The Pat Fitzgerald era at Michigan State isn’t going to begin with an easy schedule.
The Spartans’ 2026 slate features an interesting non-conference schedule, several winnable Big Ten games and a brutal November stretch that could determine whether Michigan State takes a major step forward in Fitzgerald’s first season.
Michigan State will play seven games at Spartan Stadium and five on the road, with trips to Notre Dame, Wisconsin, UCLA, Michigan and Rutgers. The Spartans also get some of their toughest Big Ten opponents at home, including Nebraska, Illinois, Washington and Oregon.
For a program coming off a 4-8 season, the schedule gives Michigan State opportunities to improve quickly. It also leaves very little room for error.
September: A Chance to Start Fast
Michigan State begins its season Friday, Sept. 4 against Toledo at Spartan Stadium.
As we’ve already talked about, this is a good opening test for the Spartans. Toledo has consistently been one of the better programs in the MAC, meaning Michigan State should be challenged without immediately being thrown into Big Ten play.
The game will kick off at 8 p.m. on FS1, giving Fitzgerald a Friday night home game for his Michigan State debut.
One week later, Michigan State stays home to face Eastern Michigan at 3:30 p.m.
Those first two games are important. If Michigan State wants to get back to a bowl game and show immediate improvement, starting 2-0 would go a long way.
Then comes the first major test.
Notre Dame Will Show Where Michigan State Stands
Michigan State travels to South Bend on Sept. 19 for a 7:30 p.m. matchup against Notre Dame on NBC and Peacock.
The return of the Michigan State-Notre Dame rivalry is one of the most exciting parts of the schedule.
It will also give us an early measuring stick for Fitzgerald’s team.
Nobody should expect Michigan State’s entire season to be determined by what happens in South Bend. But if the Spartans can go on the road and compete with Notre Dame, it could be an early sign that this team is moving in the right direction.
Even entering Big Ten play at 2-1 would put Michigan State in a solid position.
Nebraska Starts the Big Ten Schedule
Conference play begins Sept. 26 when Nebraska comes to East Lansing.
This could quietly become one of the most important games on Michigan State’s schedule.
The Spartans don’t want to begin Big Ten play chasing wins. Getting Nebraska at home gives MSU an opportunity to start conference play on the right foot before traveling to Wisconsin.
Michigan State then heads to Madison on Oct. 3 to face Wisconsin.
Playing at Camp Randall is never an easy road trip, but this is another game that could tell us a lot about where the Spartans fit in the Big Ten.
Two Straight at Spartan Stadium
Michigan State returns home for an important two-game stretch against Illinois on Oct. 10 and Northwestern on Oct. 17. Illinois will serve as Michigan State’s Homecoming game.
These are the types of games Michigan State needs to win if it wants to get back into the postseason.
The Spartans aren’t entering 2026 with expectations of immediately winning the Big Ten. Progress should be measured by whether MSU can consistently win games against the middle of its conference schedule instead of letting winnable opportunities slip away.
Illinois and Northwestern will be a big part of that.
A Long Trip to UCLA
Michigan State’s final game before its bye comes Oct. 24 at UCLA.
The trip to Pasadena presents a completely different challenge. It’s a cross-country road game coming after three straight Big Ten matchups, and Michigan State will need to avoid stumbling right before its week off.
After UCLA, the Spartans finally get their bye on Oct. 31.
And it comes at the perfect time.
Because November gets difficult quickly.
Michigan Starts a Brutal November
Coming out of the bye, Michigan State heads to Ann Arbor on Nov. 7 to face Michigan.
No matter what either team’s record looks like, this will be one of the biggest games on Michigan State’s schedule.
It will also be Fitzgerald’s first taste of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry as the Spartans’ head coach.
Having the bye immediately before the game gives Michigan State extra time to prepare, something that could be extremely valuable heading into the Big House.
But Michigan is only the beginning of MSU’s late-season challenge.
Washington and Oregon Come to East Lansing
After Michigan, the Spartans return home to face Washington on Nov. 14.
Then comes one of the biggest home games on Michigan State’s entire schedule.
Oregon visits Spartan Stadium on Friday, Nov. 20 for an 8 p.m. kickoff on FOX.
A Friday night game against Oregon in late November should provide one of the best atmospheres East Lansing sees all season.
It’s also a massive challenge.
Michigan State will go from playing at Michigan to Washington and then Oregon in three consecutive weeks. That’s easily the toughest stretch of the Spartans’ schedule and could determine whether they’re fighting for something meaningful heading into the final weekend.
Rutgers Closes the Regular Season
Michigan State finishes the regular season Nov. 28 at Rutgers.
Depending on how the first 11 games go, this matchup could have major importance.
If Michigan State enters the finale sitting at five wins, Rutgers could essentially become a bowl play-in game. If the Spartans have already secured bowl eligibility, it becomes an opportunity to improve their postseason position and finish Fitzgerald’s first regular season with momentum.
Either way, ending the year on the road after the Michigan-Washington-Oregon stretch won’t be easy.
Michigan State’s Full 2026 Schedule
- Sept. 4: vs. Toledo — 8 p.m.
- Sept. 12: vs. Eastern Michigan — 3:30 p.m.
- Sept. 19: at Notre Dame — 7:30 p.m.
- Sept. 26: vs. Nebraska — TBD
- Oct. 3: at Wisconsin — TBD
- Oct. 10: vs. Illinois — TBD
- Oct. 17: vs. Northwestern — TBD
- Oct. 24: at UCLA — TBD
- Oct. 31: BYE
- Nov. 7: at Michigan — TBD
- Nov. 14: vs. Washington — TBD
- Nov. 20: vs. Oregon — 8 p.m.
- Nov. 28: at Rutgers — TBD
Michigan State’s official schedule confirms the updated Friday dates for Toledo and Oregon, which differ from the dates originally announced in January.
The Path to a Bowl Game Is There
This isn’t an easy schedule, but there is a path for Michigan State to make a significant jump in Fitzgerald’s first season.
The key will be taking advantage of the first two weeks and winning the toss-up games throughout Big Ten play.
Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, UCLA and Rutgers give Michigan State several opportunities to stack wins. Notre Dame, Michigan, Washington and Oregon represent the games where the Spartans could make a much bigger statement.
The biggest concern is that November stretch.
Going Michigan-Washington-Oregon in consecutive weeks is a difficult run for just about anyone in the country. Michigan State needs to put itself in a good position before reaching that part of the schedule rather than relying on late-season upsets to reach six wins.
For Fitzgerald, Year 1 doesn’t need to end with Michigan State competing for a Big Ten championship.
It needs to show progress.