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.
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This is the second 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 Spartans’ home game against Eastern Michigan…
Matchup Breakdown
Dec 18, 2021; Mobile, Alabama, USA; Eastern Michigan Eagles offensive lineman Richard Bates Jr. (76) wears a decal on his helmet commemorating the November 30 shooting at Oxford High School during the 2021 LendingTree Bowl game between Eastern Michigan and the Liberty Flames at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert McDuffie-USA TODAY Sports
Opponent: Eastern Michigan
Date: September 12, 2026
Rental: Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, Mich.)
Fun Fact About This Matchup
Sep 13, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Eastern Michigan Eagles quarterback Noah Kim (1) looks to the sideline during the second quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
Former Michigan State starting quarterback Noah Kim is now the starter at Eastern Michigan. Kim played in 10 games for the Spartans during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, including starts in the first five games of the 2023 year.
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Kim is entering his second year with the Eagles, appearing in 12 games last season. He threw for just under 3,000 yards and 18 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions last season with Eastern Michigan.
Where Things Stand Entering Matchup
Nov 22, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Brandon Tullis (7) runs the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the third quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
MSU predicted record: 1-0 (0-0 in Big Ten)
Michigan State comes into this game off a season-opening victory over fellow Mid-American Conference foe Toledo in last week’s Friday night game. The Spartans will look to build off that win, and get to 2-0 on the year.
Eastern Michigan enters this road matchup off a pair of predicted home wins and with a 2-0 record. The Eagles opened the season with a Week 0 victory over Sacramento State and then followed that up with a victory over San Jose State. It’s hard to gauge group of six teams this early in the year, but I fully expect the Eagles to come into this matchup with at least one win if not two already on the year.
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Prediction
Oct 4, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Jordan Hall (5) celebrates after an interception during the game against Nebraska at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images
Prediction: Michigan State wins 44-14
Kim is the first of three former Michigan State starting quarterbacks to return to Spartan Stadium this fall, and I expect him to come into this game with an edge. But similarly to the Spartans’ opener against Toledo the week prior, Eastern Michigan will lack the overall talent and depth to hang with Michigan State late into the game. The Spartans pull away in the second half for a convincing victory ahead of a monster road matchup at rival Notre Dame next week.
Next Up
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (6) is covered by Michigan State Spartans cornerback Vavante Copeland (13) during the second half a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Next on the game-by-game predictions list is the Spartans’ final non-conference game at Notre Dame. This prediction will be released tomorrow.
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Click on the links below to see the previous game predictions:
Toledo
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State football 2026 game-by-game predictions: Eastern Michigan
