November has not been full of fond memories over the past three years for the Michigan State football team. Having missed bowl eligibility in each of those seasons, that month has left a sour taste in the mouths of both the fans and the teams.

Because Michigan State has not had much to play for to end these last three seasons, the product on the field has significantly affected the fan turnout for the Spartan's post-Thanksgiving games. Even in 2021, when Michigan State was playing for a ten-win season and a New Years Six Bowl, Spartan Stadium was not at capacity in the cold and heavy snow.

It has got to be a tough pill to swallow for players - especially seniors - to run out of the tunnel to a mostly empty Spartan Stadium for their last home game of the season. It also isn't out of the question to assume that playing in front of a fairly empty stadium affects the teams energy and performance; as seen in an embarrassing collapse to Indiana in 2022 and recent drubbing at the hands of Rutgers in 2024.

However, there was an outlier to these games and that was in the form of the 2023 Senior Day game, hosted at Ford Field. Of course, this has been a point of contention for many Spartan fans, but I believe at this point in the program's development under Jonathan Smith it is the right call.

It has been announced that Michigan State's final home game of the 2025 season versus Maryland will be moved to Ford Field. Here are three reasons why I think that, at this point, it is the right move for the program.

This one might seem kind of simple, but that is because it is.

To me, taking away all other factors, it is more enjoyable to watch a football game in a temperature controlled NFL stadium with ample food options than it is to watch in sub-20 degree weather with snow turning the Spartan Stadium aisles into ice.

I'm not the only one to think this way either, as Michigan State, despite already being eliminated from bowl contention, played in front of a packed Ford Field two years ago. Maybe this is an indictment on Michigan State fans and caters to the casual fans, but it is not like there was an army of die-hards who showed up last November against Rutgers.

When the product on the field isn't enough to attract fans; the cold, rain, and snow is sure to deter many of the loyal fans willing to watch their favorite football team purely out of their love and support of the team and not because of season accomplishments. Playing this game at Ford Field takes away that factor and gives fans a desirable location to enjoy a game on a holiday weekend.

I already mentioned it above, but this factor is something I don't think many fans think about when it comes to this decision. Most of the attention is towards how this affects season ticket holders and fans who want to spend their hard earned money supporting the team IN Spartan Stadium. And while it isn't ideal to not play your last home game in your home stadium, I would argue its even less ideal to play your last home game in front of a mostly empty stadium.

The class graduating after the 2025 season has had quite the college experience, having come in while Covid still had an impact on things, experienced the turmoil of the coach that recruited them being fired, learning a new staff and system, and navigating the new realm of NIL.

Add all of these factors into not having much on-field success and it isn't hard to see that Senior Day might lack some juice and enthusiasm. However, moving Senior Day to Detroit allows these players to play in front of a packed, energetic crowd regardless of the weather.

Don't get me wrong, the 2023 contest versus Penn State at Ford Field was not a big game - that game was most likely going to be a blow-out regardless of where it was played. But it is hard not to feel like that game being at Ford Field gave fans and players a tad bit more excitement than if it had been at Spartan Stadium.

Now this might be grasping for straws, but to me it seemed like Michigan State played with more energy and effort in 2023 at Ford Field than they did this past year versus Rutgers. I think this factor relates to my second point above. Regardless of how the season has gone up to that point, playing at a full NFL stadium brings more juice to a game that might otherwise have been played at a half-empty Spartan Stadium. This "big game" feel is felt by players, fans, and media alike and is a cool opportunity for those who might not get to play, watch, or cover in an NFL environment.

All in all, there are definite pros and cons to this decision. Obviously the best atmosphere for Senior Day is a packed out Spartan Stadium. Due to weather and the on-field product, that hasn't been a reality the last several years. To me, this move for 2025 is the correct call to make the most out an unfortunate reality that was the 2022 and 2024 Senior Day games.

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