Preview: Michigan State vs Toledo at Spartan Stadium

Michigan State football is back, and a new era begins Friday night in East Lansing.

The Spartans will open the 2026 season against Toledo in Pat Fitzgerald’s first game as head coach. After four consecutive seasons without a bowl appearance and years of significant turnover throughout the program, Michigan State enters this opener with a level of anticipation that has been missing in recent seasons. Fitzgerald was hired to restore stability, toughness, and discipline, and Friday night will provide the first look at how that vision translates to the field.

The attention will naturally center on Michigan State, but Toledo represents a challenging opening test. The Rockets have been among the Mid-American Conference’s most consistent programs over the past decade and enter the season navigating a coaching transition of their own.

With new staffs and reshaped rosters on both sidelines, Friday night’s matchup carries many of the uncertainties that have come to define season openers in the transfer portal era.

Game Info

Time: Friday, Sept. 4, 8:00 p.m. ET
TV Channel: FS1
Radio: Spartan Media Network
Location: Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, MI)
Weather: Mostly cloudy, with temperatures in the low 70s around kickoff and light winds. A passing shower remains possible, although the greater chance of rain is expected later Friday night.

Toledo Notables

The Rockets enter 2026 after another successful season, finishing 8-5 a year ago and extending a streak of non-losing seasons that dates to 2009. This season, however, begins under new leadership after longtime head coach Jason Candle departed for UConn. Toledo turned to Mike Jacobs, who arrives after successful stops at Mercer, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Notre Dame College. Jacobs has compiled a 94-23 record across 10 seasons as a head coach without posting a losing season. Despite the transition, Toledo was picked to finish third in the MAC preseason coaches poll.

One of the more intriguing questions is how quickly the Rockets can adapt to Jacobs’ system. He brought several players with him from Mercer, including a number of transfers expected to contribute immediately. Fitzgerald has spoken highly of Toledo’s additions, noting that the Rockets assembled one of the MAC’s strongest transfer classes this offseason.

At quarterback, Toledo is expected to turn to junior John Alan Richter. He spent most of the past two seasons in a backup role, but the Rockets believe he can operate the offense efficiently. Richter completed 17 of 25 passes for 153 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in limited action last season. His lack of extended game experience, combined with the arrival of a new coaching staff, leaves some uncertainty about what Toledo’s offense will look like in Week 1.

The running game could emerge as the strength of the offense. Mercer transfer CJ Miller arrives with significant expectations and should immediately become one of the focal points of the attack. Penn State transfer Corey Smith is also expected to play a substantial role in the backfield rotation. If Toledo is going to pull off the upset, establishing the run and controlling the tempo will likely be central to its approach.

Defensively, the Rockets return several contributors while supplementing the unit through the portal. Mercer transfer Andrew Zock arrives with considerable accolades after earning FCS Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2025, when he recorded 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. Toledo has consistently fielded one of the MAC’s better defenses, and although a coaching transition brings questions, the Rockets have enough talent to challenge Michigan State’s retooled offense.

The Rockets will also have at least one familiar face for Spartan fans. Safety Armorion Smith played for Michigan State from 2023 through 2025, recording 41 tackles in 23 games. He was nominated for the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award in 2024 and was named a semifinalist for the Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2025.

Michigan State Notables

For the Spartans, all eyes will be on Fitzgerald as he coaches his first college game in nearly four years. Michigan State hired the former Northwestern head coach to rebuild a program that has struggled to find stability since its last winning season in 2021. Fitzgerald built his reputation on physical football, disciplined defense, and player development. Friday night will provide the first glimpse of how those principles translate to his new program.

The roster looks dramatically different from the one Michigan State fielded a year ago. The Spartans attacked the transfer portal aggressively, adding newcomers throughout the offense and defense. The influx of talent was necessary, but the immediate challenge will be getting so many new pieces to function as a cohesive team.

Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic will lead the offense after showing considerable promise late in the 2025 season. With a full offseason to prepare as the starter and an improved supporting cast around him, Michigan State believes the offense is positioned to take a meaningful step forward. Milivojevic’s ability to protect the football and deliver in critical situations will help determine the Spartans’ ceiling this season.

Michigan State has at least some continuity on defense. Coordinator Joe Rossi remains on staff after overseeing a unit that frequently kept the Spartans competitive under difficult circumstances last season. Linebacker Jordan Hall returns as one of the defense’s established leaders, while several transfer additions will be expected to strengthen the front seven and secondary immediately.

The overarching question is how quickly this reshaped team can come together. Michigan State appears to have improved its talent throughout the roster, but season openers are often decided by execution, discipline, and avoiding costly mistakes. With so many newcomers filling important roles, the Spartans may experience some growing pains as Fitzgerald begins establishing the program’s new identity.

Overview

This matchup carries more intrigue than a typical season opener. Both programs enter the game with first-year head coaches, reshaped rosters, and plenty of unanswered questions. Toledo brings the confidence of a consistent winner and enough talent to make Michigan State uncomfortable. The Rockets will not be intimidated by the environment and have every reason to believe they can beat a Big Ten opponent.

For Michigan State, this game should be less about style points than establishing a foundation. If the Spartans can run the football, protect the ball, and play sound defense, they should have enough talent to handle Toledo. This may not be one of the Big Ten’s most talented rosters, but a disciplined, mistake-free performance would provide an early indication that Fitzgerald is beginning to establish the culture he was hired to build.

Week 1 always carries uncertainty, particularly for a team that has experienced as much roster turnover as Michigan State. The Spartans still appear to hold the advantage in overall talent, and they will play before a Friday night home crowd eager to witness the beginning of a new era. Toledo should keep the game competitive, but this is the type of opener Michigan State needs to win if it hopes to build momentum toward bowl eligibility.

Expect the Spartans to play with energy, even if the performance is not always polished. Between the emotion surrounding Fitzgerald’s debut and the playmakers Michigan State has added throughout the roster, the Spartans should have enough to secure an opening-night victory and carry some early optimism into Week 2.