MSU vs. Western Michigan Theme: "Western" Style

What a Difference an Offseason Makes

College football never takes a nap anymore. Since last season ended, we’ve had:

The Transfer Portal Circus: This year alone over 3,400 FBS athletes entered the transfer portal—that’s more names in motion than Michigan’s list of show-cause notices . Entire rosters flipped, quarterbacks auctioned off like eBay collectibles, and coaches pretending this is still “amateur athletics.” The Big Ten might as well rent U-Hauls for these kids.

NIL Grows Up: Strict oversight now in place, starting the 2025 season, all NIL deals over $600 must go through a clearinghouse, “NIL Go" That’s right — the bagman finally has a W-2. Even better, NIL money is being funneled through Deloitte accountants. Because nothing screams “college tradition” like compliance spreadsheets. Call it capitalism in cleats.

Michigan’s House of Cards: Turns out all those whispered rumors about Ann Arbor’s "Michigan Men" being above the rules were about as sturdy as a house of cards in a wind tunnel. And now? The whole deck has collapsed. Eleven coaches and staff hit with charges or NCAA violations, plus a $30 million fine. Their staff meetings look more like arraignments than game plans. The “Leaders and Best”? Try “Cheaters and Arrests.” Ann Arbor’s new fight song should be played on a cash register.

Pay to Play, the Sequel: Remember when NIL was supposed to be about kids making a little side cash from autograph signings or a car dealership commercial in Podunk, Ohio? Yeah, that was cute. Fast forward to 2025 and the NCAA finally gave up the charade—schools can now pay players directly. Of course, the “blue bloods” are drooling. Michigan fans are already bragging that their school can “outspend” everyone—because nothing says student-athlete quite like a six-figure direct deposit from the same athletic department that couldn’t figure out how to keep Connor Stallions from dressing up like Inspector Gadget.

Last season was, let’s be honest, a 5-7 horror flick that none of us asked to watch. Between the chaos, the off-field circus, and the ghost of Mel Tucker still wandering around somewhere between a buyout negotiation and the witness protection program, Spartan football desperately needed a reset. Enter Jonathan Smith's second season. No flash, no nonsense, no awkward “deep voice hype-up speeches” that sound better on TikTok than they do in the fourth quarter. Smith’s all about culture, discipline, and building a program that isn’t just a headline waiting to happen. After year one’s growing pains, year two is where the foundation really starts to show—and it already feels like the locker room has traded in TMZ drama for Tom Izzo’s “get your lunchpail and go to work” energy. The good news? We don’t need Smith to reinvent football. We just need him to bring back that Dantonio-level grit, get the offense clicking, and keep the program on track. Compared to the Tucker rollercoaster, it’s like swapping out a flashy sports car for a durable pickup truck—it may not make the front page, but it’ll get you through the season without catching fire. Let's get back to work.



Friday 8/30: Western Michigan

Game #1, Tailgate #1
0-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten. Ranked #N/R, CFP #TBD

Our first test: Western Michigan. The Broncos—the pride of Kalamazoo or is that Bells? Spartan Stadium under the lights isn’t a craft beer festival; it’s a battlefield, and the Broncos are about to get busted.

Prediction: Spartans by four touchdowns. The only Bronco Bash happening will be postgame on Munn Field.



THEME: Western Style

Western Michigan likes to call welcome week, “Bronco Bash.” . A little festival, a little football, a lot of local pride. But let’s be honest — if this were Welcome Week at MSU, Bronco Bash would be the side-show no one remembers signing up for. At MSU, Welcome Week sets the tone: Spartan pride, green everywhere, epic tailgates, energy that doesn’t quit, and a sense that you’re part of something bigger than yourself. Bronco Bash? It’s more like the “we tried” cousin who shows up with a bag of chips and a small cooler. We respect the effort… but we’ve got the real party. So this weekend, we’re taking the Bronco Bash concept and turning it Spartan-style: bigger food, louder fans, more laughs, and zero excuses. Think cowboy hats, brisket sliders, Sparty Punch, and maybe a few jokes at “Wastern” expense. It’s our way of saying: you can have your festival, but we’re the tailgate that actually matters.
TAILGATE PLANS

7:00 pm Kickoff — Tailgate Start at 2:00 pm
Night game + first opener = all-day festival. Grills, cornhole, welcome week, and enough Michigan jokes to last until Halloween.



WEATHER FORECAST:

East Lansing, Friday 8/30

Afternoon: Mid-60s, partly sunny — ideal for grilling and tailgate games.

Kickoff: Around 50°, cooling into the 40s under the lights. Hoodie weather, football weather, Spartan weather.

Also check out other Sports events in East Lansing, Festivals in East Lansing.