2026 MAC Football Week 2 Game Preview: Eastern Michigan Eagles at Michigan State Spartans

Setting the scene

The two green college football programs in the Mitten State haven't met since 2014. Chris Creighton was a first-year head coach at Eastern Michigan, and his rebuilding Eagles didn't stand a chance in a 73-14 beatdown at Michigan State.

But Creighton transformed Eastern Michigan football shortly after, rattling off the first three Big Ten wins in program history. He'll look for a fourth at Spartan Stadium against a program notorious for handling MAC competition. Michigan State won its 18th-straight contest over the MAC after surviving Toledo in a four-quarter battle last Friday night.

Michigan State first established dominance over Eastern Michigan in 1898, and through 10 meetings, the Spartans have never lost to the team from Ypsilanti. Does that change Saturday?

Game notes

• Time and date: Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. ET
• Network: Big Ten Network
• Location: Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, MI
• Spread: Michigan State (-17.5)
• Over/under: 49.5
• All-time series: Michigan State leads, 10-0
• Last meeting: Michigan State 73, Eastern Michigan 14 (September 20, 2014)
• Current streak: Michigan State, 10 (1898-2014)

Eastern Michigan Eagles outlook

It's only Week 2, but Eastern Michigan already has a two-game sample size. The Eagles split a pair of home games against California competition, upending Sacramento State in the conference opener but falling to San Jose State.

Eastern Michigan entered the season with some of the top returning offensive production in the MAC. The Eagles retained the conference's 2025 passing yards leader Noah Kim, as well as two linemen, leading receiver Nick Devereaux, and All-MAC tight end Joshua Long. The offensive firepower showed in the opener when Kim collected 279 passing yards and two touchdowns against Sacramento State.

But last week, the Eagles' offense suddenly stalled in the second half. Eastern Michigan's final seven drives amassed 45 combined yards. In that sequence, it punted five times (four three-and-outs), threw a quick interception, and turned it over on downs. The sample size across the country is small, but Eastern Michigan is fourth in the FBS at eight punts per game, thanks to an 8-of-31 showing on third down.

The Eagles repeatedly face third-and-longs, and there's a multitude of reasons. They've had several bad center-quarterback exchanges this year to back them up, and they lack a run game. Excluding Amareon Blue's 50-yard touchdown last week, they have 126 rushing yards on 54 attempts, and that total only includes two sacks. Thus, Eastern Michigan needs to find life on the ground to maximize the passing game led by Kim, Devereaux, and Harold Mack.

But there is one positive development in Ypsilanti. Eastern Michigan fixed its greatest issue from 2025, which was defending the run. The Eagles ranked dead-last in the FBS giving up 232 yards per game on a 5.5 average. Through two games, Eastern Michigan has only surrendered 186 yards total on a 3.5 average. Outside linebacker Zach Mowchan is the face of the run defense right now, leading the unit with 25 stops and two tackles for loss.

The passing defense hasn't been as sound, but it's being tested a lot. Eastern Michigan has defended 87 passing attempts through two games. Although the Eagles allowed 316 passing yards to San Jose State, they have forced a slew of misfires. Cornerback Caleb Dobbs has particularly stepped up in this area, owning an FBS-high five breakups along with an interception.

Lastly, there's an emotional element to this matchup. Kim started five games at quarterback for Michigan State in 2023, and Saturday will be a revenge game of sorts in familiar territory.

Michigan State Spartans outlook

Michigan State hasn't lost an August or September opener since 2008. The Spartans debuted a new head coach in Pat Fitzgerald, but the Week 1 winning tradition sustained. Fitzgerald and the Spartans were tested by Toledo — watching a 13-0 lead completely fizzle in the fourth quarter — but they regained control in the final frame to improve to 1-0.

New offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan shined in his debut, as Michigan State racked up 397 yards — roughly 51 ahead of last season's average. The Spartans reached Toledo territory on every drive except for one, when it punted from its own 48, and scored on all five of their first half possessions.

Despite clear progress, Michigan State's offense isn't close to a finished product for two reasons. One, the Spartans struggled to finish drives. They attempted six field goals in the opener, although Liam Boyd proved to be reliable with five makes, including a 51-yarder. Two, the explosiveness isn't there yet. Michigan State only accrued more than 20 yards on one play all game.

However, there isn't a lack of explosive players on the offense. Former UConn running back Cam Edwards averaged 5.9 yards per carry last season, rattling off a carry greater than 20 yards in eight of 13 games. Wide receiver Chrishon McCray averages more than 15 yards per reception in his college career, regularly getting open downfield. The Spartan offense also features Rodney Bullard Jr., who surpassed his 2025 receptions total in the opener, securing a team-high seven catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.

Alessio Milivojevic is the facilitator of it all, and the quarterback enjoyed a stellar debut with 247 passing yards and a touchdown without an interception, picking apart Toledo's defense with a barrage of short threws.

Defensively, Michigan State had a strong opener but allowing two 60+ yard touchdowns made it a close game. Toledo didn't even take a snap inside Spartan territory until under eight minutes remained in the third quarter. Michigan State was most effective in stopping the ground game. Excluding the Rockets' 71-yard fourth quarter touchdown, the Spartans only allowed six rushing yards, as a defense led by inside linebacker Jordan Hall and NC State transfer defensive end Kenny Soares Jr. consistently overwhelmed the offensive line.

The Spartans' passing defense will be tested often by Eastern Michigan on Saturday. The transfer laden unit saw several impressive showings in the opener — particularly, former Iowa State cornerback Tre Bell, who had two tackles for loss and a pass breakup, and former Louisiana Tech nickel Michael Richard, who led the unit with five stops.

Prediction

This has potential to be Michigan State's best offense since 2021. Alessio Milivojevic showed tremendous poise at quarterback, which has not been a strength of the Spartans this decade. He is also surrounded by capable skill position players, including a 1,200-yard rusher in Cam Edwards, which should provide tremendous balance to the unit.

Michigan State proved last week it can move the ball. Now it just has to finish drives, and that was the difference between scoring 30 and eclipsing 40 in Week 1.

Eastern Michigan's offense cannot consistently the move the ball. There are flashes, and the offense might be able to concoct some explosive plays, just like Toledo did in East Lansing. But the Eagles are regularly encountering three-and-outs, and that is a concerning recipe against a Michigan State defense which overwhelmed Toledo for four quarters, with the exception of two plays.

Michigan State wins its 19th-straight over the MAC, and Chris Creighton will have to wait until Week 3 at Wisconsin before seeking his fourth Big Ten victory.

Prediction: Michigan State 34, Eastern Michigan 10