PLANT THE FLAG: Can Pat Fitzgerald DELIVER quick TURNAROUND for MSU football? MSU position rankings

Michigan State Spartans face a pivotal year as head coach Pat Fitzgerald seeks to reignite Spartan Stadium and restore faith to a fanbase hungry for wins. Can MSU’s path to a bowl game—and perhaps a signature upset—put them back on the national radar, or is another rebuilding season on tap?

Illinois and Michigan State set the pace in the Big Ten, but can Michigan or a surging West Coast newcomer crash the party? Matt Sheehan and Sunny V break down John Rothstein’s preseason power rankings, assess coaching shakeups—like Mike Boynton replacing Dusty May at Michigan—and spotlight rising threats including Nebraska and Wisconsin. The hosts debate surprise teams, potential disappointments from USC and UCLA, and whether Purdue’s drop in the rankings is warranted. The conversation shifts to breakout performers, Big Ten Player of the Year frontrunners, and recruiting storylines featuring Quinn Coleman and Jasiah Jervis. Plus, the hosts tackle the polarizing idea of a third-place NCAA Tournament game and what it could mean for programs and fans. Will this be the Big Ten’s year to dominate college basketball?