Michigan State football: New opponent added to 2024 schedule

Michigan State football has finally added a new opponent to its 2024 non-conference schedule after losing Louisiana.

About a month ago, Louisiana canceled its game with Michigan State football for reasons unknown. The Ragin’ Cajuns were scheduled to play MSU in East Lansing in Week 3 of the season on Sep. 14, but their cancellation left a gap in the Spartans’ schedule.

However, on Wednesday Michigan State announced who its new opponent is.

are YOU ready for Spartan football?! pic.twitter.com/ZSb7siLUFa

— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) February 7, 2024

Prairie View A&M added to MSU’s schedule

Prairie View A&M is the final addition to Michigan State’s 2024 football schedule and is the replacement for the already-mentioned Louisiana. The game is scheduled in the same spot on Sep. 14. I know a team like this doesn’t move the needle in excitement, but that likely was never going to happen with whoever MSU added.

Obviously, Michigan State couldn’t add a Big Ten opponent and the Spartans already have a Power Five non-conference opponent on their schedule. So it was always likely for Michigan State to add a weaker opponent to their schedule.

Boston College is the Power Five non-conference opponent for MSU and the Spartans travel to Boston to play them this season. So it also was unlikely for MSU to schedule another away game. So the Spartans’ only option was a weak opponent who was willing to come to East Lansing for the game.

Who is Prairie View A&M?

Prairie View A&M is an FCS program located in Prairie View, Texas. The Panthers are coming off a decent 2023 season that saw them finish 6-6. However, they were 6-2 in conference play, showing that they are a solid team against teams more on their level.

In 2022, the Panthers finished 6-5 and in 2021, they went 7-5. So right around .500 seems like the norm for their program.

Michigan State should have no problem with Prairie View. The Panthers are an FCS program and typically those teams don’t stand a chance against a major college football team. An upset to an FCS team isn’t impossible (see Michigan against Appalachian State in 2007) but it’s extremely unlikely.

Even though this opponent isn’t the most exciting, it’s awesome to finally know what the Spartan’s full schedule will be. Year one under Jonathan Smith can’t get here soon enough.