Michigan State opened its season Friday night with a win, but it came with enough rough edges to keep the mood from turning fully celebratory.
The Spartans beat Toledo 30-20 at home, a result that landed right on the ten-point margin some expected going in. Still, the final score told only part of the story. Michigan State gave up a pair of 60-plus-yard touchdowns and watched Alessio Milivojevic get sacked three times as the pass rush struggled to make much of an impact.
Milivojevic did plenty to steady things, though. He was sharp and careful with the ball, finishing 26 of 34 for 247 yards and a touchdown. Cam Edwards also gave Michigan State a lift, especially in the first half, piling up 98 yards and a touchdown.
The biggest reason the game stayed tighter than it probably should have was the kicking game. Michigan State settled for six field goals, and that made the margin look slimmer than the Spartans would have liked.
Toledo deserves credit for tightening up in the red zone, but Michigan State still needs cleaner execution there. Punching in even one or two of those stalled drives would have changed the feel of the night.
For all the frustration that might come with it, the Spartans still got the result they wanted. A ten-point win over Toledo fits the expectation level coming in, even if it left some fans with mixed feelings. Next week’s matchup with Eastern Michigan figures to be a different kind of test, especially after Eastern Michigan lost to lowly San Jose State on Friday night.
In Other News...
Rodney Bullard's Michigan State Debut Raised One Big Question
Rodney Bullards path to Michigan State took a strange turn before he ever caught a pass for the Spartans, when a clerical error tied to his academic credits initially left him ineligible. The issue was reversed by the NCAA before a scheduled court appearance, and once Bullard finally got on the field in the season opener, he made the most of the moment with seven catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Even with a few drops mixed in, Bullard showed why Michigan State wanted him involved so quickly, because his touchdown and two-point conversion helped build a late lead. The debut also did something else: it raised the obvious question of how much more there is in his game once he and the offense settle in, especially after he already topped his previous season totals in one afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Marsh Just Reopened A Painful Michigan State Conversation
Nick Marshs move from Michigan State to Indiana was already the kind of transfer that lingers in East Lansing, and his debut made it sting a little more. After leaving the Spartans in January 2026, the highly ranked recruit stepped into his first game with Indiana and immediately looked like a natural fit in the new offense, giving the Hoosiers an early jolt against North Texas.
For Michigan State fans, the uncomfortable part is less about one play than what it says about what Marsh brought with him out the door. He spent two seasons in green and white as one of the programs most productive receivers, and his departure reopened a familiar conversation about talent, retention and what the Spartans lost before he ever got a chance to fully define his college career. [Read more 🡒]
Alessio Milivojevic Gave Michigan State A Reason To Believe Again
Alessio Milivojevics first start at quarterback gave Michigan State something it badly needed in its 2027 season opener against Toledo: a steady hand. Working within a conservative game plan, he handled the job efficiently, showed good poise and decision-making, and helped move the offense with enough consistency to keep the Spartans on track for a season-opening win.
He finished by distributing the ball around and making life manageable for a team that still had some issues turning red zone chances into touchdowns. Even so, the performance mattered for a program looking for proof that the position could be stable again, and Milivojevic gave the Spartans a reason to think the answer might already be in-house. [Read more 🡒]