If you were looking for the 2025 Michigan State football schedule to be the year Jonathan Smith truly "arrived" in East Lansing, well, it didn’t exactly go to plan. We all saw the flashes. There were moments in September where it felt like the Spartans were actually building something sustainable. But then the Big Ten gauntlet happened. Honestly, looking back at the 2025 slate, it was a weird mix of promising non-conference wins and a conference schedule that felt like running into a brick wall repeatedly.
By the time the regular season ended with that Maryland game at Ford Field, the Spartans sat at 4-8. It's a tough pill to swallow for a fan base that’s used to being in the mix for bowl games, but the context of the schedule matters more than just the final record.
The Strong Start Nobody Remembers
The season actually kicked off with a ton of momentum. MSU played three straight home games at Spartan Stadium to open the year, and they took care of business in all of them. The opener against Western Michigan on Friday, August 29, was exactly what you’d expect from a Smith-led team: disciplined, physical, and a comfortable 23-6 win.
Then came the Boston College game. This was probably the peak of the season for many fans. It was a Saturday night under the lights on NBC, and it turned into an absolute track meet. MSU pulled it out 42-40 in double overtime. Aidan Chiles looked like the real deal that night, showing the kind of dual-threat capability that makes you think the future is bright. They followed that up by handling Youngstown State 41-24.
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At 3-0, the vibes were high. People were starting to talk about a potential 7 or 8-win season. Then the plane landed in Los Angeles.
The Big Ten Reality Check
When the Big Ten expanded, we knew the travel would be a factor, but the 2025 Michigan State football schedule really put that to the test. On September 20, the Spartans headed to the West Coast to play USC. It was an 11:00 PM Eastern kickoff. Basically, half the fan base was asleep by the time the fourth quarter started. USC won 45-31, and that loss seemed to break something in the team’s rhythm.
After a much-needed bye week, things didn't get easier. They went to Lincoln and lost a frustrating game to Nebraska 38-27. By the time they returned home on October 11 to face UCLA, the wheels were starting to wobble. A 38-13 blowout loss to the Bruins was the first time the home crowd really felt the air leave the balloon.
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A Rough October and November
The middle of the schedule was just relentless. Look at this stretch:
- Oct 18: At No. 3 Indiana (Loss 38-13)
- Oct 25: Vs No. 25 Michigan (Loss 31-20)
- Nov 1: At Minnesota (Loss 23-20 in OT)
Losing to Michigan always stings, but that Minnesota game was particularly heartbreaking. Losing in overtime on the road after fighting back just felt like the story of the season. The Spartans were competitive in spots, but they couldn't close the deal against the upper echelon of the conference.
Ending on a High Note in Detroit
The 2025 Michigan State football schedule had one last quirk: the season finale against Maryland wasn't even in East Lansing. On November 29, the game was moved to Ford Field in Detroit. It was a 7:00 PM kickoff on FS1, and for a team that had lost eight straight games, the Spartans showed a surprising amount of heart.
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They beat Maryland 38-28. It didn't get them to a bowl game, and it didn't fix the 1-8 conference record, but it gave the seniors a win to go out on and gave the coaching staff something to build on for 2026.
Why the 2025 Schedule Was So Difficult
The travel was a nightmare. Two trips to the West Coast (one for a game, one for a "home" game feel against UCLA) and several high-stakes road environments like Kinnick Stadium and Memorial Stadium made it hard to find a groove. Plus, catching Indiana and Michigan back-to-back while both were ranked in the Top 25 was just bad timing.
If you're looking at the 2026 outlook, the takeaway from this schedule is clear: the defense has to find a way to get off the field against high-tempo offenses. The 2025 schedule exposed depth issues that Jonathan Smith is going to have to address through the portal if MSU wants to compete in the new-look Big Ten.
For those planning for next year, the key is to keep an eye on the early-season non-conference matchups. Those 3-0 starts are great, but as we saw in 2025, they don't mean much if you can't find a way to win a road game in November. Focus on the recruiting trail this winter; that’s where the 2026 schedule will actually be won or lost.