Michigan State’s final four games are about more than the scoreboard. With the Spartans sitting at 2-6 overall and 0-5 in conference play, the staff’s evaluations are already in full swing, and a handful of players are entering the stretch run with a lot riding on what they do next.
The biggest decision point is at quarterback. One of the major calls facing the staff this winter will be who gets the QB1 job for the 2027 season, and the choice appears to be between Alessio Milivojevic and whatever arrives through the transfer portal.
Kayd Coffman showed some promising moments in his first start at UCLA, but it was also clear he isn’t quite ready for that role yet. He still matters to the future of the position, and if Michigan State does go portal shopping, that outside option would likely have just one year of eligibility left.
There’s also a financial layer here. Keeping Milivojevic around would probably cost far less than bringing in a new quarterback from elsewhere, and that gap could help MSU direct money toward better help at receiver or even toward retaining tight end Jayden Savoury.
Milivojevic looked his best in 2025 when Nick Marsh and Omari Kelly were working with him outside, which makes the roster construction around him a real part of the discussion. Of course, all of that depends on his availability after the injury he suffered against Northwestern, which kept him out at UCLA.
The bye comes at a good time for him.
Receiver is another spot that could look very different in 2027. Rodney Bullard Jr. and slot receiver Chrishon McCray are both out of eligibility after this season, while Fredrick Moore has another year left.
Moore has 20 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns, but he’s been part of a group that has struggled to produce consistently. In a wideout room that has felt like one of the Big Ten’s weakest, Moore’s numbers trail McCray, Bullard and Savoury in both receptions and yards.
Linebacker is also set up to be a key offseason story. Jordan Hall, Dion Crawford and Cam Stodghill are all true seniors, and under the new 5-for-5 eligibility rules, each could come back.
Crawford looks like the most interesting name in that mix. Hall would be welcomed back if he chooses to return, but Crawford has been fine rather than indispensable, and younger options like Brady Pretzlaff, DiMari Malone and Adam Shaw may already be pushing up the priority list.
The defensive line has taken a hit, too, especially inside. Ben Roberts was injured on the first defensive snap against UCLA, and after coming out of the locker room with crutches and a wheelchair, there’s a strong chance he’s done for the year and done with college football.
Roberts had been the most valuable player left on defense, so his absence changes the picture in a hurry. Derrick Simmons, a second-year player, is now set to step in as the new starting nose tackle, and the Spartans will need him to handle a heavy load the rest of the way.
Nickelback is another spot worth tracking. Michael Richard has held that job all season, though it hasn’t always been smooth.
NiJhay Burt appeared ready to challenge him early in conference play and even started there against Nebraska, but an injury put Richard back in the spot. When Burt returned, more injuries pushed him to outside corner.
Richard is a true senior whom Michigan State likely viewed as a one-year addition from the transfer portal at Louisiana Tech, and the secondary is going to need more help anyway with Tre Bell and Charles Brantley both set to be lost at corner, along with Nikai Martinez at safety.
In Other News...
Michigan State Is Finally Making A Serious Push To Rebuild Fast
Pat Fitzgeralds first season at Michigan State has not produced the kind of competitive rebound the program had hoped for, but the bigger shift may be happening behind the scenes. New athletic director Dan Bartholomae has already made clear he wants the Spartans to start spending like one of the Big Tens heavyweights, and that means a much more aggressive approach to building the roster than the one Michigan State has been able to sustain in recent years.
According to a report by Justin Spiro, Michigan State is preparing to push its football roster budget into the high-$30 million range this offseason, a figure that could put the Spartans among the top five spenders in the conference. For a program trying to close ground quickly, it is a meaningful marker of intent, even if the real test will be whether that financial commitment translates into the kind of talent upgrade and immediate on-field jump the Spartans need. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Receiver Search Just Sent Another Clear Message
Michigan States pursuit of help at receiver is still taking shape, and the latest offer gives a good sense of the profile the staff is chasing. The Spartans have extended one to Kyren Evans, a 2027 recruit from Lutheran North High School in St. Louis, Missouri, adding another name to a growing board as they look to strengthen a position that needs more playmaking and flexibility.
Evans is still unrated by 247Sports, but his early offer list already includes programs such as Northern Iowa and UCLA, which suggests the interest is spreading beyond the regional level. For Michigan State, the appeal appears to be his versatility and ability to create with the ball in his hands, a combination that fits the kind of receiver search the Spartans have been conducting as they build toward future classes. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Freshman Surge Is Putting The Big Ten On Notice
A strong final push in the regular season brought more Big Ten recognition for Michigan State cross country, with Kaitlyn Reese and Gus Rohde both earning weekly honors. Reese picked up both Womens Athlete and Freshman of the Week after winning the womens 5k at the EMU Fall Classic in a personal-best time, while Rohde was named Mens Freshman of the Week after finishing second overall in the mens 5k with his own personal record.
For a program looking to build momentum late, the timing of those performances matters. The awards are the last weekly accolades of the 2026 Big Ten cross country regular season, which gives Reese and Rohde a fitting snapshot of how quickly each has grown into the conference picture and leaves Michigan State with a pair of freshmen drawing attention just as the season turns toward its next stage. [Read more 🡒]