Schedule
The Spartans opened the 2008 season at California Memorial Stadium against California of the Pac-10. The game ended the home and home between Michigan State and California. The other game was played in the 2002 season at Spartan Stadium. Michigan State played their next three games at home against MAC opponent and instate rival Eastern Michigan, Sun Belt opponent Florida Atlantic, and rival Notre Dame.
Following the conclusion of the non-conference portion of their schedule, the Spartans began Big Ten play with an away game against Indiana and opened October with their first Big Ten home game against Iowa. The Spartans then traveled to Evanston, Illinois to avenge a 2007 overtime loss against Northwestern. The following week, Michigan State returned to East Lansing to play against 2007 BCS runner-up Ohio State. Michigan State ended October in Ann Arbor to play in-state rival and arch nemesis Michigan. The Spartans opened their final month of the regular season against Wisconsin. The following week, Michigan State played its final home game of the season against Purdue. The Spartans had a bye week before traveling to University Park, Pennsylvania to play their final game of the season against Penn State.
| Date | Time | Opponent# | Rank# | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 30 | 8:00 p.m. | at California* | Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA | ABC | L 31–38 | 62,956 | ||
| September 6 | 12:00 p.m. | Eastern Michigan* | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | BTN | W 42–10 | 71,789 | ||
| September 13 | 12:00 p.m. | Florida Atlantic* | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | ESPN2 | W 17–0 | 70,321 | ||
| September 20 | 3:30 p.m. | Notre Dame* | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI (Megaphone Trophy) | ABC | W 23–7 | 76,366 | ||
| September 27 | 12:00 p.m. | at Indiana | Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN (Old Brass Spittoon) | ESPN | W 42–29 | 31,832 | ||
| October 4 | 12:00 p.m. | Iowa | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | ESPN2 | W 16–13 | 77,526 | ||
| October 11 | 3:45 p.m. | at Northwestern | #23 | Ryan Field • Evanston, IL | ESPN2 | W 37–20 | 32,527 | |
| October 18 | 3:30 p.m. | #12 Ohio State | #20 | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | ABC | L 7–45 | 77,360 | |
| October 25 | 3:30 p.m. | at Michigan | Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy) | ABC | W 35–21 | 110,146 | ||
| November 1 | 12:00 p.m. | Wisconsin | #22 | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | ESPN | W 25–24 | 75,121 | |
| November 8 | 12:00 p.m. | Purdue | #18 | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | BTN | W 21–7 | 75,522 | |
| November 22 | 3:30 p.m. | at #7 Penn State | #17 | Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA (Land Grant Trophy) | ABC | L 18–49 | 109,845 | |
| January 1 | 1:00 p.m. | #16 Georgia* | #19 | Florida Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL (Capital One Bowl) | ABC | L 12–24 | 59,681 | |
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