Michigan State and Michigan both dropped their first availability report Wednesday night, and it immediately gave the rivalry matchup a different look heading into Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Peacock.
For the Spartans, the biggest question remains quarterback Alessio Milivojevic. He’s listed as QUESTIONABLE after missing the UCLA game two weeks ago with an apparent, undisclosed injury suffered against Northwestern on Oct.
- If he can’t go, true freshman Kayd Coffman would likely get the start again.
Michigan State also enters the game thin at running back. Jaziun Patterson is OUT for the second straight week, and Marvis Parrish is also OUT, leaving the Spartans without their top three backs. That pushes Kenneth Williams and Brandon Tullis into the lead roles.
One of the most significant names on the report is defensive tackle Ben Roberts. He had been arguably Michigan State’s best player this season before getting rolled up on during the first defensive snap at UCLA.
Roberts went to the locker room and later emerged with crutches and a wheelchair. Pat Fitzgerald’s only injury update all fall was to rule Cam Edwards out for the year, so the program has not officially said Roberts is done, but a return down the stretch would be a surprise.
Tight end Jayden Savoury was another notable absence, and his OUT designation stands out given how important he’s been to the offense. He has 29 catches for 271 receiving yards, and Brennan Parachek should see a heavier workload in his place.
There is at least some encouraging news for the Spartans at cornerback. Tyran Chappell, who had been the team’s most reliable corner before his early-season injury, is QUESTIONABLE for Saturday night. Keshawn Williams, a key backup, is also QUESTIONABLE.
Michigan’s report included several names as well. S Devin Vaught, QB Alessio Milivojevic, WR Charles Taplin, CB Keshawn Williams, and CB Tyran Chappell were listed, along with WR Kendrick Bell, WR Braydon Alford, RB Micah Ka’apana (season), DE Julius Holly, OL Ace Hamilton, OL Andrew Sprague, S Rod Moore, S Jordan Young, DE Dom Nichols, OL Brady Norton, TE Hogan Hansen, and DE John Henry Daley.
In Other News...
Michigan State Heads Into Michigan Week With A Major Roster Concern
Michigan States first Big Ten availability report for Michigan week brought the kind of injury picture no team wants to see before a rivalry game. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic and safety Devin Vaught were both listed as questionable, while 13 players were ruled out for the matchup, including key starters Ben Roberts and Jaziun Patterson. It leaves the Spartans heading into one of the biggest dates on the calendar with a roster that is already thinner than they would prefer.
Pat Fitzgerald has already pointed to the significance of the rivalry and the work the Spartans have put into their preparation, but the availability report adds another layer of uncertainty as kickoff approaches. For Michigan State, the issue is not just who can suit up, but how many of the players it counts on most will actually be available when the game finally arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Hockey Brings Real Momentum Into A Huge Munn Showdown
Michigan States trip through the 2026 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game gave the Spartans exactly the kind of early-season jolt a top team wants. A win over No. 8 North Dakota came with impact plays from Cayden Lindstrom and Anthony Romani, and Romanis night was strong enough to bring both B1G Second Star of the Week recognition and Player of the Game honors. It also fit the larger picture around a program that is ranked No. 3 nationally and loaded with NHL draft picks, a roster built to handle nights like this.
Adam Nightingales milestone added another layer to the momentum. The head coach reached 100 career wins faster than anyone in Michigan State history, a neat marker for a program that has moved quickly under his watch and now heads toward a major Munn Ice Arena showdown with real confidence. For the Spartans, the challenge is no longer proving they belong in the national conversation. It is keeping that edge when the spotlight gets even brighter. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Gets An Early Test It Can't Overlook Inside
Toledo opened its season with a narrow loss to Arkansas State, but there was enough in that debut to suggest the Rockets may not be walking into East Lansing simply to make up the numbers. Several key players turned in promising individual efforts, including career highs and double-doubles, giving Toledo a few early signs of what this group can be if it cleans up the rough edges from its opener.
No. 6 Michigan State is a different level of test, especially on the road, where the Spartans have historically had the upper hand in recent meetings with Toledo. For the Rockets, the challenge is not just surviving an early-season trip against a ranked opponent, but proving the positives from game one can carry over against a team that has made a habit of controlling this series. [Read more 🡒]