Folks, it's officially game day, and Michigan State football is getting set to take the field against Western Michigan on Friday night under the lights at a striped Spartan Stadium.
The Spartans are coming off a third straight season without a bowl berth, and Jonathan Smith is focused on changing that. He'll have plenty of help from his star quarterback, Aidan Chiles, as well as one of the most intriguing offenses we've seen in the green and white in years.
So without further ado, here's how I see the 2025 season playing out, game-by-game.
Game 1: Western Michigan (Aug. 29)
This is one of the few games on the schedule that I think should be considered a "lock" for the Spartans. Western Michigan won't go down quietly, and Michigan State usually struggles a bit in openers, but the Spartans will find a way to pull away late.
Final score: Western Michigan 17, Michigan State 34 (1-0)
Game 2: Boston College (Sept. 6)
A revenge game awaits in Week 2 as the Spartans will host a Boston College team that won't have Thomas Castellanos to bail them out this year. Michigan State will rely on the strong arm of Aidan Chiles in this one as he gets his revenge, passing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in a winning effort.
Final score: Boston College 21, Michigan State 31 (2-0)
Game 3: Youngstown State (Sept. 13)
Youngstown State is another "lock" on Michigan State's 2025 schedule. I don't know much about the Penguins yet, but I do know that it's the former home of Ohio State legend Jim Tressel. He's not running out of that tunnel, though. Spartans by a thousand.
Final score: Youngstown State 9, Michigan State 45 (3-0)
Game 4: at USC (Sept. 20)
Now that the Spartans are rolling, they'll face their first road test of the season in Southern California as the Trojans will be waiting for one of the most interesting showdowns of the season for Jonathan Smith. USC is kind of a mystery this year under Lincoln Riley, but I think they'll have enough talent to take care of their home field and send MSU home with its first loss.
Final score: Michigan State 26, USC 34 (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
Game 5: at Nebraska (Oct. 4)
Getting a week off after that first loss, Michigan State will be greeted with another tough Big Ten road battle, this time in Lincoln (not against Lincoln). Patrick Mahomes Jr. (also known as Dylan Raiola) has already shown he is ready to take a step forward this season with a season-opening win over Cincinnati, and he's going to be tough to stop on his own field. I just don't see MSU stealing this one.
Final score: Michigan State 17, Nebraska 28 (3-2, 0-2)
Game 6: UCLA (Oct. 11)
Desperately trying to avoid its now-annual mid-October losing streak, Michigan State will host a beatable UCLA team for homecoming on Oct. 11. The Bruins did add Nico Iamaleava this offseason from Tennessee, but I don't think that marriage is going to go quite as well as UCLA fans hope -- at least not early on. Michigan State turns him over three times, picking up a much-needed win.
Final score: UCLA 17, Michigan State 30 (4-2, 1-2)
Game 7: at Indiana (Oct. 18)
Things won't get much easier in the seventh game of the year after Michigan State picked up its first conference win as the Spartans will head to Bloomington to take on the Fighting Curt Cignettis. Michigan State will put up a fight in one of the most surprising performances of the season, but an upset bid falls short late after the Spartans fumble deep in Indiana territory.
Final Score: Michigan State 23, Indiana 27 (4-3, 1-3)
Game 8: Michigan (Oct. 25)
Will Michigan State face its second two-game losing streak of the season, or will it bounce back against its most hated rival? I'm going with the latter. I know it may seem bold, but I think Michigan State gets more revenge in late-October with a huge win over Michigan to prove that Jonathan Smith takes this rivalry seriously. Chiles will have one of the best games of his career against the Wolverines in what will become the latest classic in the series.
Final score: Michigan 27, Michigan State 33 (5-3, 2-3)
Game 9: at Minnesota (Nov. 1)
We'll learn a lot about this team from how it follows up the Michigan game. I see the Spartans upsetting Michigan, and unlike the last time they beat the Wolverines, they won't follow it up with a dud on the road against a mediocre opponent. Minnesota is going to be an average Big Ten team this year, and I think Michigan State will show it's improved from a year ago. It flexes muscle against the Gophers on the road to pick up its first win away from Spartan Stadium. MSU is going bowling.
Final score: Michigan State 24, Minnesota 20 (6-3, 3-3)
Game 10: Penn State (Nov. 15)
With a bowl berth already secured, Michigan State will get a much-needed bye before hosting Penn State on Nov. 15. The Nittany Lions could be flirting with the No. 1 overall ranking at this point in the season, but Michigan State won't back down. This will be a much closer game than people expect but the Nittany Lions' rushing attack will just be too much, wearing down Michigan State's defense late.
Final score: Penn State 37, Michigan State 24 (6-4, 3-4)
Game 11: at Iowa (Nov. 22)
The last road game of the season will take place against the team that Aidan Chiles arguably looked the best against last season, but I think Iowa exacts its revenge this time. No one likes playing at Kinnick Stadium, and Michigan State will be held in check against a motivated Hawkeye team.
Final score: Michigan State 13, Iowa 20 (6-5, 3-5)
Game 12: Maryland (Nov. 29)
Sporting a losing record in conference play yet again, Michigan State will head back home to face a Maryland team that's projected to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten in 2025, and the Spartans won't have much of an issue. They'll handle the Terrapins en route to a blowout win to end the season -- the exact opposite of last season's finale against Rutgers.
Final score: Maryland 16, Michigan State 38 (7-5, 4-5)