Michigan State will head into Saturday’s Big Ten opener with some real personnel questions, and the first availability report didn’t do the Spartans many favors.
The conference’s new reporting system, which is being used for the first time this season, gave fans their first official look Wednesday night at who might be available when Nebraska comes to Spartan Stadium. Teams must file reports Wednesday, Thursday and Friday by 8 p.m. ET, then issue a final update two hours before kickoff.
For Michigan State, the headline is simple: six players are out, and three more are questionable.
The biggest blow is linebacker Brady Pretzlaff. He has become one of the more important players on the roster in a hurry, making his presence felt in practice, in the locker room and on the field. Through three games, he had 17 tackles, which ranked second on the team at the time, before leaving last week’s loss to Notre Dame with an injury.
That’s a sharp turn for a player whose 2024 season was cut short after just three games and four total tackles. This year, Pretzlaff opened with a completely different kind of momentum, playing with the kind of energy and physicality Michigan State has leaned on from its linebackers. His injury against Notre Dame looked serious in the moment, and now he’s officially out for Week 4.
Jay Coyne is the other notable name on the out list, and his absence matters in a different way. The fullback doesn’t pile up eye-catching numbers, but Michigan State’s offense has clearly benefited from what he does as a blocker. That work has been especially valuable in the run game and in pass protection, with the Spartans featuring Cam Edwards heavily.
Edwards led the Big Ten in rushing after two games, and while his patience and vision have been a big part of that, the blocking in front of him has helped set the table. Coyne has been one of those important pieces, and Michigan State will need to find other answers without him against Nebraska.
The other players ruled out are Eliyjah Caldwell, Eli Bickel, Tristan Comer and Joe Caudill. All four are freshmen who have not played in a game this season.
Michigan State also listed three players as questionable: wide receiver K.K. Smith, cornerback Tyran Chappell and defensive lineman Cal Thrush.
Smith appeared in the opener and had one catch for 10 yards. Chappell has played in all three games, totaling eight tackles and a pass deflection, and his status could matter if the Spartans need help in the secondary against Nebraska. Thrush has also been part of the rotation in all three games and has recorded half a tackle this season.
Michigan State and Nebraska are set for a 5 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday at Spartan Stadium on Big Ten Network.
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