Fitzgerald's Tough First Season | Michigan State Spartans Football News

Michigan State’s 2026 football schedule is a brutal test for new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, featuring seven home games and five road matchups against top-tier opponents like Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska, Washington, and Oregon. Starting with Friday night’s home opener against Toledo, the Spartans must win early to build momentum before facing Notre Dame in South Bend. Big Ten play kicks off at home against Nebraska, followed by tough road trips to Wisconsin and UCLA — with a crucial bye week before November’s gauntlet: a showdown with Michigan, then back-to-back home games against Washington and Oregon. With bowl eligibility on the line and little room for error, Fitzgerald’s first season hinges on consistent improvement and nailing key wins — especially in that brutal November stretch. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/abefe6ede819b5e2