Pat Fitzgerald’s first season at Michigan State doesn’t come with many easy Sundays in the aftermath. The 2026 schedule looks like a grind, and that’s why one game in particular stands out: Northwestern.
This is the kind of matchup that can tell you a lot about whether the Spartans are building something real or just treading water. Michigan State isn’t expected to turn into a Big Ten contender overnight under Fitzgerald, but games against comparable teams will go a long way toward defining the year.
CBS Sports college football analyst Brad Crawford pointed to the Northwestern game as Michigan State’s biggest trap-game spot, and the reason is simple: the opponent is on the same level, the stakes are heavy, and one slip can sink a season fast.
“Wins will come at a premium for the Spartans this season, so Michigan State needs its best execution in contests where rosters are at least comparable,” Crawford wrote.
That’s the challenge in plain terms. Michigan State isn’t lining up against the heavyweights here.
This isn’t Ohio State, Oregon or Michigan, where the Spartans would need something wild to break their way. Northwestern is the kind of team Michigan State has to handle if Fitzgerald’s debut season is going to mean anything.
The timing could make it even more tense. If the Spartans stumble early in Big Ten play, this one could arrive with the season already wobbling.
“There’s a chance Pat Fitzgerald could be facing an 0-4 hole to start Big Ten play at his new program unless returning Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic finds an early rhythm prior to this one against the Wildcats,” Crawford wrote.
That puts a spotlight on Milivojevic. If he gets comfortable quickly, Michigan State has a much better chance to generate the offense needed in these toss-up games. If he doesn’t, even a fairly even matchup can turn into a problem.
Northwestern doesn’t need to overwhelm the Spartans to make this dangerous. It just needs to keep the game tight, force Michigan State into stressful late-game snaps and make execution matter. For a team trying to build confidence, that can be enough.
And that’s why this game carries so much weight. Michigan State can’t afford to shrug it off as just another mid-tier Big Ten date. In a season like this, confidence has to be earned in games like Northwestern.
“The loser of this game is essentially grasping at straws in the postseason picture and could be looking down the barrel of a disappointing campaign,” Crawford wrote.
For the Spartans, that’s the real test. Not just whether they compete, but whether they can turn a game like this into a win and start proving Fitzgerald’s first team can stack results instead of just hanging around.
In Other News...
Michigan State's Tight End Battle Could Shape The Entire Offense
Michigan States tight end room is one of the more intriguing spots on the roster this month, with fall camp offering a first real look at how the Spartans will replace the production and presence left behind by Jack Velling and Michael Masunas. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan has pointed to a group still in evaluation mode, but it is already clear that the position will not be a one-man job. Second-year player Jayden Savoury has drawn attention for the strides he has made, while Brennan Parachek, Carson Gulker, Kai Rios and Eddie Whiting all bring different traits that could factor into the season ahead.
Savourys development matters because the Spartans need more than just a pass-catching option at tight end. Sheridan has emphasized the way the group is growing, and Savourys improved blocking and physicality have given the offense a more complete look in camp. With several players still vying for roles, how Michigan State sorts out that room may end up influencing not just who gets on the field, but how the entire offense is built around the position. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States 2027 Class Is Putting Pat Fitzgerald Under Early Pressure
Pat Fitzgerald is already looking ahead to Michigan States 2027 recruiting class, and the early shape of it suggests there is work still to do before it can be considered truly complete. The group has 15 commits spread across both sides of the ball, with four-star offensive lineman Caleb Johnson and three-star quarterback Eli Stumpf among the headliners, giving the Spartans at least a foundation to build on.
Even so, the broader picture leaves room for concern. According to 247Sports, Michigan States class sits at No. 50 nationally and No. 17 in the Big Ten, and the commit count remains one of the lowest in the league. For a program trying to keep pace in a crowded conference race, that puts added pressure on Fitzgerald and his staff to turn early interest into something much stronger before signing day arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Still Has One Big Receiver Question Before The Opener
Michigan States wide receiver picture is still taking shape as training camp winds on, with Chrishon McCray and Charles Taplin among the players who have emerged in the competition for starting roles. The Spartans have made it clear this is not a one-man answer at the position anyway, with the staff expecting multiple receivers to matter as the offense settles in for the season.
Rodney Bullard Jr. remains part of that mix, which is why the room still carries a little extra suspense heading toward the opener. His status is still unresolved, and the timing matters because Michigan State is trying to sort out its top options before the games start counting, leaving one of the rosters most important questions hanging over the final weeks of camp. [Read more 🡒]