Where does MSU football land in 138 rankings by CBS Sports?
TL;DR
Michigan State football is ranked No. 66 out of 138 teams by CBS Sports, placing them in the upper half of FBS college football. Among Big Ten teams, they rank near the bottom, just ahead of Purdue at No. 99.
Key points
- Michigan State ranked No. 66 out of 138 teams by CBS Sports
- Spartans are near the bottom of the Big Ten rankings
- Team has low expectations under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald
Mentioned in this story
Where would you rank Michigan State among every team in FBS college football? CBS Sports has answered that question with the conclusion of spring practice and as we look ahead to the fall.
CBS Sports has released their updated 1 - 138 teams rankings, with Michigan State essentially landing right in the middle of all college football. The Spartans came in at No. 66 overall, which is just inside the upper half of the sport.
Among Big Ten teams, Michigan State was near dead last in the league. Of the 18 teams in the Big Ten, the Spartans were only ahead of Purdue -- who was ranked No. 99 nationally. Wisconsin (No. 61) and Rutgers (No. 64) were only a few spots ahead of the Spartans as the next closest conference foes.
Michigan State enters this upcoming season with low expectations under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald. The Spartans are in the midst of a four-year bowl drought, and have a wins total over/under at 3.5 at most sports books for the upcoming season. So the low ranking from the CBS Sports crew is not surprising to see.
Michigan State opens the 2026 season on September 4 against Toledo. For reference, the Rockets are ranked at No. 80 in the CBS Sports poll, so this could be a tougher season-opener than some (including myself) may be expecting.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Where does MSU football land in 138 rankings by CBS Sports?
Q&A
What is Michigan State's ranking in CBS Sports' college football rankings?
Michigan State is ranked No. 66 out of 138 teams in CBS Sports' college football rankings.
How does Michigan State's ranking compare to other Big Ten teams?
In the Big Ten, Michigan State ranks near the bottom, only ahead of Purdue, which is ranked No. 99.
What are the expectations for Michigan State football this season?
Michigan State enters the season with low expectations, facing a four-year bowl drought and a wins total over/under of 3.5.
