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Michigan State football has interestingly never played these FBS teams

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State's Maliq Carr and the Spartans sport the gruff Sparty helmet for the game against Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.221119 Msu Indiana 020a
Michigan State's Maliq Carr and the Spartans sport the gruff Sparty helmet for the game against Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.221119 Msu Indiana 020a /
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Dec 7, 2019; Boone, NC, USA; A Sun Belt Conference logo is affixed to the pylon during a game between the Appalachian State Mountaineers and the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2019; Boone, NC, USA; A Sun Belt Conference logo is affixed to the pylon during a game between the Appalachian State Mountaineers and the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Michigan State football vs. Sun Belt

The one conference in the Group of Five that seems to never match up with Michigan State football is the Sun Belt. The Spartans have yet to face 12 (!!) teams from the Sun Belt.

Appalachian State: Unlike our in-state rivals, Michigan State has never had the opportunity to face (or lose to) App State. We never forget about the Mountaineers, though.

Arkansas State: Believe it or not, Arkansas State has been around for over 100 years (1911). But this just isn’t a must-see matchup.

Coastal Carolina: Playing on that teal turf would be pretty cool, but Michigan State hasn’t had many opportunities to face the Chanticleers as they’ve only been in the FBS since 2003.

Georgia Southern: The 2024 season will be the 100th anniversary of Georgia Southern football. The only area of intrigue here is the fact that former USC coach Clay Helton is at the helm.

Georgia State: Georgia State has only been in the FBS since 2010. I wouldn’t be opposed to a matchup with either Georgia team in the Sun Belt. Michigan State did have good fortune last time it faced a Georgia team (looking at you, Outback Bowl).

Louisiana: The Ragin’ Cajuns have been in the FBS since 1978 and have played in nine bowl games and all have happened since 2011. But Michigan State won’t be getting a New Orleans Bowl invite any time soon.

ULM: Louisiana-Monroe has been in the FBS since 1994 and has only been to one bowl game in program history. The Warhawks did beat John L. Smith when he was at Arkansas in 2012.

Old Dominion: The Monarchs didn’t join the FBS until 2014 and they’re in just their second season in the Sun Belt.

South Alabama: One of the newer teams in the FBS, South Alabama joined the ranks back in 2013 and has been in three bowl games since.

Southern Miss: Michigan State has never faced the Fighting Brett Favres. The Golden Eagles have faced five Power Five (not counting pre-Big 12 TCU) teams in bowl games since 2000 but none from the Big Ten.

Texas State: Texas State has only been in the FBS since 2012 and has never made a bowl game. I’d expect them to face a lot of Texas-based Power Five teams before seeing MSU.

Troy: Trojans vs. Sparta. A tale as old as time. It’s happened in the history books but never on the gridiron.

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