2026 MATRIXWEEK 9138 FBS TEAMS56 GAMESCOLLEGE FOOTBALL DECODEDMODEL + MARKET + CONTEXT
GameDay Matrix
MS
Big Ten · Spartans · 2-6

Michigan State

Ratings fitted through Week 8. Results through October 25.

Preseason roster reference: Only three starters return and the program is changing coaches and systems, making the median lower and the outcome range unusually wide.

MPR #71Projected Wins #129Big Ten MPR #17Ratings through Week 8 · Outlook October 25
Matrix Power Rating-0.4National #71
Projected Wins2.88National #129
Schedule Strength#22National SOS rank
Projected Offense19.6Remaining-schedule average
Projected Defense32.5Remaining-schedule average
Point Differential-12.9Projected per game
Week 8 Model Update

Model Response

Moved Down

The Week 8 review is complete. This panel shows the rating change and its football context.

Week-over-Week MPR-0.15 → -0.37-0.21 MPR
Rank#70 → #71-1 spots
Projected Wins3.06 → 2.88Week 9 refresh
SEASON STRENGTH UPDATE

Lost to UCLA 10–28. The opponent-adjusted season fit moves power -0.2 points; unit inputs are retained.

External Headlines

Latest Michigan State news.

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Outcome Range

Season Distribution

Completed results through October 25 are fixed. Remaining-game probabilities use the ratings fitted through Week 8.

Current Season OutlookResults through October 25
2
3
4
5
6
The gold bar is the current mode (3 wins). Each remaining game is treated independently; shared rating uncertainty is not included. Bars below 0.05% are omitted.
Season Market Reference · 2026-08-08
Current Forecast / Preseason Quote

The August 8 quote is retained for comparison. This gap is not a current betting recommendation and does not define team strength.

Preseason Posted Total4.5
Preseason Effective Market4.18
Current Win-Total Gap-1.30
Quote StatusReference only
Game by Game

2026 Schedule Matrix

Upcoming games use season-strength ratings after Week 8. Completed results retain their original pregame Matrix forecast.

DateOpponentWin %Score / ResultMarginTotalConfidenceType
SEP 4ToledoHome · NonconferenceFINALGame Status30–20Final · Pregame Matrix 31–18+12.9Margin48.4TotalFINALFBSOpponent
SEP 12Eastern MichiganHome · NonconferenceFINALGame Status35–7Final · Pregame Matrix 35–17+28.0Final Margin51.6TotalFINALFBSOpponent
SEP 19Notre DameAway · NonconferenceFINALGame Status10–27Final · Pregame Matrix 13–41-28.7Margin53.9TotalFINALFBSOpponent
SEP 26NebraskaHome · Big TenFINALGame Status13–31Final · Pregame Matrix 22–30-7.3Margin51.7TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 3WisconsinAway · Big TenFINALGame Status3–31Final · Pregame Matrix 21–24-3.8Margin44.8TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 10IllinoisHome · Big TenFINALGame Status37–38Final · Pregame Matrix 24–30-6.0Margin53.4TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 17NorthwesternHome · Big TenFINALGame Status21–24Final · Pregame Matrix 21–27-5.6Margin48.0TotalFINALFBSOpponent
OCT 24UCLAAway · Big TenFINALGame Status10–28Final · Pregame Matrix 21–33-12.8Margin54.2TotalFINALFBSOpponent
NOV 7MichiganAway · Big Ten13%Win %16–33Current projection-17.2Margin49.4TotalLowFBSOpponent
NOV 14WashingtonHome · Big Ten26%Win %20–30Current projection-9.5Margin50.4TotalMediumFBSOpponent
NOV 20OregonHome · Big Ten7%Win %15–38Current projection-22.2Margin53.1TotalMediumFBSOpponent
NOV 28RutgersAway · Big Ten42%Win %26–29Current projection-2.9Margin55.8TotalLowFBSOpponent
Upcoming games use current ratings. Completed games preserve their original forecast and final result.
← All Teams

Week 8 closeout is complete. Season-win market comparisons retain the August 8 quote vintage; they are reference comparisons. Season-win distributions condition on played results and use independent remaining-game probabilities.

Active net power -0.37 = OFF 26.45 − DEF 25.73 + ST -0.62 + legacy residual -0.00 + season adjustment -0.47. Sigma 3.68.