Fitzgerald's MSU Faces Rutgers in Season Finale

Michigan State football is gearing up for the 2026 season under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who aims to guide the Spartans out of a four-year bowl game drought. The team's schedule features a regular-season finale against Rutgers on November 28, 2026, at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.

This matchup is particularly noteworthy given recent history; Michigan State has lost to Rutgers in both 2023 and 2024, snapping a streak where they had never lost two consecutive games to the Scarlet Knights. Despite these recent defeats, Michigan State holds a 8-3 record against Rutgers since the latter joined the Big Ten in 2014.

As the season concludes, Michigan State is predicted to have a 6-5 overall record (4-4 in Big Ten) entering this game. They will be looking to bounce back from a tough stretch, including a game against a top-10 Oregon team the week prior. This prediction anticipates a challenging final game, with Rutgers expected to secure a 23-20 victory, marking a significant early loss for Coach Fitzgerald's tenure and Rutgers' first Big Ten win of the season.