Michigan State’s season projection has the Spartans ending up right on the postseason bubble, and that’s where the Cactus Bowl comes into focus.
With a 6-6 finish on the table, Michigan State is being slotted into a December 26 matchup at Mountain American Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., against Arizona State. The forecast would send the Spartans to their first bowl game in five years, a long-awaited return after a four-year bowl drought under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
The bowl picture is still crowded. Michigan State could technically land in a few places if it reaches six wins, including the Pinstripe Bowl, Duke’s Mayo Bowl and Las Vegas Bowl. But the projection here settles on the Cactus Bowl, with the reasoning that Michigan State’s more recent bowl trip was the Pinstripe Bowl, while the Duke’s Mayo Bowl and Las Vegas Bowl usually go to teams with at least seven wins.
Arizona State, according to CBS Sports’ latest bowl projections, is the expected opponent. It’s a matchup that would bring together two programs with strong fan followings, and with the game being played in the Sun Devils’ backyard, the stadium figure is expected to be a lively one.
Michigan State is projected to enter the bowl at 6-6 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten play. The Spartans are coming off back-to-back losses in this prediction, with depth issues late in the season cited as part of the reason. Even so, the season goal was to get back to the postseason, and that box gets checked here.
The pick for the game itself is Michigan State by a narrow margin, 37-34. The Spartans are expected to treat the bowl return as a chance to finish strong, and the forecast has them doing just that, closing the year at 7-6.
In Other News...
Michigan State Still Has A Receiver Battle Taking Shape Under Fitzgerald
Pat Fitzgeralds arrival has put a fresh spotlight on Michigan States wide receiver room, and Courtney Hawkins is seeing a group that seems eager to make an impression early in the 2026 transition. With the Spartans moving through fall camp, Hawkins said the position group has been working through the usual early-season mix of competition and refinement, with an emphasis on sharper route running and cleaner technique as players try to separate themselves.
Hawkins also pointed to the way individual receivers are progressing, which is exactly what this stage of camp is supposed to reveal. The challenge now is turning that energy into a clearer hierarchy, and in a room that is still taking shape under a new head coach, every rep matters as Michigan State tries to sort out who will be ready when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Receivers Face Mounting Pressure Around Chrishon McCray
Montorie Fosters latest NFL grind is playing out on HBOs Hard Knocks, where the former Michigan State receiver is trying to carve out a roster spot with the Seahawks after already spending time on their practice squad and earning a Super Bowl ring along the way. For Spartans fans, it is another reminder of how much turnover this program has absorbed at receiver, with a familiar name from a previous era now fighting for his next opportunity on a bigger stage.
Back in East Lansing, the depth chart looks very different under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and the departures have left Chrishon McCray as the most experienced returning wideout. That puts added pressure on the room to develop quickly, because Michigan State does not just need bodies at the position - it needs someone to emerge as a reliable anchor while the rest of the rotation takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Faces A Serious Question On Its Offensive Line
Michigan States offensive line picture suddenly comes with an off-field cloud, as projected starting guard Nick Sharpe is being looked at by Bath Township police after a sexual assault allegation from a woman reportedly visiting from Texas. The investigation is still in its early stages, but it has placed one of the Spartans expected front-line pieces under immediate scrutiny at a position group that is supposed to provide stability.
Sharpe has denied the allegation and said the encounter was consensual, while coach Pat Fitzgerald has not made any decision on his status as the matter unfolds. For a team trying to settle its line and build momentum, the uncertainty is the point now, and it leaves Michigan State waiting on a process that could affect both the depth chart and the tone around camp. [Read more 🡒]