Jim Harbaugh ran into a pair of old Michigan State hands on Sunday, and Kirk Cousins and Cody White made sure the afternoon belonged to the Spartans.
The Los Angeles Chargers came into Week 2 as 8.5-point favorites over the Las Vegas Raiders, but that number didn’t matter once Cousins started dealing and White kept finishing. The Raiders walked away with an “upset” win, and the former Michigan State quarterback and receiver were right in the middle of it.
Cousins turned in a sharp outing, going 19-for-29 for 253 yards and three touchdowns. White, meanwhile, only finished with 24 receiving yards, but two of those catches were touchdown grabs from his former Spartan QB1. That was enough to swing the game late and push Las Vegas past Harbaugh’s Chargers.
White’s day was especially notable because of how far he’s come just to be on the field. He was cut by the Seahawks after the preseason, then made the Raiders’ roster anyway.
Against Los Angeles, he looked like a player who had found exactly the right fit. Before Sunday, he had just 11 career receptions and one touchdown catch.
Against the Chargers, he doubled that touchdown total in one afternoon.
The second scoring connection between Cousins and White came at the biggest moment. With the game still hanging in the balance late in the fourth quarter, White’s second touchdown catch put the result out of reach.
Kirk Cousins finds Cody White in the end zone for the second time today 🔥
LVvsLAC on CBS/Paramount+
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- NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2026
Cousins wasn’t the only former Spartan involved, either. Jalen Nailor and Connor Heyward were also part of the mix, and Heyward was one of three players outside of Cousins to log a carry. Nailor added one catch for nine yards.
But this one belonged to Cousins and White. For White, it was another reminder that he’s carving out a real place for himself in the league after not being expected to make an NFL roster this year. For Cousins, it was a clean bounce-back spot after the Chargers were stunned by the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1.
And for Michigan State fans, it was a little extra satisfying seeing Spartans beat a former Wolverine on an NFL Sunday.
The Raiders are looking more and more like Michigan State West.
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Jayden Reeds injury in a Week 2 game had the kind of immediate impact that makes former Michigan State fans hold their breath. When the Green Bay Packers wide receiver was carted off the field, the scene quickly turned from concern to full-blown alarm, especially with how serious it looked in real time.
The initial fear eased a bit after the Packers said Reed had feeling and movement in all extremities and would remain under observation. Reed later added a social media update of his own, saying he is doing better and appreciative of the support, a reassuring sign for everyone who has followed his journey from East Lansing to the NFL. [Read more 🡒]
No. 1 Michigan State Let This Rivalry Match Slip Away
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Michigan State's Notre Dame Grades Exposed A Defensive Issue Fans Feared
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On defense, the numbers reinforced a concern fans have been tracking, especially in the secondary, where consistency has been hard to find. The grades pointed to some uneven individual performances and a few notable snap swings at different spots, the kind of details that can shape how the Spartans adjust week to week. Michigan State does not need a full overhaul to clean things up, but the Notre Dame tape made it obvious there is still an area that needs to stabilize before the schedule gets any less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]