Michigan State enters the 2026 season with plenty to prove, and its Week 1 matchup against Toledo might be exactly what the Spartans need.
The Pat Fitzgerald era officially begins Friday, Sept. 4, when Michigan State welcomes Toledo to Spartan Stadium for an 8 p.m. kickoff. After finishing just 4-8 last season, Michigan State needs an opener that gives its new-look roster a chance to build confidence while still providing a legitimate test. Toledo checks both boxes.
A Real Test Without Jumping Straight Into Big Ten Play
There is always value in opening against an opponent you should beat, but Michigan State probably wouldn’t gain much from beating an overmatched FCS program by 40 points.
Toledo is different.
The Rockets went 8-5 last season and have been one of the MAC’s most consistent programs, going without a losing season since 2009. That means Michigan State can’t simply show up and expect to win. Toledo is good enough to expose mistakes, make the Spartans play four quarters and give Fitzgerald an early idea of where his team actually stands.
At the same time, Michigan State will still enter the game as the Big Ten team playing at home. It’s the type of matchup where the Spartans can be challenged without immediately being thrown into the deep end of conference play.
Both Programs Are Starting New Eras
There is another interesting part of this matchup: both sidelines will feature new head coaches.
Fitzgerald is beginning his first season at Michigan State, while Mike Jacobs takes over at Toledo following Jason Candle’s departure for UConn. Jacobs comes to Toledo after a successful run at Mercer and inherits a program that has become accustomed to winning.
That makes Week 1 a battle between two teams trying to establish new identities.
For Michigan State, that could be especially valuable. The Spartans have new pieces throughout the roster and a new offensive system under Nick Sheridan. Instead of facing an established Power Four program immediately, MSU gets a chance to work through some of the normal Week 1 issues against a quality opponent at home.
Toledo Should Make Michigan State Earn It
This isn’t supposed to be a cupcake.
That’s exactly why it works.
Michigan State needs to find out how its offensive line handles pressure, whether the offense can consistently put drives together and how quickly the defense can settle into the season. Toledo should be capable of testing those areas.
There is also pressure that comes with this matchup. Michigan State is expected to win, but Toledo has enough credibility that the Spartans can’t afford to play sloppy football.
That’s a good situation for a team trying to change the direction of its program.
A Chance to Build Confidence
Michigan State’s 2025 season didn’t provide much momentum heading into the offseason. A 4-8 record and 1-8 mark in Big Ten play ultimately led to a coaching change.
Now the Spartans need something positive to build around.
A convincing win over Toledo would mean more than simply putting 1-0 next to Michigan State’s name. It would give Fitzgerald his first victory as MSU’s head coach, give the roster confidence in the new system and give Spartan Stadium something to get excited about again.
And because Toledo isn’t a pushover, a strong performance would carry some weight.
The Perfect Middle Ground
There are easier teams Michigan State could have scheduled. There are also much harder teams.
That’s what makes Toledo such a good Week 1 opponent.
The Rockets are respected enough to challenge Michigan State, but the Spartans should still have the talent advantage and the benefit of playing at home. Toledo can punish mistakes without presenting the same week-to-week challenge Michigan State will eventually see in Big Ten play.
For a program entering a new era and trying to climb back toward relevance, that’s almost exactly what you want from an opener.
Michigan State doesn’t need Week 1 to tell everyone that the program is officially back. It just needs to show that things are moving in the right direction.
Against Toledo, the Spartans will get their first chance to prove it.