Michigan State enters Pat Fitzgerald’s first season at 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten after nonconference wins over Toledo and Eastern Michigan followed by losses to Notre Dame, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and a narrow overtime defeat to Illinois. The Spartans rank near the bottom nationally in rushing efficiency and scoring while playing one of the conference’s tougher schedules, with remaining games against No. 25 Northwestern, No. 12 UCLA, Michigan, Washington, and Oregon. A young, portal-heavy roster and ongoing system installation have produced inconsistent results, keeping the 2026 win total market anchored in the low-to-mid 4s range as traders weigh limited remaining winnable games against the program’s rebuild timeline.