Michigan State gets another Mid-American Conference test Saturday at Spartan Stadium, and the first impression from last week gives the Spartans a clear baseline: they were sturdy, not flashy, and good enough to escape Toledo with a 30-20 win.
That opener introduced a few names Michigan State fans should probably memorize. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic was mostly in control, hitting 26 of 34 throws for 247 yards.
Rodney Bullard Jr. became a real target in the passing game with seven catches for 90 yards, then finished the job with a late touchdown and two-point conversion. Cam Edwards added 98 yards on 27 carries and gave the run game a physical edge before cramping slowed him down.
Now comes Eastern Michigan, which arrives at 1-1 after a 27-21 loss to San Jose State. Chris Creighton’s team will bring the same brand of hard-nosed football, but the Eagles may need something bigger than steady execution if they want to stay within striking distance. That means testing Michigan State’s defense with explosive plays, the kind Toledo managed to hit.
Former Spartan quarterback Noah Kim is part of the equation for Eastern Michigan, and he gives the Eagles a familiar face under center. He’s in his second year in Mike Piatkowski’s offense, and he’s been productive so far, completing 63% of his passes with three touchdowns and one interception. He’ll also have help from receivers Nick Devereaux and Harold Mack, giving Eastern a few ways to make this interesting.
Still, the Spartans have their own momentum, and the bigger question is whether they can clean up the finishing touches. Several of the predictions centered on Michigan State needing more than field goals and needing to be sharper in the red zone. That matters even more with Notre Dame waiting next week, because the warning is obvious: don’t let the calendar distract from Saturday.
The forecast from The Detroit News panel leaned Michigan State across the board, with scores ranging from 31-14 to 37-7. One prediction put it plainly: the Spartans showed enough against Toledo to believe in the direction, but they also showed enough mistakes to keep things from feeling automatic. If Michigan State finishes drives the way it should, this one doesn’t have to linger deep into the fourth quarter.
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The result gave Michigan State its fourth shutout of the season and another strong sign that the defense is backing up the attack. Bella Schopp needed only two saves to secure her second clean sheet of the year, and with the Spartans already looking sharp on both ends, the bigger question now is how far this early Big Ten statement can carry them as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
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The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for Sept. 11, 2026, with a special recognition planned during the Michigan State-Eastern Michigan football game the following day. Hell be honored alongside six other athletes, giving Spartans fans another chance to salute one of the people who helped raise the standard across the department, even if the spotlight usually falls elsewhere on fall Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]