Michigan State schedule updates from B1G Media Days: Michigan kickoff time announced, Tucker talks Penn State game

East Lansing, Mich. – The Big Ten’s new $7 billion media rights deal went into effect on July 1, introducing a new viewing experience to Michigan State fans and followers of other programs around the conference. NBC, FOX and CBS will broadcast Big Ten games until 2030 as part of the deal. 

The Spartans will tentatively play four games on NBC during the network’s inaugural season as a Big Ten partner. That includes the Michigan game, which will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. from Spartan Stadium on Oct. 21, according to a report from Brett McMurphy on Wednesday. 

Michigan State will also play Maryland, Ohio State and Penn State on NBC this season, should no games get flexed to other networks. The Maryland game will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. from Spartan Stadium on Sept. 23, while the Ohio State and Penn State games will both kickoff at 7:30 p.m. 

Mel Tucker’s Spartans will play the Buckeyes on Nov. 11 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, while the Penn State game will be played at Ford Field in Detroit on Black Friday (Nov. 24). 

Here is a look at Michigan State’s 2023 schedule, with updated networks and kickoff times:

Sept. 1 – vs. Central Michigan – 7 p.m., FS1
Sept. 9 – vs. Richmond – 3:30 p.m., BTN
Sept. 16 – vs. Washington – 5 p.m., Peacock
Sept. 23 – vs. Maryland – 3:30 p.m., NBC*
Sept. 30 – at Iowa – TBA, TBA
Oct. 14 – at Rutgers – 12 p.m., TBA
Oct. 21 – vs. Michigan – 7:30 p.m., NBC*
Oct. 28 – at Minnesota – TBA, TBA
Nov. 4 – vs. Nebraska – TBA, TBA
Nov. 11 – at Ohio State – 7:30 p.m., NBC
Nov. 18 – at Indiana – TBA, TBA
Nov. 24 – vs. Penn State (Ford Field) – 7:30 p.m., NBC
*Pending flex to other network

Tucker on Penn State game: “(It’s) a tremendous opportunity”

Big Ten football fans could feel the effect of the conference’s new television deal at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday as representatives from each media company introduced coaches at the podium. 

Tucker and Penn State head coach James Franklin were both asked about the Ford Field game during the podium portion of the event, hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. 

“This is going to be a tremendous opportunity for our players, great exposure for our program,” Tucker said of the primetime matchup. “(It’s) a national audience in a pro football arena, which I think is going to be great for our team. It’s going to be a great game. We’re going to be in the Detroit area where we recruit. We have a lot of fans there. I think that it’s a great opportunity. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Franklin shared Tucker’s excitement about playing in front of a national audience at an NFL stadium.

“I do think there’s a ton of positives,” Franklin said. “When you talk about that point of the season, being able to play in this venue, I think we’ll pack this place. I think our fans will travel. I think Michigan State will travel extremely well. It’s their home game.

“It’s going to be a great environment. And obviously being indoors that time of year, there’s a real positive that comes from that, too. We’ve had great games against Michigan State. We’re looking forward to that as well.”

Franklin did acknowledge one challenge, however, that both teams will likely have to overcome. 

“I think obviously the one challenge is it will be a Friday game, so you’re talking about later in the season and you’ve got a short week,” Franklin said. “By that point of the year, you’ve got bumps and bruises and challenges with depth. So the Friday night game can be a little bit challenging, but at least it’s a level playing field and we’re both having to deal with that.”

Michigan State will bookend its 2023 season with Friday night games. Along with the Penn State game, the Spartans are set to open the season against Central Michigan at Spartan Stadium on Friday, Sept. 1. 

Michigan State and Penn State have played annually since 2014, the year Rutgers and Maryland joined the Big Ten and the conference implemented its current East and West division format. Franklin was also hired at Penn State in 2014. The Spartans hold a 5-4 record versus the Nittany Lions during that eight-year span.

Before that, Michigan State and Penn State played every season from 1993, when the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten, until 2010.