Kickoff is almost here for Michigan State, and the first year of the Pat Fitzgerald era opens Friday night against Toledo at 8 pm ET on FS1. With 62 new players among 111 on the roster, the Spartans are a different-looking team heading into 2026, and a handful of pieces will go a long way toward deciding how this season plays out.
At the top of the list is new starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic. He finished last season as the starter over the final four games and flashed real promise, throwing for 986 yards, seven touchdowns, and only two interceptions. Before that, he was also helping drive scoring possessions in relief early in the year, enough to convince Fitzgerald to hand him the job full time.
Now the challenge is bigger: can Milivojevic keep that same level going for a full 12-game stretch? His game is built on toughness, tight-window throws, and hanging in the pocket until the last possible second. There’s belief he can do it, but his ceiling will also depend on whether Michigan State’s receivers and tight ends can match what the Spartans had last year from Nick Marsh, Omari Kelly, Jack Velling, and Michael Masunas.
The offensive line matters just as much. That group was rebuilt almost from scratch after allowing the second-most sacks in the Big Ten last season and finishing with the fourth-fewest yards per carry on the ground. Conner Moore is the lone returning starter, and even he has shifted from right tackle to left guard.
The biggest newcomer up front is UConn transfer Ben Murawski, who is expected to be a force in the run game while helping pave the way for Cam Edwards. But his pass protection may matter even more. Murawski is at left tackle, which puts him on Milivojevic’s blind side, and any breakdown there becomes a major problem for a quarterback who can’t see the rusher coming off that edge.
Wide receiver is the other major unknown. Chrishon McCray is the one proven piece, after serving as MSU’s starting slot receiver last season and catching 24 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns. He should be a key figure in Nick Sheridan’s offense, and with so many untested options behind him, his role only grows.
Michigan State is likely to rotate six, seven, maybe even eight receivers against Toledo, but McCray should be on the field more than anyone else. His starting job doesn’t appear to be in danger, and with the X and Z spots still unsettled, Milivojevic will probably find him quickly. McCray looks positioned to become the quarterback’s favorite target.
Defensively, the biggest worry is up front, especially at defensive tackle. Last season, Michigan State had five regular contributors at the position, and it was one of the team’s better groups. This year, the Spartans have only six scholarship defensive tackles total, and just two with meaningful college experience.
Ben Roberts is the key name there. He started six of the seven games he played in 2025, but injuries kept him out for a large chunk of the season.
That combination of importance and uncertainty makes the depth behind him a real issue. If Michigan State has to lean on the bench, snaps will start going to Carlos Hazelwood, who barely played at Toledo last year, and Mikeshun Beeler, who has seen very little action at MSU.
Another transfer worth watching is Kenny Soares Jr., who came from NC State and is being moved from linebacker to rush end. Michigan State wants him as the stand-up defensive end on the weak side. Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said the Wolfpack had planned to move Soares to EDGE last season after he transferred from Northwestern, but injuries pushed them to move him back to linebacker.
Even with that background, this is still a new role for Soares, and MSU is banking on him to help fix a pass rush that hasn’t done enough lately. He brings only 3.0 career sacks, but the Spartans are hoping a redshirt senior in a captain’s role, wearing No. 1 because of his teammates, can be part of the answer.
In Other News...
Michigan States New Era Already Comes With An Uncomfortable Opener
Pat Fitzgerald opened his first game week press conference at Michigan State by giving Toledo its due, calling the Rockets a strong program and making clear the opener will not be a soft landing for a new coaching staff. For a fan base already trying to get a feel for a fresh era, the broader framing mattered almost as much as the matchup itself, because the first game always becomes a referendum on how quickly a new coach can settle a team and a season.
The early betting move toward Toledo only added to the uneasiness around a game that had already taken on extra weight. Michigan State supporters know this kind of opening has a history attached to it, with past season debuts under new coaches often carrying the same mix of hope, uncertainty and pressure, and now Fitzgeralds staff gets its first chance to answer all of those questions at once. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Took A Brutal Hit Before The Big Ten Race Begins
Michigans hopes for a fast start to the season took a major blow overseas, where freshman Brandon McCoy suffered an ACL injury in an exhibition game and has since been ruled out for the year. The injury lands especially hard because McCoy was expected to step in as an immediate difference-maker for a team with big goals in the Big Ten and beyond.
McCoy also arrived with legitimate pro buzz, with some around the program viewing him as a potential first-round NBA draft pick if his season went the right way. Instead, Michigan now has to rework its early-season outlook without one of its most important newcomers, a setback that could ripple through a conference race that already promises little margin for error. [Read more 🡒]
Spartan Stadium Is Finally Fixing A Game Day Frustration Fans Hated
Michigan State is making a noticeable offseason change at Spartan Stadium after taking a hard look at what fans were saying last season. The university has partnered with Levy to run concessions for the 2026 football season, a move aimed squarely at cutting down the long waits and uneven game-day experience that have frustrated people heading to East Lansing on Saturdays.
The upgrades go beyond staffing and management, too. Fans will see expanded food options from new restaurant partners like King of the Grill and Ohana, plus a wider selection of alcoholic beverages. The most intriguing piece is the technology side, where new checkout systems are set to be tested in a couple of sections as the Spartans try to make the stadium experience feel less like a chore and more like part of the attraction. [Read more 🡒]