Alessio Milivojevic didn’t need a gaudy stat line to strengthen Michigan State’s belief in him. He just needed to keep doing what he’s done so well: play clean, disciplined football and protect the Spartans from the kind of mistakes that can swing a game.
That’s exactly what happened in Week 2 against Eastern Michigan.
Milivojevic finished 12-of-20 for 170 yards and two touchdowns, a solid afternoon that fit the larger story of his start to the season. Through two games, the sophomore has thrown three touchdowns without an interception while completing 70.4% of his passes. Since taking over last season, he’s now up to 13 touchdown passes against just three interceptions, with all three picks coming a year ago.
That efficiency has put him sixth in the Big Ten in completion percentage, and it’s also kept him in a group of conference quarterbacks who have attempted at least 24 passes this season without throwing an interception.
Against Eastern Michigan, the numbers alone don’t tell the whole tale. The Eagles made things uncomfortable enough to keep Michigan State within striking distance early, and the game never turned into a runaway until the Spartans started to separate in the second half.
What gave Michigan State breathing room was the run game, and Cam Edwards was the engine. He piled up 152 yards on 21 carries, giving the offense a balance that let Milivojevic stay patient instead of forcing throws.
That patience showed up snap after snap. Milivojevic worked through his reads, took the open options, and stayed away from risky decisions even when pressure arrived. As Michigan State built on a seven-point halftime lead, his efficient passing paired with Edwards’ big day to push the game out of reach.
Milivojevic was taken out early in the third quarter, opening the door for backup Cam Fancher while the game was still competitive. Fancher later came back in the fourth quarter after the Spartans had stretched the lead to 28 points.
There doesn’t appear to be any quarterback controversy here, and there’s no sign Pat Fitzgerald is looking to shuffle things around based on a hot hand. Fancher’s time on the field looked more like a chance to change the look of the offense and get the backup some valuable work. Milivojevic is still the starter, and performances like this explain why.
Now the real test is coming fast.
Michigan State heads to South Bend on Saturday night to face No. 3 Notre Dame, a matchup that brings a high-powered passing attack into the picture.
For the Spartans to have a shot, Milivojevic can’t get dragged into a shootout. He has to keep doing the same thing that’s defined his start: move the ball with smart throws, take what’s available, and keep the chains moving.
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Michigan State Is Counting On Anton Bonke To Silence One Doubt
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Still, there is a bit of outside skepticism attached to the assignment. College Basketball Report left Bonke off its Top 30 centers in college basketball, even as several Big Ten big men earned spots on the list, underscoring how much Michigan State is asking him to prove right away. For a program that tends to trust its own developmental track, Bonkes season will be about more than simply filling minutes in the middle. [Read more 🡒]