Thursday was a busy day for Michigan State football scheduling as the Spartans locked in a 2027 non-conference game against Duquesne and two more Big 12 home-and-homes. And they revealed a kickoff time for a non-conference game against Notre Dame this fall.
The Spartans haven’t even played a single game in 2026 and they already know a kickoff time for a huge non-conference game and now three future opponents past this season.
Cincinnati was the first non-conference game revealed on Thursday afternoon, followed by a matchup with Oklahoma State. Those two games are going to be home-and-homes over the next five years starting in 2028 with a road game against Oklahoma State followed by a home game against the Cowboys in 2029 and then a road game against Cincinnati in 2030 followed by a game at SPartan Stadium in 2031.
Michigan State posted the future matchups on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.
Save the date(s) 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/Hz0YYPxBuz
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) May 7, 2026
The Duquesne game doesn’t move the needle much other than hopefully scheduling a sure win but if you’re a Spartan fan, you love the matchups with Cincinnati and Oklahoma State.
Michigan State fans are being treated to two fun matchups
Cincinnati and Michigan State have only met two times in program history with the Spartans taking that first matchup all the way back in 1930 and the Bearcats returning the favor with a win in 1947. It’s been almost 80 years since they’ve met, but they have some fun off-the-field history.
Michigan State poached Mark Dantonio after the 2006 season and then the Spartans tried to steal another coach back in 2020 right after Coach D retired. Luke Fickell looked like he was going to take the job, but he broke Spartan fans’ hearts by turning it down to stay at Cincinnati where he made the College Football Playoff the following season. He’s since been underwhelming at Wisconsin.
Oklahoma State and Michigan State have never faced each other, but that matchup isn’t going to feature Mike Gundy who had been the face of the program for decades.
The Spartans get two fun non-conference matchups over the next five years with fun campuses to visit for fans who’ve been looking for a good non-conference road trip venue.
If Pat Fitzgerald can right this ship by that first matchup in 2028, these games could have a playoff-type feel to them. Either way, I expect Spartan fans to travel well.
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