If ratings in EA Sports College Football 26 are any indication, Michigan State football might be a little bit better in 2025 than it was in 2024.

The Spartans have an 81 overall rating in this year’s game, which is slightly higher than the team’s 80 overall rating in 2024. That made them one of the lowest-ranked Power Five teams, with only Maryland (79 overall) rated lower than the Spartans among Big Ten teams.

In 2026, the only four conference opponents with a lower rating than the Spartans are Minnesota (78 overall), Northwestern (78), UCLA (78) and Maryland (77).

The game gives Michigan State an 82 rating on offense and an 80 rating on defense.

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Alabama is the top-ranked team in this year’s version of the game with an 89 overall rating, followed by Texas (88), Ohio State (88), Penn State (88) and Notre Dame (88) rounding out the top 5. Michigan has an 85 overall rating and is ranked No. 15 in the game, four spots below their rating in College Football 25.

Michigan State didn’t finish as low as indicated by the game in 2024, with Northwestern, Maryland and Purdue all finishing with a worse conference record than the Spartans. But with a 5-7 overall record, Michigan State continued a three-year streak of losing seasons and once again did not reach a bowl game.

The Spartans hope to turn around their fortunes in 2025, aiming for their first winning season since an 11-2 campaign under Mel Tucker in 2021.

EA Sports College Football 26 will be released to the public on Thursday, July 10.

You can reach Christian at cromo@freepres.com