New Michigan State Coach Pat Fitzgerald Prioritizes Beating Michigan

Fitzgerald's comments show he understands the importance of the Michigan-MSU rivalry.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 12:49am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a college football rivalry game, with the players and field abstracted into bold, angular shapes in a palette of deep green, navy blue, and bright maize.A cubist interpretation of the intense Michigan-Michigan State football rivalry, capturing the energy and passion of the annual matchup.East Lansing Today

In his first spring with the Michigan State Spartans, new head coach Pat Fitzgerald has already made it clear that beating the Michigan Wolverines is a top priority for the program. Fitzgerald mentioned the Michigan game specifically, noting it comes 203 days from the end of spring ball, indicating it's a constant focus for the team.

Why it matters

The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry is one of the most intense in college football, and having a head coach who fully embraces and prioritizes that rivalry is crucial for the Spartans. Fitzgerald's comments show he understands the importance of this game to Michigan State's fanbase and program.

The details

Fitzgerald, who previously served as the head coach at Northwestern, took over the Michigan State program this offseason. In his remarks following the Spartans' spring showcase, he mentioned the Michigan game three times, noting the specific number of days until that matchup. This indicates the rivalry game is a constant focus for Fitzgerald and his staff as they work to rebuild the Spartans into a contender.

  • The 2026 season kicks off in 141 days.
  • Michigan State takes on Michigan in 203 days.

The players

Pat Fitzgerald

The new head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, who previously served as the head coach at Northwestern.

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What they’re saying

“We start camp in 110 days. We'll be back in Spartan Stadium, take on the opener in 141 days, and we go down the road to take down Michigan in 203 days. So those things were on top of mind with our coaches, with our program.”

— Pat Fitzgerald, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans

What’s next

Fitzgerald and the Spartans will continue their offseason preparations, with the focus on the season opener and the highly anticipated matchup with Michigan in 203 days.

The takeaway

Fitzgerald's comments demonstrate his understanding of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry and his commitment to making it a top priority for the Spartans. This mindset aligns with the program's history of success under previous coaches like Mark Dantonio, and it suggests Fitzgerald is the right fit to revive the Spartans and restore their competitiveness against their in-state rival.