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 Illinois…
Matchup Breakdown
Opponent: Illinois
Date: October 10, 2026
Location: Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, Mich.)
Fun Fact About This Matchup
Illinois will feature the second former Spartans quarterback to play against Michigan State this season. Former Spartans starting quarterback and Elite 11 finalists Katin Houser transferred to Illinois from East Carolina this past offseason, and will start for the Fighting Illini this season.
Houser appeared in 13 games for Spartans from 2022 to 2023, throwing for 1,132 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. He was a major recruiting win for former head coach Mel Tucker and ultimately transferred to East Carolina after Jonathan Smith was hired to take over in 2023.
Where Things Stand Entering Matchup
MSU predicted record: 3-2 (1-1 in Big Ten)
Michigan State returns home following a hard fought loss at Wisconsin the week prior, and with an opportunity to pick up an important bounce-back victory. The Spartans have rotated between wins and losses for the last four weeks, and will now look to do the same with a win over Illinois that would go a long way for reaching bowl eligibility.
Illinois has an outside chance of being undefeated coming into this matchup with the Spartans, but most likely will be sitting at 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play with the lone loss coming to the Buckeyes. If that’s the case, then the Fighting Illini are going to be firmly in the mix for a College Football Playoff berth with a win over the Spartans and 5-1 mark at the halfway mark of the season.
Prediction
Prediction: Michigan State wins 31-23
This could go down as the Spartans’ best performance of the season. Illinois has built themselves up to a consistent winner under Bret Bielema and should be favored coming into this matchup. But, a few key defensive turnovers – including a game-clinching interception of Houser late in the fourth quarter is the difference. Michigan State wins the turnovers battle and goes on to win the game.
Next Up
Next on the game-by-game predictions list is a home Big Ten game vs. Northwestern. 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: Illinois
