Michigan State edges Northwestern, 38–21

Michigan State closed as a 3-point underdog and won outright.

It was the 13th-biggest of 16 upsets in 2021 Week 1, and the 181st-biggest of the 2021 season. Michigan State pulled off 3 other upsets in 2021.

Other upsets in 2021 Week 1

1. Montana 13, No. 20 Washington 7

   22.5-point underdogUnranked beat No. 20FCS beat FBSRecap
   Upset size25.5
2. UC Davis 19, Tulsa 17

   22-point underdogFCS beat FBSRecap
   Upset size22
3. East Tennessee State 23, Vanderbilt 3

   21-point underdogFCS beat FBSRecap
   Upset size21
4. Northern Illinois 22, Georgia Tech 21

   19-point underdogRecap
   Upset size19
5. Utah State 26, Washington State 23

   17-point underdogRecap
   Upset size17

Michigan State’s other 2021 upsets

1. No. 12 Michigan State 30, Penn State 27

   Week 134.5-point underdogRecap
   Upset size4.5
2. No. 8 Michigan State 37, No. 6 Michigan 33

   Week 94-point underdogNo. 8 beat No. 6Recap
   Upset size5
3. Michigan State 38, No. 24 Miami 17

   Week 37-point underdogUnranked beat No. 24Recap
   Upset size8

More: Michigan State upsets · Northwestern upsets · all Week 1 upsets · the 2021 season · how upset size works