Michigan State’s 2026 Football Schedule: A New Era Begins Under Pat Fitzgerald
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The calendar is set, and the Pat Fitzgerald era in East Lansing now has its roadmap. The Big Ten officially unveiled Michigan State’s 2026 football schedule, and it’s a slate that offers a little bit of everything: regional rivalries, coast-to-coast conference clashes, and a nonconference trip to South Bend that will test the Spartans early.
For Fitzgerald, who steps into the head coaching role looking to stabilize and reinvigorate the program, the 2026 schedule lays out a compelling challenge-one that will require this team to grow up fast and find its identity quickly.
Nonconference Tune-Up or Trap?
Michigan State opens the season with back-to-back home games against Toledo (Sept. 5) and Eastern Michigan (Sept. 12).
These matchups offer a valuable opportunity to establish rhythm and evaluate personnel before the intensity ramps up. But don’t mistake them for freebies-Toledo has a history of punching above its weight, and Eastern Michigan, a familiar in-state foe, always brings extra juice to this matchup.
Then comes the real early-season test: a Sept. 19 road trip to Notre Dame. Playing in South Bend is never easy, and for a first-year head coach still building cohesion, this one looms large. It’s the kind of game that can reveal a lot-not just about talent, but about toughness, discipline, and how well this team has bought into Fitzgerald’s system.
Big Ten Gauntlet Begins
The Spartans jump into conference play on Sept. 26 with a home game against Nebraska. It’s a manageable start, but things escalate quickly. A road trip to Wisconsin follows on Oct. 3, and while Camp Randall is always a tough place to play, it’s even more daunting when you’re still figuring out your offensive identity.
October continues with a pair of home games-Illinois (Oct. 10) and Northwestern (Oct. 17).
That Northwestern matchup will carry extra weight, as Fitzgerald faces his former team for the first time. Expect plenty of emotion on both sidelines.
Then it’s off to the West Coast for an Oct. 24 showdown at UCLA. With the expanded Big Ten, trips like this are the new normal, but they still present logistical and competitive challenges. By this point in the season, fatigue and depth start to matter more-and this trip could be a measuring stick for how well the Spartans are holding up.
Rivalry Week Reshuffled
After a Halloween bye week, Michigan State heads to Ann Arbor on Nov. 7 for the annual rivalry clash with Michigan. The game has been pushed back a week this season, but the stakes remain sky-high.
No matter the records, this one always matters. For Fitzgerald, a win here could fast-track credibility with the fan base and on the recruiting trail.
West Coast Powerhouses Come to Town
November brings two marquee home games that will test Michigan State’s mettle. Washington comes to East Lansing on Nov. 14, followed by Oregon on Nov.
- Both programs have been national contenders in recent years, and both bring explosive offenses that will challenge the Spartans’ defensive structure.
These late-season matchups could have postseason implications, and they’ll also give Spartan Stadium a chance to showcase its atmosphere against top-tier competition. If Fitzgerald’s squad is still in the hunt for something meaningful, these two weeks could be pivotal.
Season Finale on the East Coast
The regular season wraps up on Nov. 28 with a trip to Rutgers. On paper, it might not be the most glamorous way to end the year, but road games in late November are rarely easy. Depending on how the season unfolds, this one could be about bowl positioning-or even more.
The Full 2026 Michigan State Football Schedule:
- Sept. 5 - vs. Toledo
- Sept. 12 - vs. Eastern Michigan
- Sept. 19 - at Notre Dame
- Sept. 26 - vs.
Nebraska
- Oct. 3 - at Wisconsin
- Oct. 10 - vs. Illinois
- Oct. 17 - vs. Northwestern
- Oct. 24 - at UCLA
- **Oct.
31** - BYE
- Nov. 7 - at Michigan
- Nov. 14 - vs. Washington
- Nov. 21 - vs. Oregon
- Nov. 28 - at Rutgers
This schedule is no cakewalk, but it’s also an opportunity. For a program looking to reestablish itself in the Big Ten hierarchy, 2026 is a chance to make a statement. From the early-season battle in South Bend to the November gauntlet of Michigan, Washington, and Oregon, the Spartans will have every chance to prove they belong in the national conversation again.
The stage is set. Now it’s time to see what Fitzgerald and his Spartans can do with it.