Michigan State football: CBS Sports releases way-too-early bowl projections

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In the eyes of CBS Sports' Brad Crawford, Michigan State football will not be heading to a bowl game for a fifth straight season in 2026.

Crawford released his way-too-early bowl projections earlier this week and the Spartans were unfortunately no where to be found. Michigan State was not included in the bowl projections, signifying Crawford is expecting Michigan State to finish again below .500 for a fifth straight season.

Michigan State last appeared in the postseason for the 2021 Peach Bowl, where Payton Thorne, Jayden Reed, Jalen Nailor, Connor Heyward and Cal Haladay led the Spartans to a victory over Pitt. If it feels like it's been forever to you since that incredible 2021 campaign, then you're not alone…

Michigan State is under a new coaching regime led by new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and the goal for the 2026 season certainly is to get back to the winning side of things. The Spartans retooled their roster through the transfer portal this offseason, but there has not been a lot of national buzz around what Michigan State could be next year. This latest batch of bowl projections is another sign that not many are expecting a ton of success for the Spartans in 2026.

I'm personally not surprised that Crawford left Michigan State out of his latest bowl projections. But I also would predict Michigan State to reach at least six wins next year and get back to a bowl game — that's at least my personal expectation for year one under Fitzgerald.

Click here to see the complete bowl projections from Crawford on CBS Sports. Included below is a graphic of where each Big Ten team landed in Crawford's projections as well.

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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU football left off way-too-early bowl projections from CBS Sports

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