On Friday night, Tulsa has the opportunity to score one of the biggest upsets of the first full college football weekend.

The Golden Hurricane will play at No. 18 Michigan State in a game that kicks off at 6 p.m. on Fox Sports. The Spartans will be looking for redemption in 2019 after a disappointing 7-6 mark last season. Yet they will be heavily favored against a Tulsa team that won only three games in 2018.

“We’re excited about our opening contest here with Michigan State, obviously a team with great tradition, usually in the top 20 if not the top 15 in the nation every year,” said TU coach Philip Montgomery. “I’ve never had the opportunity to go up to East Lansing and looking forward to that part of it. I know our players are, as well, excited about the opportunity to step on the field and really get a good solid test of where we’re at and where we’re going to be from right here from the get-go.”

Montgomery is waiting until the last week to name a starting quarterback.

“I think those guys have continued to progress, and I’ve liked the way they have worked and battled throughout spring ball and fall camp,” Montgomery said. “You’ve seen the ebbs and flows of it every day, but I think we’re getting close to being able to announce a starter and what we’re going to go with.”

Montgomery said his team already started to work on a game plan for Michigan State in mid-August.

“You know, we’ve played in big venues,” Montgomery said. “We’ve played in front of big crowds in loud environments. So that’s not going to be as completely new to us. Now, obviously we haven’t done it this year, so you’ve got to go through the adjustments of that.”

Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke, a fifth year senior, has started for two years. He led MSU to a 10-3 record and No. 15 AP ranking in 2015.  He missed three games due to a shoulder injury last year but is now fully recovered.

“He’s bigger and stronger, he’s faster, and he comes into his senior year with a tremendous amount of game experience,” said MSU coach Mark a.

Michigan State has a reputation for having a stout defense.

“They don’t give you anything,” Montgomery said. “You’re going to have to earn every yard, as I’ve seen a ton of tape against them at this point. They do an unbelievable job against the run. They don’t stay blocked. You can see a guy in great position, got his hands and everything in the right spot, body is in the right spot, and then all of a sudden you see a guy just pop away from it and make the tackle.”

The Michigan State game is not a “make or break” deal for the Golden Hurricane, especially since it is a nonconference away game.

“It’s not going to change the course one way or another,” Montgomery said. “There’s a lot of games left that we’ve got to continue to keep grinding. If you go up there and you don’t come out with a victory, it’s not going to be the end-all of end-alls. If you come out with a victory, then you’re coming back with a lot of good momentum, a lot of things to build on. But that one game is still not going to change the course of the rest of them that are coming up.”

Tulsa and Arkansas have agreed to a new three-year contract that has the Razorbacks coming to Tulsa to kick-off the 2027 season on September 4, 2027. The two teams will also play twice in Arkansas, first on Nov. 21, 2026 and again on Sept. 1, 2029.

Tulsa last hosted Arkansas on November 22, 1952, when the Howard Waugh-led Hurricane captured a 44-34 victory over the Hogs. While Arkansas leads the overall series by a count of 54-16-3, the Hurricane has a 10-8-2 mark in Tulsa against the Razorbacks.

“I think with the tradition of the game between Tulsa and Arkansas and for them to finally come back here, I don’t know, what has it been, 75 years?” Montgomery said.  “I think it’s going to be one of those games that everybody is going to show up for. It’s going to be full, and it’ll be rocking, and guys — they’ll really enjoy playing in that type of atmosphere. But to have Arkansas come here, that’s a big deal.”

Tulsa plays at San Jose State at 8 p.m. September 7 and the home opener will be against Oklahoma State at 2:30 p.m. on September 14.