2026 Michigan State Spartans football team

2026 Michigan State Spartans football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	0–0 (0–0 Big Ten)
Head coach	Pat Fitzgerald (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	vacant
Defensive coordinator	Joe Rossi and Max Bullough (3rd and 1st season)
Base defense	Multiple 4–2–5
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium
Seasons ←  2025 2027 →

The 2026 Michigan State Spartans football team will represent Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans will play their home games at Spartan Stadium located in East Lansing, Michigan, and will be led by first-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Offseason

Coaching changes

Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, the school fired head coach Jonathan Smith after two seasons. ^[1] On December 1, 2025, the school named former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald the team's new coach. ^[2] Fitzgerald retained defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, receivers coach Courtney Hawkins, safeties coach James Adams, and tight ends coach Brian Wozniak. ^[3] Former MSU linebacker Max Bullough was hired as a co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach ^[4] and LeVar Woods was named special teams coach. ^[5]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result
September 5	TBA	Toledo*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI
September 12	TBA	Eastern Michigan*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI
September 19	TBA	at Notre Dame*	Notre Dame Stadium South Bend, IN
*Non-conference game All times are in Eastern time

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Season
Pat Fitzgerald	Head Coach	1st
James Adams	Safeties Coach	2nd
Max Bullough	Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach	1st
Courtney Hawkins	Receivers Coach	7th
Joe Rossi	Co-Defensive Coordinator	3rd
LeVar Woods	Special Teams Coordinator	1st
Brian Wozniak	Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator	3rd

References

1. "Michigan State fires Jonathan Smith: Top candidates, transfers, recruits". ESPN.com. November 30, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
2. "Michigan State hires Fitzgerald, touts 'new era'". ESPN.com. December 1, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
3. "Michigan State football coaching hire tracker: Who has Pat Fitzgerald hired?". Spartan Avenue. December 21, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
4. Bondy, Robert. "It's official! MSU announces hiring of Max Bullough as co-DC, LBs coach". Spartans Wire. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
5. "Why Pat Fitzgerald poaching Iowa coordinator is key move to begin Michigan State tenure". CBS Sports. December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.