Michigan State football is right around the corner so it’s time to start predicting how the season will shake out for the Spartans.
Michigan State football is under new leadership this season, with Pat Fitzgerald set to take over as the next head coach. He will take over a program looking to get back on the winning side, with the Spartans in the midst of a four-year bowl drought. Can he get the job done and get the Spartans back to a bowl game this season? I have offered my thoughts on that in our game-by-game predictions segment on Spartans Wire.
We continue on with the next of my game-by-game predictions for each of the matchups on the Spartans’ 2026 schedule. Each morning a new prediction will be released following Michigan State’s schedule. Next up is the Spartans’ first Big Ten game of the season against Nebraska…
Matchup Breakdown
Opponent: Nebraska
Date: September 26, 2026
Location: Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, Mich.)
Fun Fact About This Matchup
Nebraska has historically dominated the Spartans with a 10-4 record, but since joining the Big Ten the Cornhuskers only have a one-game edge in the series (5-4). Notably, Michigan State is 3-1 against Nebraska in home matchups since the Cornhuskers joined the league, with each of those games being decided by an average margin of 3.75 points per game.
Where Things Stand Entering Matchup
MSU predicted record: 2-1 (0-0 in Big Ten)
Michigan State returns home for its Big Ten opener against the Cornhuskers looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season a week prior at Notre Dame. The Spartans hung with the Fighting Irish for three quarters before loosing grip of the rope in a double-digit defeat.
Nebraska comes to Spartan Stadium looking to remain unbeaten after handling business against lower-tier competition in their three non-conference matchups (Ohio, Bowling Green and North Dakota). This will be Nebraska’s first road game of the season and first true test for the 3-0 Cornhuskers.
Prediction
Prediction: Michigan State wins 27-24
This could go down as a program defining game for the Spartans under Fitzgerald. Not that this will be the biggest win of his tenure with the Spartans but a win that shows Michigan State is back heading in the right direction.
With only a few weeks before the season begins, this is considered a toss-up in my mind and I’ll lean towards the home team getting the win. Michigan State opens Big Ten play with a win, and is halfway to reaching bowl eligibility as we move into October.
Next Up
Next on the game-by-game predictions list is a road Big Ten game at Wisconsin. That prediction will be released tomorrow.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State football 2026 game-by-game predictions: Nebraska