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Big Ten football standings predictions for the 2023 season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 12: A detailed view of a Big Ten end zone pylon seen before the Illinois Fighting Illini and Michigan Wolverines game at Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 12: A detailed view of a Big Ten end zone pylon seen before the Illinois Fighting Illini and Michigan Wolverines game at Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State’s coach Mel Tucker calls out to players during the opening day of MSU’s football fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in East Lansing.
Michigan State’s coach Mel Tucker calls out to players during the opening day of MSU’s football fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in East Lansing. /

No. 6 Michigan State Spartans (3-9 overall, 1-8 B1G)

  • Prediction

After a rough season in 2022 that saw Michigan State go 5-7 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten, I think the program is ready to take another step backward.

For the 2023 campaign, I have the Spartans struggling even more than last season. They are predicted to go 3-9 overall and finish 1-8 in the Big Ten. The three wins for Michigan State this season are likely to come against Central Michigan, Richmond, and on the road against Indiana.

  • Reasoning

Like I said above, Michigan State only managed five wins last season, and that was with a decent quarterback in Payton Thorne. He has since moved on to Auburn, leaving an already struggling Spartans offense in the dust.

It looks like Noah Kim could end up being the starter in East Lansing this season. He has only played in five games during his three seasons with Michigan State. He has 19 total pass attempts. That is what they are relying on in 2023.

Michigan State didn’t have a good defense in 2022 either. They gave up 27.4 points per game, which ranked No. 63 in the country. The Spartans were also torched on the ground for 178.6 yards per game, which ranked No. 96 in the nation.

A bad offense that is only going to get worse, and a defense that struggles in the rush in the Big Ten is never a good combination. This team should struggle in 2023.

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