2026 Michigan State football schedule primer: games 10-12

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With our final part in our schedule primer, we end with games 10-12. MSU will face two ranked opponents in #17 Washington and #2 Oregon, but perhaps they’ll be able to end the season on a high note with their final game in New Jersey against Rutgers. It is possible Michigan State is looking for their bowl-clinching win in Game 12.

Here’s the schedule for the final three games of the season:

Sat, Nov 14th vs Washington

Friday, Nov 20th vs Oregon at 8PM EST

Saturday, Nov 28th at Rutgers

The big game in this trio is the Friday night visit from the currently-ranked #2 Oregon Ducks. It should be one of loudest games of the season inside Spartan Stadium as Coach Fitzgerald looks to show MSU can compete with the powerhouses of the B1G. Friday night lights, baby!

WASHINGTON

Washington finished last season at 9-4 with a Bucked Up LA Bowl win over Boise State. Head coach Jedd Fisch’s second season finished with three more wins than he had in his first year while going 5-4 in the Big Ten. In those four losses, Washington never scored more than 14 points. While the Huskies are still retooling after Kalen DeBoer’s exit, they’re bringing in a Top-15 recruiting class for the first time since 2019.

The Huskies are led by QB Demond Williams Jr. Last year, he threw for more than 3,000 yards and 25 passing touchdowns while also rushing for 600 yards and 6 touchdowns. It was the third-most rushing yards by a quarterback in Washington history. Williams’ passer rating drop from 161.0 to 107.8 in their four losses when opponents game-planned to limit him as a rusher.

In January, Williams reportedly signed an NIL agreement with Washington for more than $4 million. A few days later, he announced he was entering the transfer portal, but roughly 48 hours later, he reversed course and said he would remain at Washington. There’s been an extra layer of drama for the Huskies with their QB looking for greener pastures earlier this year.

While they lost roughly 1,600 scrimmage yards and 26 total touchdowns between RB Jonah Coleman and WR Denzel Boston, the key to beating Washington will be containing QB Williams Jr. WR Dezmen Roebuck had 560 yards and 7 touchdowns as a true freshman, and their offensive line returns four starters. Generating pass rush to limit Williams’ running ability will be a challenge for MSU, but also necessary if they expect to win this matchup.

OREGON

Oregon finished last season at 13-2 with both losses coming to Indiana. Head coach Dan Lanning is 48-8 in his career leading the Ducks. Despite not making the Big Ten Championship Game due to their midseason loss against the Hoosiers, Oregon still made the playoffs as the #5 seed. They would defeat #12 seed James Madison 51-34 in Round 1, and then would go on to shut out #4 Texas Tech 23-0 in Round 2. They would fall short in the Semifinals against Indiana with a 56-22 loss in the Peach Bowl.

The Ducks are led by QB Dante Moore who has eyes on a potential Heisman candidacy this season. Last year, he threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 71.8% of his passes. Where Demond Williams Jr. from Washington is more of a scrambler, Moore looks to throw from the pocket using his elite arm talent. There’s a world where Moore can win the Heisman and be the #1 draft pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Fun fact: Dante played at Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School in Detroit.

Oregon is an offensive powerhouse. Not only do they have the potential #1 draft pick, but they also led the B1G in rushing yards per attempt (5.4) and rushing touchdowns (35). Last year, RB Jordon Davison rushed for 15 TDs as a true freshman. WR Dakorien Moore and his speed should make him a breakout candidate as a pass-catcher for the Ducks this season.

The good news for Michigan State is that Oregon will be traveling to East Lansing in the middle of November for a night game. It’ll be Senior Night as it is MSU’s last home game, and the Ducks will play their rival Washington the following week. This has potential trap game written all over it for Oregon, but there’s no doubt they’re an extremely talented team.

RUTGERS

Rutgers finished last season at 5-7 and 2-7 in the Big Ten. They were able to defeat Purdue and Maryland in B1G play, along with Ohio, Miami (Ohio), and Norfolk State in nonconference play. Greg Schiano, the all-time wins leader in Rutgers football history, is entering his seventh year in his second stint as Rutgers head coach after his first stint lasted from 2001-2011.

Last year was not a typical Schiano-coached team as their defense was one of the worst in the Big Ten. They allowed almost 32 points and more than 200 rushing yards per game. Rutgers allowed 35 points or more in six games, including their final three losses. Schiano fired almost everyone on his defensive staff after the season.

WR KJ Duff and RB Antwan Raymond will carry the load for Rutgers this season. Duff is a 6’6” WR that led the country with 22 contested catches. He also had 241 receiving yards against Purdue last year, the second-highest total in single-game Rutgers history. Raymond ran for more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s a physical runner that also had 225 receiving yards out of the backfield. QB Dylan Lonergan will take the reins under center after transferring from Boston College as the Knights look to replace QB Athan Kaliakmanis after he was taken in the seventh round of the NFL Draft in April.

This game will have some importance to Michigan State as it has the potential to be a game that could take the Spartans to a bowl game or eclipse Vegas’ win total of 4.5. Rutgers could be Michigan State’s fifth or sixth win of the season in Year 1 under Fitz.

What are your thoughts on the final three games, TOC?

Go Green!

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