Michigan State’s offense had enough bright spots against Notre Dame to keep the conversation from turning completely bleak, even in a 27-10 loss that handed the Spartans their first defeat of the season and the first loss of the Pat Fitzgerald era.
The box score tells one part of the story. Michigan State finished with just 167 yards and held the ball a little more than 22 minutes. But after watching the film, Pro Football Focus saw a few Spartans who held up better than the overall numbers suggested.
At the top of PFF’s offensive grades was QB Cam Fancher at 84.0. The Fancher package has become a useful wrinkle for Michigan State, giving the backup quarterback a chance to use his legs and provide a spark when the offense needs one.
Ben Murawski checked in next at 71.6. The UConn transfer and highly touted left tackle had his best moment yet in a Spartan uniform, and he handled himself well against Notre Dame’s defensive front. His grade broke down to an 80.4 in pass blocking and 66.1 in run blocking.
Right tackle Rakeem Johnson landed at 69.8, his best grade of the year. Johnson posted a 69.6 in pass protection and a 69.1 in the run game, a performance that could give him some momentum moving forward.
Wide receiver Rodney Bullard came in at 69.5 after making several big plays, including more than half of Michigan State’s receiving yards. He finished with two catches for 66 yards.
Tight end Kai Rios rounded out the top five at 68.6. Mostly used as a run blocker, Rios also delivered a key first-half third-down catch to help extend a Spartans scoring drive, showing why he has become a useful piece of the offense in a secondary role.
In Other News...
Michigan State's Road To March Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Michigan States path to March is already taking shape, and the latest look at the 2026-27 schedule gives Tom Izzo another familiar challenge to navigate. The Spartans will open the season Nov. 2 at home against Quinnipiac, then move into a non-conference slate that should give the group an early gauge of where it stands before Big Ten play takes over.
For a team entering Izzos 32nd season with returning All-American point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. at the center of it, the mix of new transfers, freshmen and scheduled opponents only adds to the intrigue. The full calendar now gives Michigan State a clearer road map, but it also leaves plenty of questions about how quickly the pieces will fit and how battle-tested the Spartans will be by the time the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska May Be Ready To Lean On One Freshman A Lot More
Nebraskas offense is already leaning on a true freshman in a way few teams would expect this early in the season, and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen made it clear Jamal Rule has done more than merely keep up. Through Week 3, Rule has emerged as the third-leading rusher in the Big Ten, a development that speaks as much to his readiness as to Nebraskas willingness to trust him in meaningful spots.
Holgorsen also pointed to the offensive line rotation as part of the plan, while expressing confidence in quarterback Anthony Colandreas play and the broader experience on the roster. With several veterans and transfers in the mix, Nebraska appears to have the kind of depth that lets a freshman like Rule take on a bigger role without the offense having to slow down around him. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State May Have Found An Offense Defenses Hate Preparing For
Michigan States offense has taken on a different look this fall with Cam Sheridan and Les Fancher sharing quarterback duties, a setup the staff believes can make life harder on defenses from week to week. The idea is less about a rigid split and more about flexibility, with both players able to run the offense and bring different strengths to the table, giving the Spartans a pair of options instead of one fixed answer.
Pat Fitzgerald and the players have described the arrangement as complementary, which is the kind of word coaches like to use when a plan is still evolving but already showing enough promise to keep opponents guessing. For Michigan State, the appeal is obvious: if both quarterbacks stay involved and the package keeps expanding, the Spartans may have found a way to force defenses to prepare for more than one version of the same offense. [Read more 🡒]