Two years ago, when Michigan State football announced that it would be surrendering home-field advantage in the final game of the regular season, fans were up in arms. It was supposed to be Mel Tucker's rebound year and he was going to lose potentially massive home-field advantage against one of the Big Ten's contenders?
It was thought to be an insane move by Alan Haller.
Turns out, Tucker got fired earlier in the year and the Spartans weren't playing for anything at that point in the season anyways. And guess what? Ford Field was packed with Spartan fans.
Sure, it's disappointing for season ticket holders to lose a game that they were expected to have with their package, but Haller made the decision that was best for the program and university and the tens of thousands of Michigan State alums that live in the metro Detroit area.
Fast forward to Wednesday and Haller has made the decision to send the game back to Detroit for the season finale.
We're heading back to the Motor City! pic.twitter.com/ZQawbM0NoN
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) March 5, 2025
This is objectively the right move, especially if you watched the regular-season finale at Spartan Stadium this past season and saw that it was half full, at best, and the Spartans were actually playing for a bowl berth. It turns out that fans actually want a fun viewing experience and that comes with the comfort of an indoor game in late-November in Detroit.
As someone who lives in metro Detroit and who went to that Penn State vs. Michigan State football games two years ago, this is a great move. The experience in Detroit that day was fantastic as the city was buzzing and the Spartan team that took the field wasn't even playing for anything.
Could you imagine how alive the city would be for a Michigan State team with a pulse? It would be electric. That's just good for the program and this team.
Let's hope the Maryland game in late-November at Ford Field is for at least some marbles instead of another bowl-less season. Either way, I think this is a great move for the fans and the program.
Sorry, season ticket holders.