Michigan State’s fast start has given way to a mess, and the numbers tell the story as clearly as the injuries do. The Spartans are 2-2 now, but the slide has been ugly: after pouring in 65 points across their first two games, they’ve produced only two touchdowns over the last two.
That drought has pushed Michigan State to the bottom of the Big Ten scoring race. Through four games, the Spartans have 88 points, making them the only conference team still stuck under 100.
They’re 13 points behind Michigan, which sits second from the bottom with 101. Michigan State has also found the end zone only nine times, the fewest in the league.
Michigan and Washington are next at 13 touchdowns apiece, and both of those teams are still left on the Spartans’ schedule.
The problem is bigger than one cold stretch, though. Michigan State’s offense has been hit by injuries at the worst possible time, starting with Saturday’s loss to Nebraska.
Running back Cam Edwards went down, and that could reshape the rest of the season. The plan was to build around a physical ground game and lean on Edwards, who entered the year with legitimate top-10 running back talent.
If he misses significant time, the Spartans will have to turn to Jaziun Patterson or Marvis Parrish, a clear step down.
The same play that took Edwards out also cost Michigan State starting offensive lineman Connor Moore, leaving the front even thinner and the pressure even heavier on quarterback Alessio Milivojevic.
Milivojevic has had a rough two games of his own. He’s been sacked 10 times over that span and has thrown three interceptions without a touchdown.
The burden isn’t all on him, either. Michigan State’s receivers haven’t consistently separated from coverage, forcing him into tight-window throws and tough decisions.
That’s a bad mix for any quarterback, especially one working behind an offensive line that’s now more damaged.
It’s not as if the receiver group came into the year with a proven track record of being a dangerous unit, either. Counting on that whole group to click at once was always a gamble, and so far it hasn’t paid off.
At this point, the Spartans need answers in a hurry. Scoring 88 points and nine touchdowns in four games is a brutal place to be in the Big Ten, and if the offense keeps averaging just 22 points a game, the defense will have to be nearly perfect to keep Michigan State in the win column. That’s a tougher ask with injuries starting to pile up on that side, too.
For now, the biggest job is simple: get the offensive line settled and give Milivojevic a chance to breathe.
In Other News...
Michigan State Now Faces A Bigger Problem Than The Nebraska Loss
The Nebraska loss itself was ugly enough for Michigan State, but the bigger concern coming out of Lincoln was the damage done to the roster. The Spartans were already thin in key spots, and the injury situation started before kickoff when starting cornerback Tre Bell was hurt in warmups and never made it into the game.
It only got worse from there. Running back Cam Edwards and offensive lineman Connor Moore went down on the same play, and defensive leader Jordan Hall also left with a leg injury after being taken off the field on a cart, leaving Michigan State with plenty to sort through beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Faces A Depth Chart Test Against Wisconsin
Michigan State left its trip to Nebraska with more than one injury concern, and the timing could not be worse with Wisconsin next on the schedule. Running back Cam Edwards and linebacker Jordan Hall were among the players hurt in the game, leaving the Spartans to sort through a depth chart that may look different by the time they line up again.
The backfield is especially worth watching because backup Jaziun Patterson handled relief work well after Edwards exited, and the staff is already leaning on him as it prepares for the next matchup. The bigger question now is how Michigan State will piece together its roster across the board if the injury list forces more changes, with the full extent of those setbacks still unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Cousins And Cody White Are Fueling A Raiders Start Spartans Love
Kirk Cousins is off to a sharp start in Las Vegas, and for Michigan State fans there is a familiar name helping drive it. Through the first three games of the 2026 NFL season, Cousins has the Raiders sitting at 3-0 while throwing for 661 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions, with completion rate hovering near 70 percent. Cody White, meanwhile, has turned limited touches into a major impact, giving the Raiders another playmaker in the passing game.
The connection between the two has already shown up in the biggest moments, with multiple game-winning scores helping shape this unbeaten start. For Spartans watching from afar, it is an easy storyline to follow because it has the feel of something sustainable if Cousins keeps operating at this level and White keeps making every target count. The only question now is how long this early Raiders chemistry can keep deciding games late. [Read more 🡒]