Michigan State is officially in game week, and that means the first real look at what the Pat Fitzgerald era is going to look like in East Lansing arrives Saturday against Toledo.
A big part of that transition is offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, who is trying to build the Spartans’ offense in a hurry with a staff full of new faces around him. On Tuesday, Sheridan met with the media and talked through the week-one buildup, the offense’s progress, and the challenge waiting in the opener.
“We're excited to play. Few more days of preparation, obviously.
The guys have worked hard. Great opponent, great coaching staff.
It will be a great challenge for us. The guys are itching to play.”
Sheridan said the foundation for any offense starts with the line, then expands from there based on what a defense gives you.
“Every great offense I've been a part of, they've had different strengths. Everything starts up front.
People talk about balance and creating that; it's about seeing what they're doing and taking advantage. It's dribbling with both hands, the more you do well..”
That process, he said, will tell Michigan State plenty about itself early in the season.
“We will learn a ton about our team, particularly early in the year. We have a good sense of what we will do well.”
The coaching staff itself is still sorting through how all the new pieces fit together. Sheridan pointed to the unusual makeup of the group and the different backgrounds that are coming together this week.
“This week is unique and different. Coach Jacobs and Coach Brown were together with the same team, brought some guys. But they brought guys from all over.”
Sheridan also addressed a few individual players and the impressions they’ve made. On Edwards, he said:
“I liked his [Edwards] demeanor as a runner. All of us, Coach Fitz, Coach Spalding, Coach Tabacca, liked his demeanor as a runner.”
He had similar praise for Zock, who brings production and an award-winning résumé.
“Zock has twitch, has production, obviously FCS Defensive player of the year. He's a hell of a football player, I tip my cap to him.”
As for the offense’s internal competition, Sheridan said several players are still carving out their places.
“The roles are continuing to be solidified, there's things each of the guys have done well. Hawk's done an excellent job, Dom Spalding as well. They're team guys.”
He also spoke glowingly about Milivojevic, calling out the qualities that have stood out to the staff.
“His [Milivojevic] leadership, his care for his teammates, you just feel that. This guy really, really loves his teammates, his coaches, his school.
He is just a heck of a kid. We are doing everything we can as a staff to help him.”
Sheridan confirmed he’ll be on the field this season.
“I will be on the field.”
And when it comes to who gets a chance to play, his message was simple.
“We are open to playing anybody who has earned the opportunity to play.”
He also gave Toledo its due, saying the Spartans are expecting a difficult test from a team that knows how to win.
“There's been outstanding coaches and outstanding players, there's been no doubt about it. Coach Jacobs has had great success.
We are expecting a great team that expects to win. It will be a great challenge, for sure,”
For Sheridan, being on the field is about more than just watching the action unfold from a distance.
“The benefit of being on the field is you can look the players in the eye and talk to them.”
In Other News...
Michigan State Escaped Notre Dame In A Finish Fans Wont Forget
Michigan State soccer left South Bend with a draw that felt a lot bigger than one point, rallying for a 2-2 finish against Notre Dame in a match packed with pressure at both ends. Kayla Briggs and Reese Canada both found the net for the Spartans, and the game had the kind of back-and-forth stretches that kept both defenses busy and both attacks on alert.
Ella Janz delivered the moment Michigan State will remember, scoring the tying goal in the final seconds to salvage the result. Notre Dame still had a chance to steal it late, but Izzy Engle missed a penalty kick, leaving the Spartans with a hard-earned escape after a night that swung on just a few decisive plays. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Opens New Era With One Big Question On Offense
Michigan State is kicking off a new season with a fresh sideline voice and a familiar concern on offense. Pat Fitzgerald takes over for the Spartans as they open at Spartan Stadium against Toledo, and the backdrop is not especially forgiving after a year that left Michigan State projected near the bottom of the Big Ten. The opener also brings a chance to see how quickly Fitzgerald can settle things down in a program trying to find its footing.
Much of the attention will land on quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, who is expected to guide the offense after taking over late last season. Toledo arrives with its own reset under new coach Mike Jacobs after Jason Candles departure, so both teams are trying to define themselves at the same time. For the Spartans, the bigger question is whether the early version of this offense can give Fitzgerald enough to build on before conference play starts to sharpen the pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Ex-Spartan Nick Marsh Is Suddenly Worth Watching Even More
Nick Marshs move from Michigan State to Indiana gives his career a different kind of stage, and maybe a louder one, too. After two productive seasons in East Lansing, where he piled up 100 catches, 1,311 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, the wideout is now joining the defending national champions under Curt Cignetti with a clear goal in mind: put himself in front of more eyes and in a more explosive offense.
For Spartan fans, it is another reminder of how quickly a talented player can change the conversation by changing uniforms. Marsh already has enough college production to show he belongs on draft radars, and analyst Nate Tice currently lists him No. 24 on a 2027 NFL Draft big board, but Indiana offers the kind of national visibility that can make a good profile even more interesting. The next step is obvious, even if the exact ceiling is not. [Read more 🡒]