Michigan State football team’s ranking in the USA TODAY Network’s preseason Big Ten poll

July 22, 2024

A tumultuous, scandal-plagued 2023 football season for Michigan State paved the way for a hopeful new era last November when Jonathan Smith was introduced as the Spartans’ new head coach.

Since going 11-2 and winning the 2021 Peach Bowl, Michigan State has struggled, posting a 9-15 record over the past two seasons. The 2023 season was marked by turmoil, as coach Mel Tucker was suspended and eventually fired after Brenda Tracy, a sexual assault survivor and activist who Tucker had previously hired as a speaker for his team, accused him of sexual harassment.

The Spartans’ four wins in 2023 were the second fewest in a season since 1992.

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A newly assembled roster under Smith is expected to make the program a contender for the Big Ten championship again.

While it may take some time, there is hope that goal can be achieved, at least based on Smith’s history as a head coach. During his time at his alma mater, Oregon State, from 2018-2023, Smith improved one of the Pac-12’s most disadvantaged programs, leading the Beavers to a 25-13 record in his final three seasons. That run included a 10-3 finish in 2022, marking only the third time in program history that Oregon State has ever won at least 10 games.

Michigan State opens its 2024 season on August 30 against Florida Atlantic at Spartan Stadium.

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Where is Michigan State football expected to finish in the Big Ten?

In the early stages of Smith’s rebuild, some modest expectations are appropriate.

Michigan State was projected to finish 13th in the newly formed 18-team Big Ten in the USA TODAY Sports Network preseason poll.

The projected rankings were determined based on ballots cast by 13 sports reporters who cover the conference teams for the USA TODAY Sports Network.

The Spartans trail three of the league’s newcomers – No. 2 Oregon, No. 5 USC and No. 9 Washington. The teams ahead of them are, in order, Minnesota, UCLA, Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern and Purdue.

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Projected ranking in Big Ten Football

Here’s a look at the USA TODAY Sports Network’s full preseason poll for the 2024 Big Ten football season, with first-place votes in parentheses:

1. Ohio State (8)
2. Oregon (5)
T-3. Michigan
T-3. Penn State
5. USC
6. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Nebraska
9. Washington
10.Rutgers
11. Maryland
12. State of Michigan
13. Minnesota
14. University of California
15. Illinois
16. Indiana
17. Northwest
18. Purdue

Where is Michigan State football expected to finish in the Big Ten?

Projected ranking in Big Ten Football

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