Michigan State is 2-0 to open 2026, and the Spartans kept the Pat Fitzgerald era rolling with a 35-7 win over Eastern Michigan inside Spartan Stadium.
With defensive leader Jordan Hall out because of an arm injury, Brady Pretzlaff was the one asked to hold things together in the middle. The redshirt sophomore answered the call, finishing with eight tackles and stepping into a much bigger role for the MSU defense.
After the game, Pretzlaff talked about the week leading into the matchup, Hall’s influence even while sidelined, and what it meant to be trusted with more responsibility.
"Jordan himself has been a great leader. Throughout this week, he did a great job himself on taking a coaching role."
Pretzlaff also said the defense is still pushing to play a complete game.
"We want to get to all four quarters to meet our standard as a defense."
He said handling the green dot was part of the adjustment, too.
"I was wearing the green dot all the day today. It was pretty good.
Even last week, I got it a little bit. It's something I have to continue to get used to, having it."
Pretzlaff pointed to the kind of identity the Spartans are trying to reclaim.
"This (smack you in the face, mentioned by Eli Coenen) mentality is what we are trying to get back to. I grew up watching it."
He also said the approach doesn’t change from week to week.
"It is treating every game the same. We attack every week the same.
For me, personally, being back playing football. I am grateful to be back playing football."
And he had praise for Devin Vaught, who he said brings the kind of effort the defense expects.
"Dev (Devin Vaught) is a guy that shows up, works really hard. The way he plays, the way he attacks every day, that's what we expect.
You don't have to make a super man play. He is one guy I rely upon every day."
In Other News...
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Now there is real momentum to monitor with Pemberton, the No. 23 overall prospect in the 2027 class. A report from Joe Tipton suggests Michigan State has emerged as the favorite for the top-25 recruit, a sign that the Spartans may have moved ahead in a recruitment that still has room to evolve. For a program that has long sold player development and trust, landing in front this early is the kind of progress Izzo wants to see. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]
Michigan State Faces Its First Real Test Against A National Contender
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Much of the attention will center on the quarterbacks, with Notre Dames C.J. Carr already drawing Heisman buzz and Michigan States Alessio Milivojevic coming off a solid start against softer competition. The Irish enter as a significant favorite, which only sharpens the pressure on Michigan State to prove it can travel, absorb an early punch and stay competitive against a national contender rather than merely look polished against overmatched teams. [Read more 🡒]