Michigan State football will enter the 2022 season with one of the more tougher schedules in the country, but what are the toughest games for the Spartans?
I take a look at each of the Spartans’ 2022 matchups and rank them from easiest to hardest below:
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No. 12 – Akron
Charles LeClaire?USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 2-10 (1-7in MAC)
Akron has lived in the basement of the Mid-American Conference the past few seasons and this year should be no different so this is by far the Spartans’ easiest game this fall.
No. 11 – Western Michigan
Mike DiNovo/USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 8-5 (4-4in MAC)
Western Michigan is a good MAC program, but still should be no match for Michigan State in a season-opening Friday night matchup that’ll surely have plenty of juice.
No. 10 – Indiana
Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times
Record in 2021: 2-10 (0-9in Big Ten)
Indiana had a disastrous 2021 season so it’s hard to have high expectations for the Hoosiers this fall — which makes them a safe choice as my easiest conference matchup for Michigan State.
No. 9 – Rutgers
Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 5-8 (2-7in Big Ten)
Rutgers at home late in the season has historically been an easy win for Michigan State so I’m confident we’ll see the same thing this upcoming fall.
No. 8 – at Illinois
Mike DiNovo/USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 5-7 (4-5in Big Ten)
Illinois was a surprise team in 2021, nearly qualifying for a bowl game when many picked them to finish last in the Big Ten West Division. However, the rebuild is still in the works for the Fighting Illini this year so this comes in as the Spartans’ easiest road game this fall.
No. 7 – at Maryland
Jesse Johnson/USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 7-6 (3-6in Big Ten)
Maryland has some offensive firepower and this has the making to be a trap game for the Spartans. I still like Michigan State’s odds to beat the Terps but this is where the games start to get tougher in the rankings.
No. 6 – Minnesota
Jesse Johnson/USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 9-4 (6-3 in Big Ten)
Minnesota is expected to contend for the Big Ten West Division title in 2022 so this is the first of six truly tough opponents in these rankings. Good thing this is a home game for the Spartans.
No. 5 – at Washington
James Snook/USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 4-8 (3-6 in Pac-12)
Washington is breaking in a new coach and coming off a brutal 2021 season, but it’s never easy flying across the country and knocking off a fellow power five opponent. This will be a battle for Michigan State, regardless of how good Washington truly is this year.
No. 4 – Wisconsin
Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 9-4 (6-3 in Big Ten)
Wisconsin is similar to Minnesota and will also contend for the Big Ten West Division this fall. But I’m giving the Badgers the slight edge in these rankings due to their historic success and annually high-floor.
No. 3 – at Michigan
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 12-2 (8-1 in Big Ten)
The Spartans always play the Wolverines tough — which is why I have Michigan one spot lower than many may have expected. I also anticipate the Wolverines not living up to last year’s success this upcoming fall.
No. 2 – at Penn State
Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 7-6 (4-5in Big Ten)
It’s never easy winning in Happy Valley and I’m anticipating a bounce-back season for the Nittany Lions in 2022. Both of those reasons results in Penn State as the second-toughest game on Michigan State’s schedule
No. 1 – Ohio State
Joseph Maiorana/USA TODAY Sports
Record in 2021: 11-2 (8-1 in Big Ten)
The Buckeyes being at the top of the list should come as no surprise. Even though this is a home game for the Spartans, it’ll be extremely tough for Michigan State to knock off Ohio State in early October.
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