What must Michigan State football do to make 2025 College Football Playoff?

It’s that time of the offseason when expectations for your favorite college football program are likely at their highest point. And that had me thinking about the College Football Playoff for Michigan State football.

Now before you all call me crazy, no, I’m not predicting MSU to make it to the playoffs this season. But with the new expanded playoff beginning this season, it got me thinking about what Michigan State would have to do to make the playoff.

Win all the “must win” games on the schedule

Gone are the days where you have to be perfect to make the playoffs like in the four-team format. Now with 12 teams making the field, it gives MSU more wiggle room to drop a game or two along the way.

However, I still don’t think Michigan State can afford to lose the “easier” games on their schedule. I’m talking about opponents like Florida Atlantic, Prairie View A&M, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, and Rutgers.

Could Michigan State still make the playoff after losing to one of these teams? Absolutely. But because of the level Michigan State is at this year, they’ll need to save those losses for the tougher opponents on their schedule.

Win at least 10 games

Back in the era of the 4-team playoff, you could only make the playoff by winning 11-plus regular season games and then winning your conference championship game. Even 11-win teams rarely made it in without winning their conference.

That isn’t the case anymore. Eleven-win teams from power conferences will be in no matter what, and 10-win teams more than likely, too. That’s also the benefit MSU has of being in the Big Ten as 10 wins from a Big Ten or SEC team will always look much stronger than even the ACC and Big 12 teams.

So in order for Michigan State to reach 10 wins, they’re going to have to beat some very good teams. Some of the teams on their schedule, like Iowa, Boston College, and Maryland, aren’t as strong as others but still present a real challenge. Then there’s the big dogs: Oregon, Ohio State, and Michigan.

Two of those games are road games as well, making it that much more difficult. So out of those six games, the Spartans have to win four to even have a chance at making the playoff.

Now I know what you’re thinking, this sounds too far-fetched to happen this year. And you’re 100 percent correct.

But as the team improves, which is a fair assumption under Jonathan Smith, this will be the blueprint that will get the team into the playoff in the years to come.