Upcoming Michigan State Spartans football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Michigan State football at a glance
Michigan State plays its home games at Spartan Stadium on the East Lansing campus, and the home season runs from late August or early September through November. The Spartans compete in the Big Ten Conference, which they joined for the 1953 season, and the school claims six national championships, including the 1952 and 1965 wire-service titles (the AP and Coaches polls).
Football started as a club sport at what was then Michigan Agricultural College in 1885 and became a varsity sport in 1896. The program's peak came in two stretches. Biggie Munn's teams won national titles in 1951 and 1952 and put together a 28-game winning streak, and Duffy Daugherty's 1965 and 1966 teams were also named national champions. The 1966 team played No. 1 Notre Dame to a 10–10 tie at Spartan Stadium in what national media called the Game of the Century.
The modern high point came under Mark Dantonio, who coached from 2006 to 2019 and became the program's winningest coach. His teams won Big Ten titles in 2010 (shared), 2013 and 2015, and the 2015 team reached the College Football Playoff. Coaching staffs and rosters change often in college football, so check the team's official site for the current staff.
Spartan Stadium and how the bowl is laid out
Spartan Stadium opened in 1923 with 14,000 seats and has been expanded many times since. The east and west sides were double-decked in 1957, the year the stadium took its current name. The biggest recent change came in 2005, when an eight-story addition on the west side added a press box, 24 luxury suites and roughly 800 to 862 club seats (sources differ on the exact club count). That west tower is the tallest building in East Lansing.
Capacity figures vary by source. The 2005 expansion brought the listed figure to 75,005, while the athletic department now cites 74,866 after chairback seating was added in 2021. The record crowd is 80,401, set against Notre Dame on September 22, 1990. The field runs north to south, the playing surface is natural grass, and permanent lights were installed in 2017.
The upshot for buyers: the two sideline grandstands are both double-decked, the west side holds the premium seating, and the end zones are single-level seating closer to the field than the upper decks.
Where to sit at Spartan Stadium
- Lower sideline between the 30-yard lines. The best views of the game, and the seats that sell first. Rows in the middle of the lower bowl see over the bench area better than the first few rows.
- West side club and suite levels. Indoor amenities and chairback seating in the 2005 tower, which underwent another renovation of suite floors 4, 7 and 8 completed for 2025. These are the most expensive seats in the building.
- Upper decks on either sideline. A full view of plays developing and usually the best value for a big game. The trade-off is height and distance from the field.
- End zones. Closer to the field than the upper decks, but depth perception between the 20-yard lines is poor. Good for budget buyers and for families who want to be in the crowd without paying sideline prices.
Sun and shade. Because the field runs north to south, afternoon sun sets in the west. As a rule of thumb, seats on the east side face the sun during afternoon kickoffs, while the west side has the sun at its back. On a warm September afternoon that matters; for a November game, the sunny side can be the warmer choice. Night games remove the issue.
Visiting fans buy wherever they can find seats on resale, so it is common to see opposing colors scattered through the end zones and upper decks for rivalry games.
Rivalries and the games that draw the biggest crowds
Michigan is the rivalry that drives demand. The two schools play annually for the Paul Bunyan–Governor of Michigan Trophy, first awarded in 1953, and the Big Ten's scheduling model protects the game every year. When the game is in East Lansing, it is the hardest home ticket of the season. The 2021 meeting, a 37–33 Spartan comeback between two top-10 teams, drew more than 76,500.
- Notre Dame (Megaphone Trophy). A historic series, including the 1966 tie. Games are scheduled intermittently, with the next meeting set for 2027 as of 2026.
- Penn State (Land Grant Trophy). Named for the two schools' shared founding year of 1855 as land-grant universities.
- Indiana (Old Brass Spittoon). A trophy game first presented in 1950.
Beyond rivalries, demand rises for night games, homecoming, games against ranked opponents and the newer Big Ten members from the West Coast, which bring traveling fans who rarely visit East Lansing. Early-season non-conference games are usually the easiest and least expensive tickets.
Gameday traditions and tailgating in East Lansing
The day starts with the Spartan Walk: on the morning of each home game the team walks from the Kellogg Center, across the Red Cedar River and past the Spartan statue into the stadium, with fans lining the route. Inside, the public-address announcer declares that it is a beautiful day for football, whatever the weather, and third downs for the opponent bring a clip from the film 300 and a chant from the crowd. Zeke the Wonder Dog, a frisbee-catching dog first seen in 1977, has been a halftime fixture since the tradition returned in 2001.
Tailgating happens across campus parking areas, with popular spots near the tennis courts, the Rock and the library on north campus. As of the athletic department's current guidance, parking lots open at 7 a.m. for kickoffs before 6 p.m. and at 11 a.m. for later games. The campus open-container ban is suspended in parking lots during tailgating hours for fans of legal drinking age, but the pedestrian areas next to the stadium stay alcohol-free, and kegs, trailers and tents larger than 10 by 10 feet are not allowed. Rules change, so check the school's tailgating page before you go.
How Spartans tickets work and why resale matters
As at most Big Ten schools, season tickets are allocated through a donor priority system, and the best sideline locations typically require an annual contribution on top of the ticket price. Students buy a separate student package. Single-game tickets that reach the public tend to be in the end zones and upper decks, and the most-wanted games often sell out to season-ticket holders before they reach general sale.
That is why the resale market is how most fans get into the Michigan game, top-25 matchups and night games. Prices on resale follow demand: they climb when both teams are ranked or a game is moved to prime time, and they can soften when weather turns or a team falls out of contention. Lower sideline seats carry the biggest premium, upper decks and end zones the smallest. Every order through GoodSeats is backed by a 100% guarantee.
As of the 2024–25 season, Michigan State enforces a clear-bag policy (bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus a small clutch about 4.5 by 6.5 inches). Check the official clear-bag page for the current rules before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Michigan State Spartans play football?
The Spartans play at Spartan Stadium on the Michigan State campus in East Lansing, Michigan. The stadium opened in 1923 and has been the program's home ever since.
How many people does Spartan Stadium hold?
The athletic department lists capacity at 74,866 after chairback seating was added in 2021, while older figures put it at 75,005. The record crowd is 80,401 for the 1990 Notre Dame game.
What is the biggest Michigan State home game?
The Michigan game, played every year for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, is the most in-demand home ticket when it is in East Lansing. Games against ranked opponents and night games also sell quickly.
Which side of Spartan Stadium gets the sun?
The field runs north to south, so for afternoon kickoffs the east side generally faces the sun and the west side, where the press box tower stands, has it at its back.
Does Spartan Stadium have a clear-bag policy?
Yes. As of the 2024–25 season, bags must be clear and no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear plastic bag, plus a small clutch. Check the school's current policy before game day.