[1] The following month, Damon Knox declined to take a sixth year of eligibility in order to pursue a career in law enforcement.

[5] The team will host two of the three non–conference games, versus BYU and Notre Dame, both Independent, and FCS-school Furman from the Southern Conference.

Scott carried the ball four times for 33 yards, capping the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to give Michigan State an early 7–0 lead.

Furman received the ball to begin the second half and drove to the MSU 33-yard line before Jon Croft Hollingsworth missed a 50-yard field goal attempt.

The Spartans responded throwing an interception on their first possession of the fourth quarter, giving the Paladins favorable field position and an opportunity to tie the game.

The Michigan State offense made up for the turnover by going on a 12 play, 60-yard drive, with Tyler O'Connor throwing a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Lyles to give the Spartans a 28–13 lead.

With the win, Michigan State won their eighth straight season opener and remained undefeated in home-openers under Mark Dantonio (10–0).

[12] After their first bye week, the Spartans traveled to South Bend to renew the Megaphone Trophy rivalry, the teams' first meeting since 2013.

Notre Dame, after an overtime loss to Texas and a defeat of Nevada, took on the Spartans in what some labelled a must-win for the Irish's playoff hopes.

Momentum appeared to be in the Fighting Irish's favor, but their ensuing drive netted negative yards as MSU's defense stepped up.

Notre Dame turned the ball over again on a fumble on the first play of their next drive, but MSU could not capitalize and the team exchanged punts.

On the ensuing possession, Michigan State linebacker Jon Reschke, with a severely bandaged hand, intercepted Kizer at the Notre Dame 39.

Michigan State had won the previous meeting in overtime 16–13, snapping Wisconsin's 21 game home-winning streak in the process.

MSU looked to be the team with momentum coming off a win over Notre Dame while Wisconsin had barely beat Georgia State.

However, the Badgers answered on the ensuing possession driving 65 yards before a one-yard pass from freshman quarter Alex Hornibrook to Eric Steffes put the Baders up 7–3.

Seven plays later Corey Clement scored on a one-yard touchdown run, but the kick failed as Wisconsin increased its lead to 13–3.

The Spartans responded with their longest drive of the game, but were turned away at the Wisconsin 23 and settled for a Michael Geiger 40-yard field goal to bring the score to 13–6.

However, on the ensuing possession, LJ Scott was hit, the ball popped loose, and was picked up and returned 66 yards by Leo Musso to extend the Badger lead to 20–6.

However, a miscue on the punt allowed Wisconsin to take over on the five-yard line and Corey Clement scored his second touchdown of the game and move the lead to 30–6 with the less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Spartans attempted to make comeback on their next possession, but a good drive into Wisconsin territory ended with another O'Connor interception.

With the Old Brass Spittoon on the line, MSU started the game with an almost 10 minute drive aided by an Indiana pass interference call on a third down play.

The Spartans and Hoosiers exchanged punts before MSU went 77 yards to increase their lead to 14–0 capped off by a 24-yard pass from O'Connor to Delton Williams.

With 11 seconds remaining, O'Connor hit TE Josiah Price for the easy score and Michael Geiger tied itwith the extra point as the teams headed to overtime, 21–21.

Michigan State scored a touchdown on its first drive, but the BYU defense shut down the Spartans for the remainder of the first half.

A Damian Terry interception on MSU's ensuing possession set the Cougars up for their third touchdown of the game and increased their lead to 24–7.

MSU drew within 10 on the ensuing possession on a one-yard touchdown run by Terry, but the Cougars answered with an eight-play, 80-yard drive to end the game.

Clayton Thorson was intercepted on Northwestern's next possession and Justin Layne returned the pick 43 yards to give the Spartans a 14–0 lead.

Maryland extended the lead to 14–7 after a missed extra point and MSU tied the game on a one-yard run by Gerald Holmes.

MSU fell 32–23 and moved to 2–6 and 0–5 on the season.In what proved to be a low point in Michigan State's season, they lost to an Illinois team they were heavily favored over.

Michigan State's gameplan was to shut down explosive running back Saquon Barkley, which proved successful.