FOX analyst ranks Michigan State near bottom in preseason college football list
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 23, 2026, 1:17 PM
Last updated Aug 23, 2026
RJ Young of FOX Sports has placed Michigan State at No. 120 in his preseason rankings for college football. This positioning makes the Spartans the lowest-ranked team in the Big Ten, just behind Purdue. Young's comments highlight issues facing the program, referencing the need for improvement under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who has not coached since being fired in 2023. Michigan State is set to begin its 2026 season against Toledo on September 4, with kick-off scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
- •Michigan State ranked No. 120 out of 138 teams by RJ Young.
- •Spartans are last in the Big Ten, trailing Purdue.
- •Young's assessment highlights internal challenges for the program.
- •Pat Fitzgerald takes over as head coach amidst past controversies.
- •Michigan State opens the season against Toledo on September 4.
- 1:17 PMYahoo Sports — FOX Sports analyst trashes Spartans in comical preseason college football rankings
"One FOX Sports analyst has released a batch of preseason rankings that has Michigan State shockingly low to enter the year
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