Pat Fitzgerald didn’t let Michigan State’s upset of Michigan become a finish line.
A few hours of celebration were fine. Then the focus snapped right back to Washington, because at 3-6, the Spartans still have plenty left to chase this season.
Fitzgerald knows it, and he’s acting like it. If he wants an extra game on the schedule, he needs the whole place pulling in the same direction.
So he went to work in East Lansing.
Fitzgerald spent time at local bars this week, doing exactly what he said he would before the Michigan game: helping recruit students and fans to show up for Saturday’s game against the Huskies. He handed out free tickets and tried to build some real momentum around a 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff at Spartan Stadium.
“Last night was AWESOME! See you Saturday.
Let’s get Spartan Stadium rocking again! Go Green!
pic.twitter.com/4SCvuGsoax
- Pat Fitzgerald (@coachfitz51) November 12, 2026”
That kind of effort is the point. Michigan State needs more than one big win to shift the mood around the program, and Fitzgerald is putting in the kind of face-to-face work that usually gets noticed. He’s not just talking about buy-in - he’s out there trying to create it.
Since arriving on the job less than a year ago, Fitzgerald has made it clear that the fanbase matters to him, and that getting students, alumni and everyone else aligned is part of the rebuild. He’s been blunt about wanting the program, and the people around it, moving in the same direction.
And there have already been signs that the team is responding.
After six straight losses, the Spartans were still showing fight. They rallied against Illinois and pushed the Illini to overtime, where they had a chance to win on a 2-point conversion before Bret Bielema’s team held on. Then they had Northwestern on the ropes before letting a ranked win slip away in the final minutes.
The bye week came at the right time. Fitzgerald got two full weeks to prepare for Michigan, and the result suggested the progress was real. The win over the Wolverines was the first major payoff, but not the last thing he’s trying to build.
Now comes the next push: keep the energy up, keep the students engaged and keep selling the idea that beating Michigan wasn’t the end of the story.
That’s why Fitzgerald was back out in the streets of East Lansing, working the room and trying to get people locked in for Washington. He’s already delivered one massive moment. Now he’s trying to make sure the place stays alive for the next one.
In Other News...
FAA Grounding Suddenly Puts One Michigan Team In A Tough Spot
The Federal Aviation Administrations grounding of flights across the U.S. has created an unexpected wrinkle for several Michigan sports teams, but Michigan State football is the one suddenly facing the most uncertainty. With Washington still in Seattle, the Spartans upcoming game against the Huskies is now in doubt, turning what should have been a routine week of preparation into a travel problem with real scheduling implications.
Around the state, other teams have already managed to get where they need to be or are sitting tight without immediate travel concerns, including the University of Michigan football and basketball teams, the Detroit Lions, Pistons and Red Wings. For Michigan State, though, the situation is more precarious because the opponents departure remains unresolved, leaving the Spartans waiting to see whether the matchup can stay on track. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Lets Another Big Ten Title Slip Away Late
Michigan State came within a whisker of another Big Ten title before Purdue turned the championship game into a late heartbreak. The No. 3 Spartans battled back from deficits to force overtime, showing the same resilience that carried them through the tournament, but Purdue had the final answer in a 4-3 win that ended on Jaiden Andersons golden goal in the 97th minute.
Grace Millers nine saves helped keep Purdue alive through the pressure, and the Boilermakers made the most of their chances when it mattered most. Even in defeat, Michigan State had two players recognized for their work over the weekend, with Bella Najera and Renee Watson earning spots on the All-Tournament Team. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Blowout Raised A Bigger Question Fans Still Feel
Michigan States 106-72 rout of Northern Iowa had the kind of offensive pop that can make a November box score look like a statement. The Spartans buried a program-record 18 three-pointers, and freshman Jasiah Jervis added another encouraging sign for the rotation with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, giving the staff a glimpse of how much scoring punch this roster can generate when the shots are falling.
Still, the blowout did not settle the most obvious question hanging over the team. The center spot remains unsettled, with Anton Bonke, Ethan Taylor and McCulloch all getting run but none separating as the clear answer yet. For a team that just flashed so much perimeter firepower, the next layer of growth may depend on whether Michigan State can find a dependable presence in the middle before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]