Michigan State needs some time to completely rebuild, Toledo is good enough to win the MAC right away, and the two colliding worlds should make for one of the better games of Week 1.
There’s no grace period for new Toledo head coach Mike Jacobs. A whale of a hire for the program, he has been a massive winner everywhere he has been, and he inherits a strong team that’s good enough to give the home side fits.
Pat Fitzgerald will need a little while to work his magic at Michigan State, but he’s fired up and ready to make a massive early statement at his new gig.
(Trust me, I was right next to him when the former longtime Northwestern head man gave his dig at Big Ten Media Days about being “excited to have a home field advantage.”)
“I’m just excited to have a home field advantage … I’m not going to lie.” Pat Fitzgerald on the excitement for that open game at Michigan State. pic.twitter.com/R1N1snx95z
— Pete Fiutak (@PeteFiutak) July 29, 2026Michigan State vs Toledo: Quick Hits- Shockingly, considering the two schools are only 120 miles apart, this is just the second meeting ever. The first was a 58-0 MSU win … in 1925.
- Michigan State has won 16 of its last 17 season openers, with the only outlier in the shortened 2020 season.
- Toledo gets three straight home games (Central Connecticut State, Temple, and San Diego State) after this. Michigan State gets Eastern Michigan before going to Notre Dame.
Date: Friday, September 4, 2026
Game Time: 8:00 pm ET
TV: FS1
Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
It’s not just Jacobs. Toledo has a fantastic coaching staff that will come up with an efficient, effective game plan built on keeping the chains moving with a solid balance to the attack. CJ Miller and the running backs are terrific behind a good starting five on the line.
The defense might be rebuilding a bit – former head coach Jason Candle took a slew of players with him to UConn – but it’ll get into the backfield.
– Toledo 2026 Preview
The Michigan State offense might need a little bit to find its footing, but it’s a Pat Fitzgerald-coached team – the defense will be terrific right out of the gate.
The linebackers will be among the team’s biggest strengths – Jordan Hall in the middle is a good one – and the portal filled in the gaps everywhere else. This will look and feel like a different Michigan State team running out of the tunnel.
– Michigan State 2026 Preview
Don’t be fooled by this being a Big Ten vs MAC matchup – this will be a tough, nasty fight for a full 60 minutes.
Both teams will play tough defense, efficient offense, and the big plays will be hard to come by. But Fitzgerald’s lines will be a bit better right away, and the defense will come up large late with a few big stops.
It won’t be easy, but after just one win since September 13th of last year, Spartan fans will take it.
Michigan State 27, Toledo 17
Latest Consensus Line: Michigan State -10.5, o/u: 49.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 2.5
Must See Rating (out of 5): 3.5
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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