Michigan State Spartans at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Michigan State and Rutgers wrap the 2026 regular season against each other, and neither program is playing for a championship — they're playing to end a transition year on a high note.

Bush’s Picks

MSURUTG

MSURUTG

OverUnder

Best BetRutgers

Rutgers gets the nod here mostly on continuity — Schiano's staff isn't dealing with a first-year head coach and a coordinator shuffle the way Michigan State is. The Scarlet Knights' own quarterback situation is far from settled, but a home game against a Spartans team that's been favored in almost nothing this season tilts things toward Rutgers.

Michigan State

• +Milivojevic named starter early, no QB controversy
• +Experienced Fancher as a proven backup option
• +New staff brings fresh scheme and energy
• −Went 1-8 in Big Ten play last season
• −QB coach Bajakian left before February
• −Favored in only a handful of games all season

Rutgers

• +Schiano brings 18 years of program stability
• +Finished 5-7, more competitive than MSU in 2025
• +Transfer QB Lonergan brings starting experience
• −Lost leading passer Kaliakmanis to the NFL Draft
• −QB competition still unresolved entering the year
• −Defense identified as needing real work

This one's really about two quarterback rooms trying to find their footing. Michigan State handed the job to redshirt sophomore Alessio Milivojevic under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, with UCF transfer Cam Fancher — who threw for 333 yards and ran for 170 more last season — as the experienced safety net. Rutgers is working from behind after Athan Kaliakmanis, who threw for 3,124 yards in 2025, bolted for the NFL Draft. Boston College transfer Dylan Lonergan came in to compete for the job, and as of the spring, Greg Schiano still hadn't settled on his guy.

Fitzgerald's rebuild has had its own turbulence — he brought in Nick Sheridan as offensive coordinator and hired Mike Bajakian to coach quarterbacks, only for Bajakian to leave before February. That kind of staff churn matters for a group trying to install a new system with a first-year starter under center. Rutgers, meanwhile, is dealing with a defense that needs real work after a 2025 season that ended with the Scarlet Knights turning down a bowl bid.

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MSU Michigan State

RUTG Rutgers

Both jobs carry real pressure heading into this stretch. Fitzgerald was hired specifically to pull Michigan State out of a fourth straight losing season, and Schiano — now in year 18 — has been described by rival coaches as facing a make-or-break year if results don't turn. That backdrop follows both teams into their Black Friday finale.

Michigan State Spartans

Nov 20?vs Oregon—

Nov 13?vs Washington—

Nov 6?@ Michigan—

Oct 16?vs Northwestern—

Oct 9?vs Illinois—

Oct 2?@ Wisconsin—

Sep 25?vs Nebraska—

Sep 19?@ Notre Dame—

Sep 12?vs Eastern Michigan—

Sep 4?vs Toledo—

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Nov 20?@ Penn State—

Nov 13?vs Nebraska—

Nov 6?@ Wisconsin—

Oct 30?vs Michigan—

Oct 16?@ Maryland—

Oct 3?vs Indiana—

Sep 25?vs Howard—

Sep 19?vs USC—

Sep 11?@ Boston College—

Sep 3?vs Massachusetts—

The 2025 numbers tell two different stories of disappointment. Michigan State opened 3-0 before completely bottoming out in conference play, finishing 1-8 in the Big Ten en route to a 4-8 record that got Jonathan Smith fired. Rutgers was more competitive but still finished 5-7 overall and 2-7 in Big Ten play — good enough on paper to get a bowl invite, bad enough that Schiano's staff chose to skip it.

Michigan State Spartans

(0)

Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

(0)

Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report

Neither side enters this game as a heavyweight — oddsmakers reportedly have Michigan State favored in only a handful of games all season, and this isn't expected to be one of them. But for two fan bases that spent 2025 watching their programs slide, closing out the year with a win means something, even against another rebuilding roster.