Michigan State’s 2026 season won’t be defined by a game-by-game prediction. The bigger question is what this team will look like once the dust settles, and there are a few storylines that stand out as the Spartans head into a fall full of uncertainty.
The clearest bet is on the ground game. Michigan State has spent too long searching for a rushing attack it can trust, but this year’s backfield looks built to change that.
UConn transfer Cam Edwards arrives as the featured back with more than 2,000 career rushing yards, and he brings plenty of bite with that production - including over 40 missed tackles forced in 2025 alone and a 5.6 yards per carry average last season. He won’t be carrying the load by himself, either.
WKU freshman breakout Marvis Parrish, Nebraska’s Kenneth Williams, Iowa veteran Jaziun Patterson, returning power back Brandon Tullis and freshman Jace Clarizio give the Spartans a backfield that looks loaded from top to bottom.
That optimism extends to the offensive line, which should give the run game the kind of support it has been missing. The group adds three transfers, including another UConn import in Ben Murawski, and joins returning starter Conner Moore along with four more linemen who are in the mix for snaps. The expectation is simple: this unit should produce Michigan State’s best rushing season in years.
At quarterback, Alessio Milivojevic is in position to show he’s the answer for 2027. Michigan State made a clear decision to keep the rising redshirt sophomore after he flashed in limited action last season, and the roster context made a portal splurge for a veteran QB unnecessary for 2026.
That said, being the guy this year doesn’t automatically mean he owns the job beyond that. He still has to prove it.
The setup around him could help. The receiver room has some concern attached to it, but there’s enough there for Milivojevic to work with if Chrishon McCray and newly-cleared Rodney Bullard deliver and one of KK Moore, Charles Taplin, Braylon Collier, Samson Gash or Fred Moore breaks through.
If even one of that group hits, the passing game has a chance to be functional enough. Add in a better run game and a stronger offensive line, and Milivojevic should be working from favorable down-and-distance situations more often than not.
He won’t need to throw for 250-plus yards every week, even though he already showed he could do that as a freshman at Iowa and against Maryland at Ford Field. The year should be enough to separate him from the other quarterbacks on the roster and make another camp battle unnecessary.
Defensively, the pass rush might be better than people expect, but the front seven still has a weak spot that could matter. Kenny Soares and Anelu Lafaele should bring pressure off the rush-end spot, while Dion Crawford adds juice from a rotational linebacker role. If the defensive backs are a little better, that should also open the door for more blitzing than last year’s group could support, especially once injuries started to pile up.
Even so, there’s real concern at strong-side defensive end and along the interior. The defensive end group doesn’t appear to have a true standout at that spot, and the tackle depth is thin enough to be a problem if injuries hit again.
The issue isn’t just talent; it’s numbers. If three defensive tackles are out in Week 8, there may not be enough playable bodies to keep two full waves rotating.
There is, though, a reason to believe that part of the defense could still improve. New defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere III has major trust behind him, and there’s at least a path for him to develop one or two players at strong-side end into something more useful. For that to happen, he’ll need talent to work with and some luck on the injury front.
In Other News...
Michigan State Gets A Defensive Leader Back At The Perfect Time
After missing most of last season because of injuries, Nikai Martinez is back in position to matter in a big way for Michigan States defense. The senior safety is getting ready for his final college football season, and all signs point to him stepping into a starting role for a unit that is still finding its footing under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald. His return gives the Spartans something they badly needed: experience, communication, and a steady presence in the back end.
Martinezs value goes beyond the depth chart. Even while he was recovering, he stayed involved with the team, and that presence helped keep him connected to the defense he is expected to help lead. The Spartans voted him one of their six captains, a clear sign of how much respect he has in the locker room. For a team trying to build a new identity, getting a veteran voice like Martinez back now feels especially important. [Read more 🡒]
Carlos Medlock Jr. Is Pushing For An Immediate Michigan State Role
Carlos Medlock Jr. is already drawing attention as a freshman who could carve out a real spot in Tom Izzos rotation before long. The guard is expected to be a significant part of Michigan States 2026-27 plans, and the early buzz around him centers on how naturally his game fits Izzos system, especially with the staff looking for steadier ball handling and fewer turnovers.
With Jeremy Fears also part of that backcourt picture, Medlock gives the Spartans another option who could ease pressure on the offense right away. Divine Ugochukwus transfer opens the door for Medlock to become the primary backup point guard, and the early expectation is that he could settle into a meaningful role rather quickly, with minutes there for the taking if he adjusts the way Michigan State hopes. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Gonzaga Test Just Got Even More Demanding
Michigan States December trip to face Gonzaga was already shaping up as one of the tougher non-conference games on the calendar, and the Bulldogs just added another experienced name to the mix. Gonzaga landed a commitment from guard Xaivian Lee, a former Florida and Princeton player who is hoping to keep his fifth-year eligibility intact, giving the Bulldogs another proven backcourt option as they continue building for the upcoming season.
Lee also spent time in the NBA Summer League, a sign that Gonzaga views him as more than a depth piece heading into a season with big expectations. For the Spartans, the matchup on Dec. 19 now looks even more demanding, with the Bulldogs bringing in a guard who adds both experience and another layer of talent to a roster already built to test anyone they face. [Read more 🡒]