Date Revealed for Unveiling Full 2026 MSU Football Schedule
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It's nearly time to officially mark your calendars for the 2026 football season.
The Big Ten announced on Tuesday that it will be revealing the dates of every single 2026 conference game soon. Every game will be revealed next Tuesday, Jan. 27, on the Big Ten Network at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Michigan State's opponents for the 2026 season are already known; this just puts all the names in order. The linear progression of the season very much matters, though. Where bye weeks and key opponents are can have a real effect.
Here is a quick breakdown of what is already known about the Spartans' schedule for next year and some of the other things to look out for when the schedule drops:
Non-Conference Schedule
Dates for MSU's three annual non-conference games are already set. Michigan State will open its season by hosting Toledo on Sept. 5, except that the Spartans have traditionally opened on Friday nights, so that game may be on Sept. 4, actually. MSU hosts Eastern Michigan on Sept. 12 the following week.
These two "buy games" will cost the school $2.8 million total, with $1.3 million going to Toledo and $1.5 million going to EMU, according to documents obtained by Spartan Nation via a public records request.
The big one is Michigan State's trip to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. That game is set for Sept. 19. This is the first half of a home-and-home with the Fighting Irish. MSU will also play them in East Lansing during the 2027 season, with the date set for Sept. 18 of that year.
Michigan State and Notre Dame's "Battle for the Megaphone" will certainly be a chance for Pat Fitzgerald's program to make an early statement. Also worth noting is that MSU will be facing Noah Kim, who is now at Eastern Michigan. Barring any injuries, he's expected to be the first of three former Michigan State quarterbacks that the Spartans face in 2026.
Big Ten Opponents
Home Games: Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, Washington
Away Games: Michigan, Rutgers, UCLA, Wisconsin
There are two names here that I will instantly be looking for once the 12-game slate is announced: Michigan and Northwestern.
MSU's annual game against the Wolverines is always the game that is going to matter the most every year, but that game against the Wildcats will have some unreal storylines behind it. Not only is Fitzgerald getting the chance to face his alma mater for the first time since being fired by NU, but former Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles is now there and will go up against his old team.
The 2026 Big Ten slate, overall, is relatively light by today's standards. The Spartans are avoiding both Indiana and Ohio State. Oregon is the only serious juggernaut on the conference schedule, and that game is in East Lansing.
Another little note is that former MSU quarterback Katin Houser is now at Illinois. He transferred from the Spartans to East Carolina after the 2023 season and has now found his way back to the Big Ten and will also be returning to East Lansing.
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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