As the college football landscape shifts into offseason mode, CBS Sports has unveiled its comprehensive 1-138 team rankings, offering a fresh perspective on where every FBS program stands heading into the fall. For Michigan State fans, the verdict is clear: the Spartans find themselves squarely in the middle of the pack.
Coming in at No. 66 overall, Michigan State sits just inside the upper half of the nation's top tier. While that might not raise eyebrows, a closer look at the Big Ten reveals a sobering reality. Among the conference's 18 teams, the Spartans rank near the bottom, with only Purdue (No. 99) trailing them. Wisconsin (No. 61) and Rutgers (No. 64) are just a few spots ahead, but the gap is a reminder of the work ahead.
Under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, expectations are tempered. Michigan State enters the 2026 season on a four-year bowl drought, and sportsbooks have set the win total over/under at a modest 3.5. Given this context, the CBS Sports ranking feels less like a surprise and more like a reflection of the program's current reality.
The Spartans open their season on September 4 against Toledo, a matchup that could prove more challenging than anticipated. The Rockets check in at No. 80 in the same rankings, meaning this isn't a guaranteed tune-up. It's a game that could set the tone for a season defined by rebuilding and resilience.
For Michigan State, the path forward starts with proving the doubters wrong—one snap at a time.