Michigan State football to host Oregon, Toledo on Friday night

A night game in late November at Spartan Stadium?

That’s what it looks like for Michigan State football as Fox released its Friday night schedule for the 2026 season on Friday, May 8.

The Spartans are scheduled to host Oregon on Friday, Nov. 20, according to the TV network. A school source also confirmed MSU's season opener against Toledo will be moved to Friday Sept. 4, as has become a Labor Day weekend tradition since 2011.

Michigan State mascot Sparty takes the field ahead of the first half against Western Michigan at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Friday, August 29, 2025.

It will be Oregon's first trip to Spartan Stadium as a Big Ten member and its first visit since 2015, a 31-28 MSU win. That nonconference game was on Sept. 12, and the late-season temperatures will present a far different challenge this time – something that has been an issue for the home team as well in recent years.

In 2022, MSU had to close Spartan Stadium's east side upper deck the Thursday before its home finale against Indiana due to concern over pipes freezing and water being unavailable for concession stands, according to an athletic department spokesman at the time. Temperatures for the Nov. 19 game were in the mid-20s and winds were between 20-40 mph after the noon kickoff. Reported attendance was 56,136, but there were far fewer in the stands for the Hoosiers' eventual 39-31 overtime win.