Michigan State football is right around the corner so it’s time to start predicting how the season will shake out for the Spartans.
Michigan State football is under new leadership this season, with Pat Fitzgerald set to take over as the next head coach. He will take over a program looking to get back on the winning side, with the Spartans in the midst of a four-year bowl drought. Can he get the job done and get the Spartans back to a bowl game this season? I have offered my thoughts on that in our game-by-game predictions segment on Spartans Wire.
We continue on with the next of my game-by-game predictions for each of the matchups on the Spartans’ 2026 schedule. Each morning a new prediction will be released following Michigan State’s schedule. Next
up is a Big Ten matchup against Washington…
Matchup Breakdown
Opponent: Washington
Date: November 14, 2026
Location: Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, Mich.)
Fun Fact About This Matchup
Michigan State hasn’t beaten Washington since 1969, with Huskies winning the last four matchups in the five-game all-time series. The Huskies most recently swept Michigan State in a home-and-home series in 2022 and 2023 before Washington joined the Big Ten. This will be the first meeting in conference play for these two teams.
Where Things Stand Entering Matchup
MSU predicted record: 5-4 (3-3 in Big Ten)
Michigan State is reeling a bit, dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season coming into this game against Washington. The Spartans lost a nail-biter against rival Michigan last week and will now need to get off the mat before the season completely goes off the tracks.
Washington is expected to have a strong season and I envision that being the case as well. I’m predicting the Huskies to be sitting at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play entering this game. They’ll need a win against the Spartans to keep their hopes alive of making the College Football Playoff.
Prediction
Prediction: Michigan State wins 34-23
Michigan State football is heading back to a bowl game for the first time in five years.
Sometimes things just come together in an upset spot like this one, and that’s what I’m predicting here. Washington has to travel across the country in November and Michigan State knows it needs a win badly to lock down a bowl bid. Spartans get it done in a big way.
Next Up
Next on the game-by-game predictions list is a home Big Ten game vs. Oregon. That prediction will be released tomorrow.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State football 2026 game-by-game predictions: Washington
