different in a hurry.
That kind of turnaround rarely happens without a few things breaking the right way. A new staff and 50 new rostered players create room for surprises, and the Spartans will need several of them if this season is going to turn. Here are three bold calls for what could happen in Fitzgerald’s first year.
Michigan State reaches bowl eligibility before its trip to Rutgers.
That would sound ambitious in a vacuum, but the schedule opens the door. The first five Big Ten games are all winnable, and if the Spartans catch a little momentum, they could stack results quickly. In that scenario, Michigan State could be sitting on five or six wins by the time November arrives.
The path here starts with two nonconference wins and at least three victories in the first five league games. If that happens, the Spartans would already have five wins and then find one more in early November, heading into the season finale at Rutgers with a 6-5 record.
Cam Edwards clears 1,000 rushing yards.
The run game is one of the biggest storylines in East Lansing, and the pieces are there for a jump. Michigan State’s offensive line is expected to be much better, with enough depth to absorb an injury or two, and that sets up well for transfer back Cam Edwards to carry a heavy load.
The prediction here is simple: Edwards gets past 1,000 yards on the ground. The Spartans have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Kenneth Walker in 2021. Before that, the last one came from Josh Langford in 2014.
Michigan State finishes with at least 20 takeaways.
If the Spartans are going to hit the win total above, they’ll need the defense to create extra possessions. That’s been a weak spot over the last four seasons, and it has hurt their ability to string together success.
This defense has a different look now, and the transfers bring veteran experience to the mix. The linebacker core should be able to help with blitz packages, and the pass rush is expected to improve with Kenny Soares and Anelu Lafaele leading the charge. That combination gives Michigan State a real shot to force more mistakes, and the prediction here is a finish at 20 turnovers for the first time since 2021.
In Other News...
Joe Bachie Suddenly Faces A Tough New NFL Question
Joe Bachies latest NFL stop ended in surprising fashion when the Detroit Lions moved on from the former Michigan State linebacker during roster cuts, even after he put together a strong preseason and drew praise from head coach Dan Campbell. It was a tough turn for a player who has spent six years carving out a pro career and has become used to fighting for every chance he gets.
Bachies release also came as part of a rough cutdown day for other Spartans in the league, with the Atlanta Falcons parting ways with Nate Carter and Jack Velling. Bachie still figures to have a path back somewhere, whether on an active roster or a practice squad, but the immediate question is whether another team sees enough in his work to give him the next opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Just Got A Tough Reality Check On Cutdown Day
Cutdown day brought a blunt reminder of how unforgiving the NFL can be for undrafted rookies with Michigan State ties. As teams trimmed their rosters to 53 players, every Spartans hopeful who went into camp without draft status was released, leaving Omari Kelly, Wayne Matthews, Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Malik Spencer, Jack Velling and Quindarius Dunnigan looking for their next opportunity.
For a program that had several former players trying to carve out a place at the next level, it was a rough sweep of the board all at once. The good news for Michigan State is that not every rookie storyline ended there, with draft picks Matt Gulbin and Ryan Eckley expected to make their first NFL appearances this fall, giving the Spartans at least a couple of fresh pro footholds to follow once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States New-Look Offense Faces Its First Real Test
Michigan State heads into 2026 with a much different look, and the opener against Toledo will offer the first real glimpse of how quickly the new roster and coaching staff can settle in. The Spartans have spent the offseason reshaping both sides of the ball, but the early attention is centered on an offense that has to establish rhythm fast if this reset is going to feel legitimate.
Alessio Milivojevic is among the players drawing the most interest as the season begins, with the quarterback position carrying plenty of intrigue in a fresh system. Cam Edwards also figures to be part of the conversation right away, especially if Michigan State wants to lean on the ground game and keep things simple in week one while the new pieces sort themselves out. [Read more 🡒]