No one really sees Michigan State as a threat to win the Big Ten, but surely the Spartans will contend for a bowl game, right?
Well, if you ask one college football writer and former Clemson walk-on William Cockerill, he believes that the Spartans are about to be one of two winless teams in Big Ten play and the Spartans will win just two games all season. That’s one of the saddest predictions that I’ve seen regarding Michigan State’s 2026 season.
I’ve seen Michigan State predicted to win anywhere from now just two up to six games. The higher win projections are much more difficult to find, but they exist, I swear.
Not many experts believe that Michigan State is going to make a bowl game this season, but it’s hard to believe that the Spartans will be four wins short of postseason play. To me, that just doesn’t make a ton of sense. It’s not an out-of-pocket prediction because Vegas has had Michigan State’s win total as low as 3.5 over the past few months but it’s also crazy to think that the Spartans won’t win a single Big Ten game with these games on the schedule:
- vs. Nebraska
- at Wisconsin
- vs. Illinois
- vs. Northwestern
- at UCLA
- at Rutgers
Assuming he predicts no upsets, this means that he sees Michigan State only beating Toledo and Eastern Michigan this season. The Spartans will be facing seven of Cockerill’s bottom 12 teams in the conference this season so it would only make sense that Michigan State lucks into a win or two.
There’s no way Michigan State goes winless in Big Ten play
Before even checking out the schedule, I believe that Pat Fitzgerald is too good of a coach, this team has fully bought in, and the offense should be surprisingly good this season with a returning QB1, a really deep backfield, a talented receiving corps, and an offensive line that may end up being the most improved in the Big Ten this year.
The 2026 schedule isn’t a cakewalk, by any means, but Michigan State is facing some winnable games.
The most winnable, in my opinion, are Nebraska, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and UCLA. I did feel the same way last season about a couple of these same matchups, but this year’s Michigan State team is going to be visibly improved. I expect not only a few Big Ten wins, but I also think the Spartans make a bowl game this year.
I’m setting everyone up to get hurt in November, aren’t I?
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