Michigan State is back in familiar territory heading into Week 5: a road underdog, and not by a little. The Spartans opened as a double-digit dog at Wisconsin, with DraftKings listing them as heavy underdogs in Madison as of Sept. 29.
That number fits the recent pattern. For the third straight week, Michigan State is entering as an underdog, and for the second time in three weeks, the gap is in double figures away from home.
The Spartans were 29-point underdogs against Notre Dame in Week 3, stayed within a touchdown at halftime, then faded late in a 17-point loss. A week later, they were 5.5-point underdogs against Nebraska and got blown out.
Now comes another road test, and another chance for the betting market to say the same thing: Michigan State is in for a long afternoon.
The matchup also brings a little old program history back into focus. Six years ago, when Michigan State was searching for a replacement for Mark Dantonio after his sudden retirement around National Signing Day, Luke Fickell was one of the names tied to the job. There was reported smoke around his hiring, a reported offer, and a rumor that he had agreed before ultimately deciding to stay at Cincinnati.
Spartan fans never forgot it. Mel Tucker ended up taking over after one season at Colorado, but the idea that Fickell had been the likely fit lingered. He later landed at Wisconsin, and the results in Madison have fallen short of expectations, with the Badgers failing to reach a bowl game since 2023.
That sets up a Week 5 meeting with a little extra edge, especially after Wisconsin stunned No. 13 Penn State on the road last week. That win gave the Badgers momentum for the first time in three years, and it’s a big reason Vegas has them as such strong favorites over Michigan State.
Spartan fans, though, have revenge on the mind. And if the recent spread trends keep holding, they’ll at least hope the number once again proves too steep for the Spartans to stay buried.
In Other News...
Michigan State May Have Found A Portal Steal Up Front
Michigan States offensive line has had its share of issues early in the 2026 season, but Trent Fraley has given the Spartans something to build around in the middle. The transfer center has emerged as one of the teams most reliable up-front pieces, and Pro Football Network has graded him as the highest-rated center in college football through the first four weeks. For a unit still searching for consistency, that kind of steadiness matters.
Fraleys rise has also brought national attention with it, including early buzz as a Rimington Trophy front-runner. What makes the start even more notable is the path that got him here, since he arrived after being recognized as the best center in the FCS before making the jump to the FBS level. If Michigan State is going to settle its protection problems, the Spartans may already have found a rare portal addition who looks ready to anchor the line. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Has A Busy Week Fans Will Want To Track
Michigan State is heading into a packed stretch that gives fans plenty to keep an eye on across the athletic department. Football coach Pat Fitzgerald previewed the Spartans' trip to Wisconsin, with kickoff set for Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET, and the buildup comes with the usual fall rhythm of trying to stack one week on top of the next in a conference season that does not leave much room to breathe.
The bigger picture around campus is just as busy, with the homecoming matchup against Illinois now on the calendar for early October and men's tennis already celebrating its Big Ten championship rings. Add in a men's golf team that has put itself near the top of the Windon Memorial leaderboard, and it has the feel of one of those weeks when Michigan State followers need to track more than just the next snap. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Has A Worry It Didnt Need After Nebraska
Michigan State came out of its Big Ten opener with more than just a lopsided loss to Nebraska. The Spartans fell 31-13 to drop to 2-2, and the postgame numbers added another layer to the disappointment when Pro Football Focus released its defensive grades. Among the group, linebacker Jordan Hall drew the highest mark, while defensive tackle Ben Roberts, cornerback Charles Brantley, linebacker Dion Crawford and defensive tackle Mikeshun Beeler also showed up well enough to stand out in a rough afternoon.
The concern now is whether the defense can absorb what happened in Lincoln and move on cleanly. Halls performance was a bright spot, but his exit with an injury leaves Michigan State waiting on another piece of information it did not need this early in conference play. After a game like this, the Spartans are left not only sorting through the loss itself, but also the health questions that can change the outlook for the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]