3&Out: No. 11 Michigan State soccer set for another showdown tonight vs. No. 13 Wisconsin

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State has put together a strong start to the 2026 season, but the schedule is about to provide another serious test. The No. 11-ranked Spartans return home Friday night to face No. 13 Wisconsin at DeMartin Stadium. Michigan State enters with 6-1-1 record after a 1-0 road win over Penn State last Friday. Here are three takeaways heading into Friday’s matchup. 1. DARAKDJIAN’S COMEBACK IS ALREADY PAYING OFF If you’re looking for an easy-to-understand storyline, it’s Andrew Darakdjian. The senior forward transferred to Michigan State from Oakland University in 2025, but he never got the chance to play his first season in the green and white after suffering an ACL injury. Now he’s back — and scoring. Darakdjian (6-1, Sr., Commerce Township, Mich. | Walled Lake Northern) has started all eight games this season and leads the Spartans with four goals. His two-goal performance against Northwestern on Sept. 15 gave him his first Big Ten goals after missing the entire 2025 season. Michigan State head coach Damon Rensing was excited about what Darakdjian could bring when he originally arrived at Michigan State, saying the forward had scored goals during the spring before suffering the injury. A year later, Darakdjian is showing exactly why the Spartans wanted him. “He’s strong,” Rensing said. “He runs to the near post. He gets in the box and he’s a very good finisher. You saw that against Northwestern. He can finish one-time really well, can strike the ball with either foot, is good in the air with his head. He is kind of forward’s forward. He doesn’t need a lot of touches, but he can score when called upon.” And he’s providing some scoring punch for a team with hopes of remaining among the Top 15 in the nation, and possibly breaking back into the Top 10. 2. THE BIG TEN SCHEDULE IS NO JOKE Friday’s game against Wisconsin is another reminder of how difficult Michigan State’s conference schedule can be. The latest United Soccer Coaches poll has five Big Ten teams ranked in the national Top 25. Indiana is No. 2, Ohio State is No. 3, Wisconsin is No. 13, Maryland is No. 25 and Michigan State is No. 11. That means Michigan State isn’t simply playing a tough conference schedule. The Spartans are playing one of the toughest schedules in the country. Wisconsin started the season 5-0 before opening Big Ten play against three ranked opponents in Ohio State, Maryland and Indiana. The Badgers are now 5-1-1. For Michigan State, Friday is another opportunity to prove it belongs among the conference’s top teams. Michigan State’s 2-0 victory over Northwestern on Sept. 15 – just days after the Wildcats blasted then-No. 2 Maryland, 4-0, on Sept. 11 – was the latest example that the Spartans can ramp it up when necessary. Now, they need to keep proving it. The Spartans have matches coming up at No. 25 Maryland (Oct. 9), at No. 3 Ohio State (Oct. 16), vs. defending National Champion Washington (Oct. 23) and at No. 2 Indiana (Nov.). Throw in a game at UCLA on Oct. 3, and the annual battle for Big Bear Trophy vs. Michigan (Oct. 13 in East Lansing) and there are tests all over the place for the Spartans. Rensing is hoping to prove that this can be one of his best teams at Michigan State, but racking up wins in the days ahead will be a steep challenge. “The Big Ten is far and away the best conference in the country this year,” said Rensing, who is in his 18th year as head coach of the Spartans. “That makes is great, and it makes is nerve-wracking for us coaches because there is not a bad loss on that schedule, and every win is a great win. And every win is going to be earned because there are a lot of good teams in this conference.” 3. THIS TEAM KNOWS HOW TO FIND A GOAL Michigan State’s Oscar Huerta (15), Luke Spadafora (11) and Richie Ludwig (10) celebrate with Michigan State fans during a recent Spartan soccer game at DeMartin Stadium. | Photo courtesy @MSU_MSoccer One thing that stands out about this Michigan State team is how many different ways it can create offense. The Spartans are currently second in the country in assists per game and third nationally in total assists. They’re also averaging 8.5 points per game, good for ninth in the NCAA. That showed up again in the win at Penn State. With the game still scoreless late, Michigan State created its breakthrough in the 85th minute when Oscar Huerta (6-1, Jr., Melvindale, Mich.) headed home a cross from Miles Merritt (5-10, Sr., Albuquerque, N.M.) It was Huerta’s first goal of the season and enough to give the Spartans a 1-0 victory. For a team playing this many difficult opponents, being able to manufacture a goal when the game is tight could become one of Michigan State’s most important strengths. As for Friday’s game against Wisconsin, Rensing said battles in the penalty areas will be pivotal. “The key for us is the two 18s (18-yard penalty areas),” he said. “Wisconsin has some very good size. They’re pretty good in transition and on restarts. If we can defend those moments well, and if we can attack some wide play – our wide players have been pretty good and dangerous – that’ll be important. “It’ll be a big game. It’ll be a fun night and we should have a good crowd.” EXTRA TIME: The No. 2-ranked Michigan State women’s soccer team defeated Nebraska, 3-2, in dramatic fashion, Thursday night at DeMartin Stadium. Emerson Sargeant (5-8, Sr., MF, Harland, Mich.) broke a 2-2 tie with a goal in the 87th minute. Kennedy Bell (7-7, Sr., F, Charlotte, N.C.) and Shelby Vaughn (5-5, Jr., Creston, Ohio) also scored goals for Michigan State (7-1-2), which bounced back from last week’s bothersome 3-1 loss to Michigan while the Spartans held the nation’s No. 1 ranking. The late marker to beat Nebraska, and the closing-seconds goal by Ella Janz (5-5, Sr., MF, Northville, Mich.) to tie Notre Dame on Sept. 3, proves that this team has a flair for the dramatic, along with talent up and down the pitch. Getting over the Michigan loss shouldn’t be difficult as Michigan State aims for its third Big Ten title in five years, and hopes to advance further than last year’s first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance. The Spartans, under fifth-year head coach Jeff Hosler (77-21-22), will play host to No. 17 Washington at 1 p.m. on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium. As of now, Sunday’s match against the Huskies will present the Spartans with their highest-ranked opponent for the remainder of the regular season.