Michigan State Spartans 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Michigan State Spartans 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Michigan State roster and what to expect in the Big Ten this season. Can new head coach Pat Fitzgerald turn around a Spartans team that went 4-8 and finished 99th in total offense a season ago? And is redshirt sophomore Alessio Milivojevic the answer at quarterback after throwing for 1,267 yards with 10 touchdowns and 3 interceptions across four starts in 2025?
Can new coordinator Nick Sheridan lift an attack that ranked 110th in rushing offense? Can Joe Rossi’s defense build on a unit that finished 72nd against the run last season? Do returning starters Chrishon McCray, Conner Moore, Ben Roberts and Isaac Smith give Fitzgerald enough? Did UConn transfers Cam Edwards and Ben Murawski plus Notre Dame’s KK Smith fix the roster? What does a Saturday feel like at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing? Can Michigan State survive a road slate through Notre Dame, Michigan, Oregon and UCLA? And where’s the betting value on the Michigan State win total, Big Ten odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
The Pat Fitzgerald Era Opens In East Lansing
This Michigan State Spartans 2026 preview starts with a coaching change. Pat Fitzgerald takes over in East Lansing with a 0-0 record at Michigan State. So the deck rates his hot seat just a 1 out of 10 in year one. First, the Spartans finished 4-8 a season ago, one of the quieter years in a proud program’s history. Then Michigan State went 1-2 in close games, beating Boston College 42-40 before losses to Minnesota and Iowa. Because Fitzgerald is a fresh start, 2026 reads like a reset season in East Lansing.
Alessio Milivojevic And A New-Look Offense
Michigan State’s offense ranked 99th nationally in total offense in 2025, with the rushing attack down at 110th. Pat Fitzgerald hired Nick Sheridan as his offensive coordinator, so the play-calling turns over in year one. First, redshirt sophomore Alessio Milivojevic returns after 1,267 yards, 10 touchdowns and 3 interceptions across four starts. Then the portal delivered running back Cam Edwards from UConn inside a 50-commit haul of 21 recruits and 29 transfers. Also receiver KK Smith arrives from Notre Dame to stretch the field. Meanwhile the offense returns just 48 percent of its production, so Milivojevic inherits a young cast around him.
Joe Rossi’s Defense Looks To Anchor The Roster
Joe Rossi stays on as the Michigan State defensive coordinator under the new staff. First, the unit ranked 72nd nationally in total defense a season ago. Then the rushing defense finished 65th, the steadier number on that side of the ball. Ben Roberts and Isaac Smith return up front, and Jordan Hall anchors the linebackers. Because that group returns 45 percent of its production, Rossi has pieces to build around. Then the pass defense has to climb from 93rd in the Big Ten.
The Schedule, The Spartan Stadium Nights And The Win Total
Michigan State opens at home against Toledo before an in-state date with Eastern Michigan. First, a road trip to Notre Dame follows, then Nebraska and a Wisconsin road game swing into Illinois. Then Northwestern and a road test at UCLA lead into the bye week. From there, Michigan, Washington, an Oregon road trip and Rutgers close out the Big Ten slate. What does a Saturday feel like at Spartan Stadium when the lights come on in East Lansing? The deck sets the Michigan State win total at 4.5 wins. Also the Spartans are plus 50000 to win the Big Ten and plus 15000 to make the College Football Playoff.
College Football Previews
SEC
Arkansas Razorbacks
Auburn Tigers
Georgia Bulldogs
Kentucky Wildcats
LSU Tigers
Missouri Tigers
Oklahoma Sooners
South Carolina Gamecocks
Tennessee Volunteers
Big Ten
Illinois Fighting Illini
Iowa Hawkeyes
Michigan State Spartans
Northwestern Wildcats
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Big 12
Baylor Bears
Iowa State Cyclones
Kansas State Wildcats
Oklahoma State Cowboys
TCU Horned Frogs
Texas Tech Red Raiders
UCF Knights
West Virginia Mountaineers
ACC
Boston College Eagles
Clemson Tigers
Miami Hurricanes
Pittsburgh Panthers
Syracuse Orangemen
Virginia Cavaliers
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Pac-12
Boise State Broncos
Fresno State Bulldogs
San Diego State Aztecs
Washington State Cougars
American
Army Black Knights
Navy Midshipmen
Temple Owls
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Mountain West
Air Force Falcons
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
New Mexico Lobos
San Jose State Spartans
Sun Belt
Arkansas State Red Wolves
Georgia Southern Eagles
Georgia State Panthers
Louisiana Ragin Cajuns
Marshall Thundering Herd
South Alabama Jaguars
MAC
Bowling Green Falcons
Buffalo Bulls
Miami OH Redhawks
Ohio Bobcats
Toledo Rockets
Umass Minutemen
Western Michigan Broncos
Conference USA
Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Liberty Flames
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Independents
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
UConn Huskies
Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
02:44 Meet the Hosts
04:27 Pat Fitzgerald Vindication
06:13 Why Fitz at MSU
09:20 Devils Advocate Concerns
13:27 Program Trend and Rebuild
13:53 New OC Nick Sheridan
15:43 QB Battle and Outlook
17:04 Portal Adds and Offense Forecast
18:42 Defense Staff and Identity
20:46 Defensive Transfers and Projection
25:30 Sparty Party Beer Talk
27:08 Bars and Tailgate Culture
30:22 Spartan Stadium Love
31:29 MSU Legends and Program State
35:27 Toledo Trap Opener
38:50 Eastern Michigan Scare
40:38 Road Test at Notre Dame
41:41 Nebraska and Wisconsin Swing
43:51 Illinois Checkpoint
45:28 Northwestern Revenge Lock
48:49 Rose Bowl Reality Check
49:45 Bye Week and Michigan Clash
50:57 Late Season Upset Picks
53:15 Rutgers Finale and Win Total
57:40 Ceiling Floor and Wrap Up
