Rutgers vs Michigan State Under New Coach | Rutgers Scarlet News

Rutgers closes its 2026 season with a high-stakes showdown against Michigan State at SHI Stadium — a surprise twist from the usual rivalry finale. Under first-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald, the Spartans enter with a rebuilding roster after a dismal 4-8 campaign, losing key QB and receiver talent but adding new transfers to spark improvement. Their offense hinges on a revamped offensive line to boost the run game, while Jordan Hall returns as a tackling force at linebacker. But the defense still struggles to stop the run and lacks a consistent pass rush or turnover ability. With top receivers gone, they’re counting on newcomers to step up. This matchup tests whether Fitzgerald’s new direction can make noise — and Rutgers will be watching closely to see if the Spartans can finally turn things around. 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/e339dc5f10d7d987