Pat Fitzgerald is walking into Michigan State with plenty of heavy lifting ahead of him, but the schedule did the Spartans a few favors.
That matters in a season where the margins already look thin. Michigan State has won more than five games only once in the last six seasons, and Fitzgerald inherits a roster that lost more than 40 players to the transfer portal.
The rebuild is real, and it’s steep. Still, when the Big Ten slate was sorted out, the Spartans caught a break.
The headline challenge is obvious. Michigan State has to deal with two Top-5 opponents, including a home game against No.
2 Oregon and a road trip to No. 4 Notre Dame.
That is a rough draw by any standard. But in a conference that also includes No.
1 Ohio State and No. 2 Oregon, the Spartans could have landed in an even harsher spot.
Instead, Michigan State avoids five Big Ten teams that opened in the AP Top 25 preseason poll: No. 1 Ohio State, No.
6 Indiana, No. 15 USC, No.
18 Penn State and No. 22 Iowa.
The Spartans’ ranked conference opponents are limited to No. 2 Oregon, No.
16 Michigan and No. 17 Washington.
Add Notre Dame to the mix, and Michigan State’s four preseason Top 25 opponents are tied for one of the lower totals in the Big Ten.
A few other league teams got even lighter draws. Illinois, Maryland, Iowa, Penn State and UCLA will each face just three preseason Top 25 opponents. Michigan State sits in the next tier with Wisconsin, Indiana, Oregon and Rutgers, all of whom will play four.
The middle of the conference schedule gets a lot busier from there. Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Washington, USC and Purdue are each slated to meet five Top 25 teams, while Michigan and Ohio State have the toughest road of all with six.
So while the Spartans are still staring at a brutal climb, the path in front of Fitzgerald is not as punishing as it could have been. In a Big Ten that looks loaded from top to bottom, Michigan State may have enough schedule help to make some noise if it can take advantage.
In Other News...
Michigan State Faces An Awkward Late Roster Question Before Camp
A new age-based NCAA eligibility system has created a late-summer wrinkle across college football, but Michigan State is not lining up to use it. The Spartans have no plans to add players under the rule, in part because their former seniors have already moved on to NFL contracts and waived any remaining eligibility, leaving the roster picture largely settled as camp approaches.
Still, the broader uncertainty has put some teams in an unusual spot, and Michigan State is aware of how messy a last-minute addition could be. Pat Fitzgerald acknowledged the situation is unique and pointed out that anyone arriving late would have a difficult time getting up to speed with the rest of the group, which is one more reason the Spartans appear prepared to move forward with what they have. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States 2026 Offense Comes Down To One Lingering Concern
Michigan States offensive outlook for 2026 starts with continuity, even after a roster shuffle that leaves the unit slightly smaller than it was a year ago. The Spartans are bringing back 26 players on offense and adding 24 more through transfers and high school recruits, with Alessio Milivojevic expected to return as the starting quarterback. New arrivals are also projected to help fortify the offensive line and inject fresh options into the backfield, which points to a run game that could take a step forward.
The concern comes a little farther out on the depth chart, where the picture is less settled. Tight end and wide receiver both carry some questions after key departures from the 2025 group, and those spots will matter more if the Spartans want the passing game to match the rest of the offense. There is enough talent coming in to keep the ceiling intact, but those two rooms remain the lingering issue as Michigan State tries to build a cleaner, more balanced attack for 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Has 3 Early Reasons To Ignore That Big Ten Projection
Michigan States mens soccer program got a small but notable preseason boost when Miles Merritt, Brandon Munson and Peter Soudan were all named to the 2026 Big Ten Players to Watch List by the conference office. Its the kind of recognition that gives the Spartans some early validation even as the leagues preseason poll slotted them 10th, far behind Washington at No. 1.
The list also points to why Michigan State might not be eager to buy into that projection. Merritt, Munson and Soudan each bring a different kind of value to a roster trying to push upward, and the Spartans will get their first chance to show where they really stand when they open the season against UAlbany. Preseason labels only go so far, but Michigan State has enough on its side to make the conversation interesting early. [Read more 🡒]