Michigan State’s 15-6 win over Michigan came with the kind of injury-riddled, patchwork feel that has defined so much of the Spartans’ season. But in Ann Arbor, the makeshift lineup held together long enough to beat the Wolverines for the first time since 2021, and the snap counts tell the story of how MSU pulled it off.
Start with Bryson Williams, who had rarely been asked to carry much of the load before Saturday. The sophomore wideout had not played more than 24 snaps in any game this season, but he was forced into a bigger role after Rodney Bullard Jr. exited after just four offensive snaps with what appeared to be a lower-body or hip injury.
Williams finished with only one catch on five targets, but it was a huge one: a 36-yard deep ball in the fourth quarter that got Michigan State back into field-goal range. Michigan showed a corner blitz on the boundary and left Williams isolated with a safety, and Williams used a subtle hitch-and-go to create the separation he needed.
That kind of play is part of why Williams stands out in a receiver room that has struggled all season. Along with Samson Gash, Charles Taplin, and Braylon Collier, he gives Michigan State a young group to watch going forward. Williams brings a physical frame from his days as a running back and has shown he can win contested balls downfield.
The backfield also had a different look than expected. Brandon Tullis came into the season after deciding to return to Michigan State, but the path in front of him got crowded when the Spartans added four running backs from the transfer portal.
That pushed him down to RB5 for most of the fall. With Kenneth Williams expected to start because MSU’s top three backs were hurt, Tullis ended up being the one who gave the Spartans their best chance to win.
He ran with patience and power, and while 86 yards on 25 carries doesn’t jump off the page, it was the best game of his college career so far.
Michigan State’s offensive line deserves some of the credit, too. The pass protection was shaky, but the Spartans were able to win at the point of attack more consistently than they have all season, especially in the second half. That was a big reason the offense could survive long enough to finish the job.
On defense, the workload was extreme in places. Eli Coenen played 53 of 56 possible snaps, leaving him only three off the field.
That’s an enormous ask for an interior defensive lineman, a position that usually can’t absorb that kind of punishment. Derrick Simmons was next among defensive tackles with 28 snaps.
Coenen’s workload was made possible by the way Michigan State’s defense played and by the absence of star nose tackle Ben Roberts. The 56-snap total was the fewest the Spartans’ defense has faced against a Power Four-level opponent all year, and Coenen’s 53 snaps were the third-most he has logged this season.
NiJhay Burt turned in one of the biggest performances of the night, even if that would have sounded unlikely before kickoff. He was supposed to be a backup, and not even at corner, but at nickelback.
Injuries in the cornerback room have forced him into action, and with Tyran Chappell and Keshawn Williams back, there were questions about how much Burt would even play. He stayed in the starting role anyway and delivered two turnovers, picking off a pass and forcing a fumble.
At this point, he’s making it hard to take him off the field.
In Other News...
Pat Fitzgerald Just Dropped Michigan State Into A Huge CFP Debate
Pat Fitzgerald has already put Michigan State in the middle of one of college footballs biggest arguments, and he did it by taking a broad view of where the sport is headed. The Spartans head coach backed expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams and even floated the idea that a 48-team format could work, drawing parallels to the way the NCAA Tournament and the NFL have grown their postseason fields over time.
Fitzgerald also used the moment to sharpen his critique of how college football is run, saying coaches and players should have a bigger voice in the decisions that shape the sport. He pointed to the Protect College Sports Act as a possible step forward, while also casting doubt on whether it will actually get through, which leaves Michigan State tied to a larger debate that is still very much unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Tullis Just Gave Michigan State A Needed Backfield Spark
Jalen Tullis was not supposed to be a central part of Michigan States backfield plan, but injuries opened the door and he made the most of it in East Lansings biggest rivalry setting. In the Spartans win at Michigan Stadium, the running back handled 25 carries for a career-high 86 yards and gave MSU the kind of steady, physical presence it needed to tilt the ground game in its favor.
For a team trying to find its footing under Pat Fitzgerald, Tullis emergence mattered beyond one afternoon. Michigan State controlled possession and tempo with its run game, and the victory brought the Spartans their first Big Ten win under Fitzgerald while also snapping a six-game skid against Michigan. Whether Tullis role keeps growing is the next question, but he clearly gave this offense a spark it had been missing. [Read more 🡒]
Spartans Earn Another Shot At History After Beating Michigan
Renee Watsons 40th-minute goal was enough to send Michigan State past Michigan, 1-0, in the Big Ten semifinals and back into the conference final for a second straight season. The Spartans leaned on a disciplined defensive effort throughout the match, with goalkeeper Noelle Henning turning aside nine shots and adding her ninth shutout of the season.
Now Michigan State gets another chance to chase history in the Big Ten Tournament final, a stage it reached a year ago and will return to with momentum after knocking off its in-state rival. The result also underscored how difficult the Spartans can be to break down when they get an early lead and Henning is in command behind them. [Read more 🡒]