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Michigan State's season opener against Central Michigan moved to Friday, Sept. 1

On3 imageby:Jim Comparoni•04/24/23•

JimComparoni

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East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State’s season opener has been moved to Friday night Sept. 1 at Spartan Stadium, the university and Big Ten announced on Monday.

A kickoff time and the TV network broadcasting the game will be released at a later date.

The move, requested by Michigan State, coincides with a recent tradition for Spartan football. This game will mark the ninth time in the past 13 seasons that Michigan State will open with a Friday night game at Spartan Stadium during Labor Day weekend. It’s the 11th time since 2011 that Michigan State will open on a Friday night, as the Spartans opened at Western Michigan in 2015 and at Northwestern in 2021.

Last year, Michigan State beat Western Michigan in the season opener, 35-13, on Friday, Sept. 2 at Spartan Stadium.

Michigan State has preferred to open the season on Friday night of Labor Day Weekend since 2011 in a movement to make attending the game more convenient for Michiganders who want to watch football on Friday but still get a full holiday weekend in during what is regarded as the final weekend of the summer. Former Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis came up with the idea to open the season on Friday night. Michigan high schools across the state have mirrored the movement by moving their games to Thursday of Labor Day Weekend. 

The Spartans will have a total of seven home games in 2023: Central Michigan (Sept. 1), Richmond (Sept. 9), Washington (Sept. 16), Maryland (Sept. 23, Homecoming), Michigan (Oct. 21), Nebraska (Nov. 4) and Penn State (Nov. 25).

The 2023 season ticket renewal deadline is May 1. Fans can contact the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at [email protected] for questions or more information. For the eighth consecutive year, season ticket prices will not increase and will remain at $49 per game ($343 for the seven-game home season) plus the scholarship seat premium. Scholarship seat premiums also remain the same.

Michigan State will begin new public season ticket sales on June 16.

2023 MICHIGAN STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 1: CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Sept. 9: RICHMOND

Sept. 16: WASHINGTON

Sept. 23: MARYLAND (Homecoming)

Sept. 30: at Iowa

Oct. 7: Bye

Oct. 14: at Rutgers

Oct. 21: MICHIGAN

Oct. 28: at Minnesota

Nov. 4: NEBRASKA

Nov. 11: at Ohio State

Nov. 18: at Indiana

Nov. 25: PENN STATE

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