Michigan State football will enter the 2023 season with one of the toughest schedules in the country, but what are the hardest games?
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I take a look at each of the Spartans’ 2023 matchups and rank them from easiest to hardest below:
12
Richmond
Date: Sept. 9
Location: Home
Record in 2022: 9-4 (6-2 in CAA)
Richmond has historically been a solid Football Championship Subdivision program, and last year was no different as the Spiders reached the postseason. But this is still an FCS team that Michigan State should handle. For reference, Virginia, which finished near the bottom of the ACC, beat Richmond by three scores last year, so this better be an easy win for the Spartans.
My prediction: Spartans win
11
Central Michigan
Date: Sept. 1
Location: Home
Record in 2022: 4-8 (3-5 in MAC)
Central Michigan has sometimes been pesky for the Spartans in the past, and this betting line is only a pair of touchdowns in Michigan State’s favor. This may rank as one of the easiest games on the schedule but don’t be surprised if this ends up being tighter than fans would like. This shows you how tough the Spartans’ schedule is in 2023.
My prediction: Spartans win
10
Rutgers
Date: Oct. 14
Location: Away
Record in 2022: 4-8 (1-8 in Big Ten)
All road Big Ten games can be difficult but this is a game Michigan State should win due to its talent advantage. This early season matchup is a game Michigan State cannot afford to lose. It ranks as one of the easier games on the schedule.
My prediction: Spartans win
9
Indiana
Date: Nov. 18
Location: Away
Record in 2022: 4-8 (2-7 in Big Ten)
Indiana and Rutgers are in the same ballpark for bottom feeders in the Big Ten East Division. I’m giving the Hoosiers a slight edge over the Scarlet Knights, but this is another game that Michigan State must win if it is going to reach bowl eligibility in 2023.
My prediction: Spartans win
8
Nebraska
Date: Nov. 4
Location: Home
Record in 2022: 4-8 (3-6 in Big Ten)
It’s hard to forecast what the Cornhuskers will be this fall under first-year head coach Matt Rhule. I expect him to have Nebraska back to contending for conference titles but this is certainly a rebuild, and thus I’m considering this one of the easier games on the Spartans’ 2023 schedule. I don’t expect to be saying the same thing in future years, though.
My prediction: Spartans win
7
Maryland
Date: Sept. 23
Location: Home
Record in 2022: 8-5 (4-5 in Big Ten)
Maryland returns one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten in Taulia Tagovailoa, but it has lost a great many of other pieces on offense. The Terps should again reach bowl eligibility, but I don’t expect much more than that. On the surface this may be considered a toss-up game, but I personally expect Michigan State to win this matchup at home.
My prediction: Spartans win
6
Minnesota
Date: Oct. 28
Location: Away
Record in 2022: 9-4 (5-4 in Big Ten)
A road trip to Minnesota in late October isn’t the hardest to overcome but certainly will be a tough test for the Spartans. Minnesota has consistently been solid in recent years with at least nine wins in each of the last three full seasons. The Golden Gophers should be solid again and this should be a tough matchup for the Spartans.
My prediction: Spartans lose
5
Iowa
Date: Sept. 30
Location: Away
Record in 2022: 8-5 (5-4 in Big Ten)
Like Minnesota, Iowa is always solid and is even tougher to beat on the road. I like the Hawkeyes to contend in the Big Ten West Division this year with another stellar defense and improved offense. This is the beginning of my rankings where games become extremely tough for Michigan State.
My prediction: Spartans lose
4
Washington
Date: Sept. 16
Location: Home
Record in 2022: 11-2 (7-2 in Pac-12)
Washington is one of the preseason favorites to win the Pac-12 this year, and a dark horse to reach the College Football Playoff. The roles have flipped from last year, when Michigan State went out to Seattle to face the Huskies. This is clearly being one of the toughest games on the schedule in 2023 for the Spartans.
My prediction: Spartans win
3
Michigan
Date: Oct. 21
Location: Home
Record in 2022: 13-1 (9-0 in Big Ten)
Is this too low for the preseason top five Wolverines? Maybe. But I have Michigan as only the third toughest game because of how Michigan State typically plays the Wolverines tight regardless of either team’s situation. This game is also being played at Spartan Stadium where Michigan State has won five of the last seven against the Wolverines.
My prediction: Spartans lose
2
Penn State
Date: Nov. 24
Location: Neutral (Ford Field in Detroit)
Record in 2022: 11-2 (7-2 in Big Ten)
With Ohio State and Michigan getting most of the preseason attention, I think some people are sleeping on Penn State. Not me. I see the Nittany Lions being in contention for the Big Ten title and reaching the College Football Playoff this fall. So there’s a good chance the Nittany Lions will have a great deal on the line in this season finale, making this an even harder game for the Spartans.
My prediction: Spartans lose
1
Ohio State
Date: Nov. 11
Location: Away
Record in 2022: 11-2 (8-1 in Big Ten)
A road trip to Columbus is by far the toughest game on the schedule for Michigan State. This is the only game I’m giving Michigan State a less than one percent chance of winning, so this is an easy choice for the toughest game on the schedule this year.
My prediction: Spartans lose
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