Three bold predictions for Michigan State football's 2026 season

Michigan State football is gearing up for the 2026 season, the first of the Pat Fitzgerald era in East Lansing. The Spartans will take the field against Toledo on Friday night to open the new regime, and it is a massive year for Fitzgerald to lay the foundation for his program. Having not made a bowl game since 2021, and with the last four years being rough, it is imperative that the Spartans find success in 2026.

For Michigan State to have that sort of success in 2026, a lot of bold things will need to happen, and the Spartans are going to have to find success in some unforeseen places. That is the bright side of a new coaching staff and 50 new rostered players: There are plenty of surprises to come.

Check out our three bold predictions for the 2026 season:

1. Michigan State has clinched a bowl game berth when they travel to Rutgers

It may sound crazy, but Michigan State is going need to pull off some major surprises to go bowling this year, and one of them could have be having an outstanding start to conference play. The first five games of conference play are all winnable games for the Spartans, and they could get hot during this stretch. If that's the case, the Spartans could see themselves with five or six wins when the calendar turns to November.

I am pegging the Spartans to grab two out of conference wins, and winning at least three of the first five in Big Ten play, and with the Spartans already having five wins, they find one in early November and enter the season finale against Rutgers as a 6-5 team.

2. Cam Edwards goes over 1,000 yards

A major storyline that is going to be on the forefront of this season for the Spartans is the improvement of the running game in East Lansing. Michigan State is going to have a much improved offensive line, with the depth to be able to withstand an injury or two, lining up with stud transfer back Cam Edwards and I am predicting that Edwards is going to surpass 1,000 yards on the ground this season.

The Spartans have not had a rusher go past 1,000 yards since Kenneth Walker in 2021, and prior to that, it has not been since Josh Langford in 2014.

3. Spartans defense gets at least 20 turnovers

If Michigan State is going to have the type of season I am predicting, they are going to have turnover luck on their side. The Spartans have not had the ability to force turnovers during the last four seasons, which has been a major hinderance to finding success.

With a new look defense, and the transfers brought in, with a plethora of veteran experience, the Spartans are going to have the ability to do some things on defense that have not been seen in five seasons. The Spartans have the linebacker core to mix in blitz packages, and the pass rush should see an uptick with Kenny Soares and Anelu Lafaele leading the way, meaning the recipe to force turnovers exists.

The Spartans will see themselves get to the 20 turnover mark for the first time since 2021.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Three bold predictions for Michigan State football's 2026 season

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