Let’s be real for a second. Looking at the Michigan State ranking in football right now feels a bit like looking at a car that’s been sitting on cinder blocks in a driveway. It’s not pretty. If you’re a Spartan fan, you’ve probably spent the last few months toggling between "trust the process" and "get me out of here."
The 2025 season was, to put it lightly, a rollercoaster that stayed stuck in the loop-de-loop.
We started 3-0. People were actually excited. Then, the wheels didn't just come off; they basically disintegrated. Eight straight losses followed that hot start, leaving the Spartans at a dismal 4-8 overall and a painful 1-8 in the Big Ten.
But here’s the thing about rankings: they only tell you where you’re standing, not where you’re walking.
The Brutal Reality of the Current Standings
Right now, if you look at the Big Ten standings for the 2025-26 cycle, Michigan State is buried. They finished 17th out of 18 teams. Only Purdue, who went winless in the conference, saved the Spartans from the absolute basement.
The national "Strength of Schedule" rankings weren't much kinder. TeamRankings had the Spartans' SOS at 43rd—a mid-tier difficulty that they simply couldn't handle. When you’re losing to Indiana (who, somehow, is currently #1 in the nation and headed to the National Championship against Miami), it’s easy to feel like the program is lightyears away from relevance.
- 2025 Record: 4-8
- Big Ten Finish: 17th
- The One Silver Lining: A season-ending 38-28 win over Maryland at Ford Field.
That Maryland win was weirdly important. It snapped an eight-game skid and gave the fans a reason to not throw their jerseys into the Red Cedar River. But it wasn't enough to save Jonathan Smith.
📖 Related: New Jersey Giants Football Explained: Why Most People Still Get the "Home Team" Wrong
The Pat Fitzgerald Era Begins
In a move that caught a lot of people off guard, MSU AD Alan Haller decided that two years of Jonathan Smith (9-15 total record) was enough. Enter Pat Fitzgerald.
Yeah, that Pat Fitzgerald.
He’s taking over a program that is currently unranked in every major poll. The AP Top 25? Not even receiving votes. The Coaches Poll? Crickets. Honestly, the most relevant "Michigan State ranking in football" right now is their recruiting rank, which is actually surprisingly decent given the chaos.
Fitzgerald is basically starting from scratch. He’s the first coach in a while who isn't trying to just "tweak" things. He's rebuilding the engine while the car is moving.
Recruiting: The One Spot Where the Ranking Isn't Terrible
If you want to feel better about the future, look at the 2026 recruiting class. Despite the coaching turnover, MSU is sitting around 45th to 46th nationally.
That’s not exactly elite—it’s 12th in the Big Ten—but it’s stable.
👉 See also: Nebraska Cornhuskers Women's Basketball: What Really Happened This Season
- Collin Campbell: A four-star offensive tackle from Arizona. He’s the crown jewel.
- Kayd Coffman: A local four-star QB from Grand Rapids. He stayed committed despite Smith leaving.
- The "Retention" Factor: Fitzgerald managed to keep 16 of the 20 recruits who were originally committed.
Most people expected a mass exodus when the coaching change happened in late November. It didn't happen. That says something about the brand, or maybe just about Fitzgerald's ability to sell a vision over a FaceTime call.
Why the Postseason Ranking Doesn't Matter (Yet)
It’s January 13, 2026. The National Championship is days away. You see Indiana and Miami at the top of the mountain. Seeing Michigan State nowhere near that list hurts.
But college football rankings in the modern era are incredibly fluid. Look at Indiana. Two years ago, they were a joke. Now they’re 15-0. The transfer portal and NIL have made it so that a "Michigan State ranking in football" can jump from 80th to 15th in a single offseason if you hit on the right three or four players.
The Spartans struggled offensively in 2025, averaging only 24.6 points per game (89th in the country). The defense was worse, giving up nearly 30 a game.
Aidan Chiles and Alessio Milivojevic both showed flashes at quarterback, but neither could stay consistent. Chiles finished with 1,392 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games. It’s fine, but "fine" doesn't win the Big Ten anymore.
Misconceptions About the Spartan "Downfall"
There’s this narrative that MSU is "dead." People look at the 10-28 loss to Penn State or the 20-31 loss to Michigan and think the gap is unbridgeable.
✨ Don't miss: Nebraska Basketball Women's Schedule: What Actually Matters This Season
It’s not.
Most of the losses in the 2025 season were closer than the scores suggest. They lost to Minnesota by three in overtime. They lost to Iowa by three. If a couple of plays go the other way, this is a 6-6 team in a bowl game, and we aren't talking about a coaching change.
The ranking is a reflection of execution, not a lack of talent. Nick Marsh (the star freshman WR) caught 59 passes for 662 yards. The kid is a stud. He’s the type of player you build an entire Top 25 offense around.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Season
If the Spartans want to see their name back in the Top 25 by October, the roadmap is pretty clear.
- Audit the O-Line: You can't have a 4.5 average rushing yardage from your lead back (Makhi Frazier) and expect to beat Ohio State. Fitzgerald has to lean on Collin Campbell and the portal to beef up the front.
- The Samson Gash Hunt: They need to sign Samson Gash. He’s the No. 1 receiver in Michigan and currently has eyes for Alabama. If Fitz can pull him back in, it’s a massive statement.
- Embrace the Underdog Status: Use the fact that nobody is ranking them. The 2026 schedule is going to be another gauntlet, but the expectations are floor-level.
The Michigan State ranking in football is currently at a historic low point, but the foundation is weirdly solid. With 18 veterans returning and a top-50 recruiting class coming in, the "rebuild" might be shorter than the critics think.
Keep an eye on the Spring Game. That’s where we’ll see if Fitzgerald’s old-school "toughness" translates to a roster that spent most of 2025 looking for an identity. For now, take a deep breath. The cinder blocks are coming off the car.
Next Steps for Spartan Fans
- Check the Transfer Portal: Monitor the "Winter Window" which closes soon; MSU needs at least two starting-caliber defensive tackles.
- Follow National Signing Day: Watch the status of Samson Gash; his decision will dictate the ceiling of the 2026 receiving corps.
- Review the 2026 Schedule: Look for the "swing games" in September that will determine if MSU can return to a bowl-eligible ranking.