Michigan State’s 2026 schedule has its headliners - the trip to Notre Dame in Week 3 and Oregon coming to East Lansing on Senior Night in Week 12 - but a few other matchups could tell just as much about where Pat Fitzgerald’s first Spartan team is headed.
Fitzgerald has spent the offseason molding the program around his vision and pushing a hard-nosed identity that he hopes turns into wins. The schedule is manageable overall, but not soft, and that middle ground leaves room for a few games that could shape the Spartans’ season in quieter but meaningful ways.
The first one comes right after the showdown with the Fighting Irish: Sept. 26 at Nebraska. That game opens Big Ten play for both teams, and it brings together two coaches who are known for getting more out of their rosters than most.
Matt Rhule is entering his fourth season with the Cornhuskers, and the question now is whether he finally has a team that can compete in the Big Ten. The bigger test may be whether Nebraska can handle a big-game setting.
For Michigan State, the stakes are obvious. An 0-1 start in league play puts the Spartans in a tough spot right away, especially with Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana standing as the biggest hurdles in the conference picture.
This one should feel like a real war when these teams meet on Sept. 26.
Another game worth circling comes against UCLA, a matchup between two programs that have both gone through major change. New coaches.
New transfers. New systems.
New cultures. It’s a lot to sort through on both sidelines, and both teams should be good enough to reach a bowl game.
Fitzgerald and UCLA coach Bob Chesney both fit the same mold: coaches who squeeze plenty out of what they have. But Chesney may have the edge in talent, especially at quarterback and running back.
This won’t decide the season, but it could matter in the bowl race. Michigan State would also like to head into its Week 9 bye with some momentum before the Michigan rivalry game.
Late in the year, Washington becomes another telling test. The Huskies are expected to spend much of the season as a top-25 team, and they bring a balanced roster that could make noise near the top of the conference. For the Spartans, this is the kind of game that can reveal what still needs to be fixed before the offseason and the transfer portal.
There’s one clear advantage for Michigan State: the game is in East Lansing, not Husky Stadium. That matters. Washington also has a difficult stretch ahead with Indiana and Oregon still on the schedule, so this matchup could carry real weight for both teams if the Spartans are still fighting for bowl eligibility when it arrives.
In Other News...
Michigan State Has A Real Chance To Reset Everything Under Pat Fitzgerald
Michigan State enters 2026 with a different feel around the program, and Pat Fitzgerald brings the kind of reputation that can change the tone quickly. His teams have long been associated with discipline and structure, and the Spartans will lean on a defense that already has some recognizable pieces in Jordan Hall, Kenny Soares Jr. and Charles Brantley while trying to build enough steadiness on the other side of the ball to matter in the Big Ten race.
There is at least a path here to something better than a typical transition year, with Alessio Milivojevic at quarterback and Cam Edwards part of the offensive foundation. The ceiling is not hard to imagine if the pieces settle in, but the real question is whether Fitzgerald can turn that promise into a group capable of hanging around the league's better teams and making Oregon and Washington feel reachable instead of aspirational. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Fitzgerald Era Puts Michigan State's Breakout Candidates In Focus
Michigan States roster enters Pat Fitzgeralds first season with a different kind of spotlight, one that falls as much on the next wave of contributors as it does on the familiar names. The Spartans have pieces in place from both the returning group and the transfer market, with Alessio Milivojevic expected to handle the quarterback job and Cam Edwards in line to be the lead back after arriving from UConn. Around them, the staff is sorting out how the rest of the offense and defense fit together as the new era takes shape.
What makes the upcoming months especially interesting is how many players could be positioned to take a jump if the pieces click early. Receiver Chrishon McCray and linebacker Jordan Hall are among the established contributors who can help steady things, while Anelu Lafaele is one of the names drawing breakout buzz as Michigan State looks for impact beyond the obvious starters. For a program starting fresh under Fitzgerald, the real intrigue may come from which of those candidates turns promise into production once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Dantonios Presence Around Michigan State Says Plenty About This Era
Mark Dantonio has been around Michigan State football enough this offseason to remind people that even in retirement, some voices still carry real weight in East Lansing. The former Spartans coach has been spending time with Pat Fitzgeralds program and recently spoke to the team, a sign that his connection to the school and its football culture remains intact long after his own sideline days ended.
For Fitzgerald, having Dantonio around is more than a ceremonial touchpoint. The relationship between the two is described as respectful and beneficial, with Dantonio offering advice and motivation while backing the current leadership. In a program that has long valued continuity and identity, his presence says plenty about the kind of standards Michigan State still wants around its football operation. [Read more 🡒]