Michigan State football schedule 2022: Early game-by-game picks for Spartans

Mel Tucker looks to build off his breakthrough 2021 season leading Michigan State football.

2021 was an absolute fantastic second season for Mel Tucker at the helm of the Michigan State football program.

While being a super late hire and the onset of COVID complicated things in 2020, Tucker proved he was the right man for the job with an incredible 2021 campaign. Michigan State went 11-2 last fall with signature wins over in-state rival Michigan and Pitt in the Peach Bowl. Of course, the Spartans still play in the same gauntlet known as the Big Ten East, but things are trending up.

Here is what Michigan State will be up against, as the Spartans try to navigate the 2022 slate.

Michigan State football schedule 2022: Game-by-game prediction

• Sept. 3: vs. Western Michigan Broncos — W
• Sept. 10: vs. Akron Zips — W
• Sept. 17: at Washington Huskies (Seattle, WA) — W
• Sept. 24: vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers — W
• Oct. 1: at Maryland Terrapins (College Park, MD) — W
• Oct. 8: vs. Ohio State Buckeyes — L
• Oct. 15: vs. Wisconsin Badgers — W
• BYE
• Oct. 29: at Michigan Wolverines (Ann Arbor, MI) — L
• Nov. 5: at Illinois Fighting Illini (Champaign, IL) — W
• Nov. 12: vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights — W
• Nov. 19: vs. Indiana Hoosiers — W
• Nov. 26: at Penn State Nittany Lions (University Park, PA) — W

Early record prediction: 10-2

The really cool part in all this is the perception of Michigan State football is changing for the better. With a new, firm commitment to being a first-class football program, with the help of Rocket Mortgage, expect for the Spartans to be remain one of the five best teams in Big Ten football going forward. They will contend for division titles, conference championships and playoff berths.

Michigan State should breeze through its September slate with non-conference wins over Western Michigan, Akron and on the road at rebuilding Washington. If Michigan State is every bit as good as everybody says they are, the Spartans should beat Minnesota at home in their final game of September to get to 4-0. Then, this is where things start to get very interesting for them.

The Spartans should beat Maryland in College Park to start the year out 5-0. Unfortunately, Michigan State plays in the same Big Ten East as conference favorite Ohio State. They will suffer their first loss in early October to the Buckeyes in what should be a great Big Noon Saturday affair. After that, the Spartans must bounce back and take care of business vs. Wisconsin before the bye.

At 6-1 coming out of the bye, Michigan State will be up against it vs. Michigan. While this one could go either way, it being in Ann Arbor means the spoils go to the victors. Again, another instant classic, but Michigan will be so up for this one. After that, Michigan State should breeze to 9-2 heading into the Penn State game with conference wins at Illinois, vs. Rutgers and vs. Indiana.

With an opportunity to achieve back-to-back New Year’s Six bowls, Tucker and his team must find the strength from within to eke out a hard-fought battle vs. rival Penn State. This is very much an either-or game with the winner feeling good about its chances to playing in a meaningful holiday season bowl. A win will not get Michigan State to the Rose Bowl, but success will be sustained.

Ultimately, Michigan State’s ceiling next year is going 11-1, winning the Big Ten East and having a shot of winning the Big Ten to reach the College Football Playoff for a second time. The Spartans are losing either at home vs. Ohio State or on the road vs. Michigan. They are not winning both of these games, but splitting the pair is certainly within the realm of possibility for Tucker’s Spartans.

As far as a 2022 floor, the Spartans go 8-4 with additional losses vs. Wisconsin and at Penn State.

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