Michigan State football is entering a new era under head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and the expectations are measured but cautiously optimistic. The Spartans have struggled since their 2021 season, failing to post a winning record in any year since. Michigan State has fallen behind the rest of the Big Ten in a significant way. Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana have won the last three National Championships, while Michigan State has not reached a bowl game. The program has lost its identity, and the gap between Michigan State and the top of the conference has never felt wider. Michigan State's head coach Pat Fitzgerald instructs players during spring football practice on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in East Lansing.P | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The hope is that Fitzgerald, combined with increased NIL funding from donors contributing to athletic director J Batt's "For Sparta" initiative, can turn things around quickly.…