Michigan State’s first win of the 2026 season is already in the books, a 30-20 opening-night result over Toledo that kicked off the Pat Fitzgerald era last Friday. But while Spartan fans were locked in on that one, plenty of the other teams on MSU’s schedule were busy putting their own Week 1 tape on the table.
And the weekend gave Michigan State a few reasons to feel a little better about what’s ahead.
The biggest takeaway: more of the Spartans’ future opponents looked vulnerable than dominant. A handful of teams on the schedule handled business, sure, but several others left the door open in ways that were hard to ignore.
Eastern Michigan, which visits on Sept. 12, dropped a 27-21 decision to San Jose State. The Eagles were in control for much of the game before their offense went quiet late, and San Jose State used a 300-yard passing day to flip the result. EMU also gave up nearly 4 yards per carry, though it did find some success on the ground itself at 4.2 yards per rush.
Notre Dame, which hosts MSU on Sept. 19, rolled past Wisconsin 41-13, but the final margin came with some real smoke and mirrors. The Irish averaged only 3.5 yards per carry and didn’t fully separate until the second half, when they put up 27 unanswered points.
That stretch included a pick-six and a late bubble-screen touchdown that featured poor tackling, plus one earlier score that came after a botched kickoff. The score made it look more lopsided than it was for three quarters, even if Notre Dame still looks like a strong team.
Nebraska, set to meet the Spartans on Sept. 26, beat Ohio 49-21 after taking a while to pull away. Once the Huskers did, the floodgates opened. They finished with 523 total yards, and true freshman Jamal Rule was a big part of that, piling up 169 yards and three touchdowns on his own.
Wisconsin, which comes to East Lansing on Oct. 3, lost that Notre Dame game 41-13, but the Badgers weren’t completely out of it for most of the night. Their offense was mostly limited to “dink and dunk,” and the Irish defense had them in a bind for long stretches.
Even so, Wisconsin’s defense held up for a good while and put pressure on CJ Carr for much of the first 40 minutes. The Badgers didn’t look bad so much as a little overmatched.
Illinois, MSU’s Oct. 10 opponent, beat UAB 42-23, though the numbers behind the final score were less convincing. Illinois was actually outgained 413-332 and lost the time-of-possession battle by more than 20 minutes.
Still, Katin Houser made the passing game efficient, going 13-for-17 with three touchdowns, and a defensive pick-six helped cover the rest. If they had thrown it more, the game might have looked better - but the scoreboard was doing some heavy lifting.
Northwestern, which visits on Oct. 17, got past South Dakota State 34-18. That covered the spread, but only barely, as a 12.5-point favorite by just four. Against an FCS opponent, that’s not exactly a loud statement.
UCLA, which hosts MSU on Oct. 24, beat Cal 45-24 after things stayed close deep into the third quarter. The Bruins were still trailing by four before two fourth-quarter Cal turnovers turned into touchdowns and blew the game open late.
Michigan, which hosts the Spartans on Nov. 7, “beat” Western Michigan 13-12 in one of the stranger results on the slate. The Wolverines didn’t score an offensive touchdown from 9:40 left in the first quarter until the final play of the game, and they needed a 47-yard miracle throw just to escape.
Otherwise, it would have been a 12-7 home loss to WMU. The run game was rough, Bryce Underwood’s quarterback play looked worse than it did in 2025, and the offense never got on track.
The one bright spot: Michigan’s defensive front looked better than expected given the turnover there.
Washington, which hosts MSU on Nov. 14, beat Washington State 24-10, but the offense did not make life easy on itself. Ryan Walters’ defense carried the day, and the Huskies needed every bit of Demond Williams Jr.’s 268 passing yards just to, in ESPN’s words, “survive offensive struggles.”
Oregon, which hosts the Spartans on Nov. 20, beat Boise State 34-27 after a messy start. The Ducks were flagged 10 times and trailed by 10 in the first half before Dante Moore took over with 378 passing yards and three touchdowns, including a late 62-yard score that finally put the game away. For long stretches in the second half, it looked like an upset might be brewing.
Rutgers, which closes the regular season at MSU on Nov. 28, suffered the ugliest result of the bunch, losing 37-21 to UMass as a 29.5-point favorite. The Scarlet Knights turned it over four times and converted just 3 of 11 third downs in what was, by any standard, a disaster.
So the early read on Michigan State’s schedule is pretty clear: a lot of the names on it came out of Week 1 looking more beatable than expected. Illinois, Michigan, Washington and Rutgers all looked like teams the Spartans can absolutely attack.
Oregon and Notre Dame had their shaky moments too, even if that probably won’t change much. Wisconsin was the one opponent that really seemed to come out looking better than expected - provided it can stop beating itself.
In Other News...
Michigan State Found A New Edge Fans Noticed Against Toledo
Michigan State did not need a perfect offensive afternoon to handle Toledo, and that was a big part of the appeal in the 30-20 win. The Spartans leaned on special teams in a way fans could feel, with transfer kicker Liam Boyd stepping into his debut and immediately becoming a difference-maker. His five field goals gave the game a steadier rhythm and added points whenever drives stalled, while the rest of the kicking operation helped turn a close opener into a more controlled result.
Boyds impact stood out even more because it came with a personal best and a program mark in his first game, capped by a 51-yard kick that showed plenty of range. Michigan State also got useful work from other special teams pieces, and coach Pat Fitzgerald pointed to the groups aggressive mindset afterward. For a team still sorting out its identity, the Spartans found an edge in a phase of the game that does not always decide headlines, but can shape them just the same. [Read more 🡒]
Young Spartans Already Put Michigan State's Depth Chart On Notice
Michigan State used a lot of bodies in its Week 1 win over Toledo, and the group that stood out most may have been the younger one. The Spartans played 54 players in all, giving first- and second-year contributors a real chance to show where they fit as the season takes shape. That included Marvis Parrish at running back, Jayden Savoury at tight end, Bryson Williams at receiver, and a handful of young defenders such as Derrick Simmons, Cal Thrush, DiMari Malone and Jonathan Granby.
For a program still sorting out its rotation, that kind of early usage matters because it offers an immediate glimpse at who can handle more than just developmental reps. The snaps were spread around, but the depth chart never really feels settled in September, and Michigan State now has more film on several young Spartans who made themselves part of the conversation right away. What happens next with those roles will be worth watching as the competition inside the roster begins to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Women Have A Real Chance To Climb This Week
Michigan States womens golf team gave itself a workable starting point at the Folds of Honor Collegiate, opening at American Dunes Golf Club with a round that left the Spartans in the middle of the pack and within striking distance. Kansas set the early pace at 4-under par, but the first round did not produce separation across much of the leaderboard, which keeps plenty of teams in play as the event moves on.
The Spartans were steadied by sophomore Sarisa Pojanalai and senior Keeley Marx, who matched rounds of 1-over par 73 to give Michigan State a pair of reliable scores. In a tournament where one clean round can change the picture quickly, that kind of balanced start gives the Spartans a chance to keep climbing if the rest of the lineup can follow suit. [Read more 🡒]