Michigan State’s first week is in the books, and now the Spartans turn the page to Eastern Michigan with a few matchups that should tilt their way.
Saturday’s kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network, and MSU enters as a bigger favorite than it was ahead of its 30-20 win over Toledo. A few of the reasons are easy to spot, especially when you look at the trenches and the depth chart at running back and linebacker.
The clearest edge for Michigan State may be on the ground. Eastern Michigan’s first two games have come against Sacramento State and San Jose State, which makes it hard to know exactly how the Eagles stack up against Power Four competition. This will also be their first road game away from the grey turf in Ypsilanti.
Even so, MSU has the more established backfield. The Spartans used five running backs against Toledo, and three of them logged carries.
Cam Edwards had the biggest night, piling up 29 touches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Jaziun Patterson added seven carries for 23 yards, while Marvis Parrish chipped in six rushes for 28 yards.
Eastern Michigan does not have that same kind of proven depth at tailback. Amareon Blue leads the Eagles with 23 carries for 136 yards and one touchdown, but he is a sophomore who has appeared in only two games for EMU in 2025. Braydon Bennett is next on the list, though his recent résumé is thin after playing just four games at Virginia Tech last season, even if he had been a productive back at Coastal Carolina.
Michigan State should also have an edge against Eastern Michigan’s defensive front. San Jose State quarterback Luke Weaver had plenty of time to work against the Eagles, finishing with 316 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the Spartans’ road win. EMU has given up only 110 rushing yards through two games, but that number comes with the context of facing an FCS transition team and then a San Jose State offense that leans toward the pass.
The Spartans may find another advantage at linebacker, where Eastern Michigan has a solid starter in Zach Mowchan, who has 25 total tackles through two games. But Michigan State’s group is deeper.
Jordan Hall is the headliner, even though he was limited in Week 1 by an apparent right elbow injury. Brady Pretzlaff and Caleb Wheatland give the Spartans more dependable options, and Dion Crawford is also expected to contribute after missing Week 1 with an apparent injury.
In Other News...
Michigan State Volleyballs 6-0 Start Looks More Dominant Every Match
Michigan States volleyball team kept rolling with another clean result, handling Western Michigan in a 3-0 sweep to extend its perfect start. The Spartans are now 6-0 and have won 17 straight sets, a run that has made the opening stretch look less like a hot start and more like a group that has settled in quickly on both sides of the net. Senior contributors Alanna Bankston, Zora Hardison and Karolina Staniszewska helped keep the momentum steady as the match went along.
The dominance showed up everywhere, from kills to digs to service aces and blocks, with Michigan State controlling the key areas that usually decide whether a match stays close. Five straight sweeps is the kind of early-season stretch that can build real confidence, and for a roster leaning on experienced players, it also suggests the Spartans are finding a clear identity before conference play starts to sharpen every test. [Read more 🡒]
Spartans Have One Last Chance To Climb Behind Their Top Golfer
Michigan States womens golf team heads into the final round of the Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes Golf Club needing a strong finish to move up the board. The Spartans sit ninth after a 13-over-par 301 in the second round, with sophomore Sarisa Pojanalai continuing to set the pace for the group as she stands tied for 21st at 2-over par 146.
Kansas has taken control of the tournament through two rounds at 5-under par 571, leaving Michigan State with a little work left if it wants to climb before the event ends. Pojanalai gives the Spartans a foothold, but the challenge now is getting the rest of the lineup to produce enough support to turn a middling team finish into something better. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces A Few Battles That Could Make This Uncomfortable
Michigan States trip into this matchup comes with a few familiar faces and a few pressure points, starting at quarterback. Alessio Milivojevic will have to navigate an Eastern Michigan defense that has shown it can make life difficult in the secondary, while the Spartans also have to keep an eye on how their own coverage holds up against a passing game that has been productive enough to demand attention. The game sets up as one where execution matters as much as talent, especially with both teams trying to establish some control early.
The intrigue only grows because the other sideline brings its own layer of familiarity and confidence, even if the Spartans have the deeper overall roster. Matchups at wide receiver and in the defensive backfield could decide whether this stays routine or turns into something more annoying for Michigan State, and Eastern Michigans defense will need to hold up if it wants to keep the game within reach. For a Spartans team looking to avoid a messy afternoon, the margins feel thinner than they should in a game like this. [Read more 🡒]