Michigan State football game vs Toledo live updates, score in Week 1

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The 2026 Michigan State football season is here.

The Spartans (0-0) host the Toledo Rockets (0-0) on Friday, Sept. 4, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. The TV channel is FS1, with streaming available on Fox One and Fubo.

The Spartans are coming off a 4-8 season in 2025, one that ended in the dismissal of former coach Jonathan Smith. In his place for 2026 is former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, looking to bring MSU to its first bowl game since 2021.

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Mid-American Conference perennial contender Toledo, meanwhile, is coming off an 8-4 season and second-place finish in the MAC in 2025. New coach Mike Jacobs, who brings with him more than a dozen transfers from Mercer (Macon, Georgia), is looking to continue the Rockets' streak of 16 consecutive winning seasons.

The Spartans are favored heading into Friday's game but probably shouldn't take this game lightly, as Toledo provides a bigger challenge than a typical first-week opponent for a Power Four school. This is a game the Spartans should win, however, if they're serious about returning to bowl eligibility in 2026.

We'll have all the updates and highlights from Michigan State vs. Toledo.

Spartans add FG near end of 1st quarter

08:41 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

1Q, 0:06: Michigan State 10, Toledo 0.

Cam Edwards is running all over the place.

The senior running back started the drive with a 17-yard scamper down the right side, following up with a 5-yard run. That was his 10th run of the game already, as Edwards has 56 rushing yards on those 10 carries.

On 3rd-and-2 from the Toledo 45, quarterback Alessio Milivojevic found senior wideout Rodney Bullard Jr. for a 17-yard gain, another clutch conversion for the young quarterback. Three plays later on 3rd-and-7, Milivojevic found Edwards for a 7-yard gain to get into the red zone. Three plays later on a 3rd-and-6, however, Milivojevic couldn't connect with Bullard in the back of the end zone, with the ball going through Bullard's hands. It was Milivojevic's first incompletion of the game, as he is 5-for-6 for 49 yards.

Kicker Liam Boyd made the 32-yard field goal, giving the Spartans a 10-0 lead.

Toledo goes four-and-out

08:30 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

1Q, : Michigan State 7, Toledo 0.

Toledo running back CJ Miller started the Rockets' drive with a 12-yard run, giving Toledo its first first-down conversion of the day. But Toledo only netted two yards over the next three plays, punting for the second time already in this game, this time from their own 30-yard line.

Michigan State will start from its own 30.

Jordan Hall appears hurt

08:25 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

Michigan State senior linebacker Jordan Hall appeared to hurt his right arm midway through the first quarter. We await updates on his injury status.

Senior linebacker Caleb Wheatland will replace him as Hall heads to the medical tent.

Cam Edwards scores TD on long drive

08:19 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

1Q , 6:59: Michigan State 7, Toledo 0.

Senior running back Cam Edwards rushed for 10 yards up the middle on Michigan State's first offensive play from scrimmage, and then followed with a 4-yard run on the left side. Two plays later, however, Edwards' 2-yard run left the Spartans two yards shot at the Toledo 45-yard line, setting up a 4th-and-2.

Starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic then found receiver Chrishon McCray for a 15-yard gain on the 4th-down conversion, giving the Spartans a new set of downs on the Toledo 30-yard line. Edwards then rattled off runs of five yards, six yards and four yards to bring Michigan State to the Toledo 12-yard line, but a Milivojevic quarterback sneak on 3rd-and-1 was stuffed at the 7-yard line, setting up a 4th-and-short. Milivojevic appeared to get the first down after another quarterback sneak, but it didn't matter as Toledo was called for an offsides penalty, giving the Spartans first-and-goal on the Toledo 3.

Two plays later, Edwards punched it in for the first score of the game from the Wildcat formation, taking the direct snap. Spartans up by a touchdown after a 13-play, 63-yard drive that took over seven minutes off the clock.

Toledo goes three-and-out

08:10 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

1Q, 14:27: Toledo 0, MSU 0.

Consecutive incompletions from Toledo quarterback John Alan Richter lead to a three-and-out for Michigan State's defense on its opening drive of the season. The Spartans will start on their own 37-yard line after a 13-yard return from Chrishon McCray.

Michigan State wins coin toss and defers

08:04 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

The Spartans will kick off to start the game.

Pat Fitzgerald knows the blueprint

07:46 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

Its the beginning of the Fitzgerald era for Michigan State football, and Fitzgerald already knows he can find success by following in the footsteps of former coach Mark Dantonio.

“We want to really, truly stand upon the shoulders of those that have been here before us and the great 'Spartan Dawgs.' … We just gotta get back to playing football Spartan style," he said.

A good showing in his first game at Michigan State can bring a lot of hype to this Spartans team.

Joe Rossi key to Spartans success

07:37 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

You'll see mostly new faces on the coaching staff in tonight's game, but one familiar one will be returning defensive coordinator Joe Rossi.

Rossi is someone Fitzgerald has longed to have on his staff since Fitzgerald's time as Northwestern coach. But as our Spartans insider Chris Solari points out, the admiration between Fitzgerald and Rossi is mutual.

Samson Gash out

07:26 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

Per our Spartans insider Chris Solari, Michigan State freshman wide receiver Samson Gash is not in uniform and will not play tonight against Toledo.

A star receiver at Novi Detroit Catholic Central, Gash was one of the highest-profile recruits for the Spartans ahead of the 2026 season. He signed with the Spartans in February as a four-star recruit and the fastest runner in Michigan high school sports.

Can Alessio Milivojevic lead MSU to a winning record?

07:19 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

One player Spartans fans will recognize from the 2025 team is starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, who took over for Aidan Chiles late in the 2025 season. Chiles is now the starting quarterback at Northwestern after transferring, which means this is now Milivojevic's team.

That could be a huge boost for new coach Pat Fitzgerald. With good enough play from the redshirt sophomore, our Chris Solari thinks Milivojevic has a chance to be to Fitzgerald what former quarterback Brian Hoyer was to Mark Dantonio – an immediate spark during a transitionary period to get Michigan State back to a winning record.

Michigan State starting lineup projection

07:08 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

Our Michigan State insider Chris Solari provides his projection for tonight's Spartans starting lineup against the Rockets. And while most of the positions are set, they'll feature many new players as Michigan State features a transfer-heavy roster entering the 2026 season.

Michigan State pick vs Toledo

06:53 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press: Expect this to be a ground-dominated game – especially if heavy rains that are predicted douse Spartan Stadium – that Fitzgerald wants to be the Spartans’ identity moving forward. MSU wants and needs to see its run game show progress and will feed UConn transfer Cam Edwards behind the reconfigured offensive line to grind down the Rockets in the second half for a tone-setting victory and start to Fitzgerald’s tenure. The pick: MSU 28, Toledo 14.

Spartan Walk No. 1

06:46 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

It's the first Spartan Walk of 2026, the first of the Pat Fitzgerald era. Kickoff in a little over an hour.

Michigan State uniforms vs Toledo

06:34 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

Green helmets, green jerseys, white shorts – did you expect anything else from the Spartans in their home opener?

Michigan State is rocking its classic look tonight.

Michigan State weather update vs Toledo

06:17 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

Tonight's game may be affected by rain, but according to AccuWeather, there should be intermittent clouds in East Lansing around kickoff time with thunderstorms not returning until 11 p.m. ET. And while things could change in the meantime, tonight's game should at least kick off at its scheduled 8 p.m. ET start time.

Michigan State time vs Toledo

06:06 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

  • Date: Friday, Sept. 4.
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET.
  • Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing.

Michigan State channel vs Toledo

06:05 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

Michigan State kicks off its season with a home game against Toledo on FS1, with streaming available on Fox One and on Fubo, which carries Fox channels.

Michigan State odds vs Toledo

06:04 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

  • Spread: MSU by 10 points.
  • Over/under: 48½ points.
  • Moneyline: Toledo (+333), MSU (-425).

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday afternoon.

Michigan State 2026 football schedule

06:02 PM ET, September 4 2026, Christian Romo

  • Week 1: vs Toledo, Friday, Sept. 4 (8 p.m. ET, FS1).
  • Week 2: vs Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 12 (3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network).
  • Week 3: at Notre Dame, Saturday, Sept. 19 (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock).
  • Week 4: vs Nebraska, Saturday, Sept. 26 (time and TV TBA).
  • Week 5: at Wisconsin, Saturday, Oct. 3 (time and TV TBA).
  • Week 6: vs Illinois, Saturday, Oct. 10 (time and TV TBA).
  • Week 7: vs Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 17 (time and TV TBA).
  • Week 8: at UCLA, Saturday, Oct. 24 (time and TV TBA).
  • Week 9: BYE.
  • Week 10: at Michigan, Saturday, Nov. 7 (time and TV TBA).
  • Week 11: vs Washington, Saturday, Nov. 14 (time and TV TBA).
  • Week 12: vs Oregon, Friday, Nov. 20 (8 p.m. ET, Fox).
  • Week 13: at Rutgers, Saturday, Nov. 28 (time and TV TBA).

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football game vs Toledo live updates, score in Week 1

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