Michigan State Football's Schedule Among Toughest Nationally

The Spartans will go through a gauntlet of games this Fall...

Author:
Matthew Lounsberry
Publish date:
Apr 14, 2023 8:52 PM EDT

In this story:

Michigan State looks to bounce back from a highly disappointing 5-7 record in 2022, but Mel Tucker and the Spartans have their work cut out for them again this Fall.

Based on its opponents' winning percentage from a season ago, Michigan State will face the second toughest schedule in the country, according to 247Sports.

The Spartans' 2023 opponents combined to go 93-57 a year ago. Four of those opponents finished inside the Associated Press' Top 10 rankings — No. 3 Michigan (13-1), No. 4 Ohio State (11-2), No. 7 Penn State (11-2) and No. 8 Washington (11-2). Each of those could be preseason Top 10 teams again this Fall.

Additionally, Michigan State will make tough road trips to Minnesota (9-4 in 2022) and Iowa (8-5), and also host Maryland (8-5). Finally, the Spartans' schedule is rounded out by home games against Nebraska (4-8), Central Michigan (4-8) and FCS foe Richmond (9-4), as well as road games at Rutgers (4-8) and Indiana (4-8).

Fortunately, MSU won't leave the friendly confines of Spartan Stadium during the first four weeks of the season (CMU, Richmond, Washington and Maryland). Michigan State's first road game comes on Sept. 30 at Iowa.

While the first half of the season is no picnic, the difficulty will really ramp up for MSU in the second half of the year when it hosts Michigan (Oct. 21), travels to Minnesota (Oct. 28) and Ohio State (Nov. 11) and hosts Penn State (Nov. 25).

Tucker and the Spartans need to bounce back in 2023, but there's a very good chance that Michigan State could have a vastly improved football team this Fall and yet not see a dramatic improvement in overall record due to the strength of schedule.