Michigan State football is trying to turn the page again, and this time the hope is that Pat Fitzgerald can bring back the edge that defined the Mark Dantonio years. After the end of the Mel Tucker era and what the source describes as the vanilla Jonathan Smith era, the Spartans are looking for a sharper identity - and some of the old upset magic.
That kind of breakthrough is exactly what makes the 2026 schedule so interesting. Michigan State has a few spots where it can play spoiler, and there are three games that stand out as the most realistic upset chances.
The first comes on Oct. 10 against Illinois.
The Fighting Illini will have a familiar face at quarterback in Katin Houser, who is entering his first season with Illinois and his last as a college football quarterback. The expectation level will be high, and Illinois is projected to be one of the Big Ten’s secondary contenders. Michigan State is expected to be the underdog, but this is the kind of game that could put the Spartans in the spotlight if it lands in East Lansing against a ranked opponent.
It may not qualify as a jaw-dropper, but it would still matter. Fitzgerald is expected to have a few tricks up his sleeve, and with his history against Bret Bielema, this one feels like a spot where Michigan State could get the edge.
The biggest-name swing on the schedule comes Nov. 7 at Michigan.
That trip to Ann Arbor has been a rough one for Michigan State lately. The Spartans haven’t won there since 2020, and that game came in an empty stadium.
The last time Michigan State won at the Big House with a sellout crowd in attendance was 2017. That’s a long drought, and it makes this one a tall order even before you get to the rivalry pressure.
Still, the source sees a path. Michigan State will have a new coach, and the quarterback situation in Ann Arbor may be shakier than people think.
Bryce Underwood is described as a talented quarterback, but the question is how long of a leash he’ll get from Kyle Whittingham. Rivalry games have a way of ignoring the script, and the source expects Michigan to be a little overrated.
Then there’s Washington on Nov. 14 in East Lansing.
The Huskies nearly lost Demond Williams Jr. to the transfer portal, but he recommitted to Jedd Fisch, giving Washington one of the best quarterbacks in the country heading into the season. Even so, the trip to East Lansing opens the door for Michigan State.
If the Spartans can knock off Michigan the week before, that momentum could carry straight into this matchup. Washington is a good team, but the source calls this a very winnable game for Michigan State and says it would be surprising if the Spartans didn’t pull it off.
In Other News...
UCF May Have A Real Answer In Its Center Battle
UCFs center competition has a familiar name in the mix for anyone who followed Michigan States offensive line over the last couple of seasons. Cooper Terpstra arrives with some real interior experience, including work at center and a lone start there, which gives the Knights a possible answer at a spot where continuity matters as much as talent. For a program trying to sort out its 2026 roster, that kind of background can separate a placeholder from someone who can handle the job from day one.
Terpstras path also gives Michigan State fans a reason to keep one eye on Orlando, because the Spartans saw enough of him to know he can function in the middle of the line. UCF is also bringing along defensive tackle Trenton Turner, a former high school state champion and two-sport athlete who is still early in his college career and expected to learn behind more established linemen. The Knights are clearly building depth on both sides of the line, but the more immediate question is whether Terpstras experience translates into the kind of steady center play that can settle an offense. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Finally Has A Real Jeremy Fears Relief Watch
Kaleb Glenn has been working his way back into Michigan States basketball picture this summer, and the Moneyball Pro-Am has offered the first real public look at where he stands after last Junes patellar tendon injury. Glenn has looked physically stronger than before the setback and has used the run as part of his rehab, a useful sign for a Spartans team that needs more help creating offense beyond its primary options.
The bigger question is how quickly Glenn can turn that strength into full trust in his body, because the return of a versatile scorer would matter for a Michigan State offense that lacked secondary creators last season. Glenn still feels like he is regaining that last bit of rhythm, but he expects to be ready by the start of the season in late October, which would give the Spartans a welcome extra layer when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Frankie Fidler Just Gave Michigan State Fans A Reason To Watch Closely
Frankie Fidlers first NBA Summer League game offered a little something for Michigan State fans to track, even if it came in a Portland Trail Blazers uniform. The former Spartans forward, who had been playing in Latvia before returning to the U.S. for summer action, made his debut look worthwhile by getting involved on both ends and showing the kind of activity that can catch a coachs eye in a short stint.
He finished as Portlands second-leading scorer in an 81-79 loss to the Phoenix Suns, and the line was encouraging enough to suggest theres more to watch here than just a one-game cameo. The next step is the part that will matter most, because the flashes were there, but the overall efficiency still leaves room for him to prove he can turn a promising start into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]