On3 Roundtable: Gauging expectations for Michigan State's tough 2023 schedule

Michigan State is coming off of a disappointing 2022 season, and things don’t look any easier on paper for 2023.

The Spartans have an incredibly tough schedule for the upcoming season that includes games against potential top 10 preseason teams Washington, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.

Jim Comparoni of SpartanMag recently joined On3’s JD PicKell to discuss what expectations should be heading into 2023.

“I mean I look at it just as an observer — I can’t speak for the fans, necessarily, I know what they’re talking about in a lot of cases,” Comparoni said. “But you look at that schedule, and I don’t think anyone else in the country is playing four top 10 teams. You’ve got Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Washington. So you’re going to be an underdog in those four.”

In addition to those four, the Spartans also must take on an Iowa team on the road that was 8-5 last season and won 10 games the previous year.

Comparoni believes it’s likely the Spartans are an underdog in that game as well.

“You’re going to Iowa, which is always a tough place to play,” Comparoni said. “They’ve got Cade McNamara coming in and a tight end transferring in from Michigan. [Michigan State will] be the underdog in at least five games.”

Outside of those five games, the rest of the schedule is manageable.

But it’s a tough ask to expect the Spartans to win out, especially after some departures this offseason.

Michigan State lost arguably its top player off of last year’s team in Keon Coleman, who entered the transfer portal. Starting quarterback Payton Thorne also transferred out this offseason.

After going 5-7 last year, the hope is that Michigan State can get headed back in the right direction and at least reach a bowl game in 2023. Still, it’s far from a guarantee.

“If you’re good enough to win your winnable games, which is very hard to do, I mean I’m looking at it like 7-5 would be a step in the right direction, 6-6 and a bowl game would be a solid step in a rebuilding year against a very difficult schedule,” Comparoni said. “Now the schedule can look different once the season starts. You don’t know if everybody’s going to be full strength in all areas. … But this year, I see a tough task to get more than six or seven wins.”

The Spartans open the season on Friday, Sept. 1 when they host Central Michigan.