Michigan State spent Saturday night taking the kind of loss that leaves a mark, and then Tyren Hornes made sure the sting lingered a little longer.
Hours after the Spartans were handled by No. 9 UCLA, 28-10, the former Michigan State wide receiver commit erupted for UCF in a massive upset of No.
2 BYU. Hornes, once known as Wortham, posted 137 receiving yards on six catches in what was easily his first true breakout performance of the season.
That kind of production on a national stage turned the spotlight right back on Michigan State’s receiver room, and not in a flattering way. The Spartans had hoped to build on the 38 points they put up across their previous two games combined, but that offensive surge never carried over against UCLA. True freshman Kayd Coffman started at quarterback, Michigan State was missing several key starters, and the passing game never found its footing.
The wide receivers didn’t help matters much either. Rod Bullard has hit a wall, Fredrick Moore has been quiet lately, Chrishon McCray still can’t seem to sync up with his quarterbacks - though he did look good against UCLA - and KK Smith has bounced in and out of the rotation all season. Bryson Williams and Samson Gash have flashed some life, but the group still could have used a difference-maker like Hornes.
Instead, he was doing damage to one of the best teams in the country for someone else.
Hornes’ performance only sharpened the regret around a recruitment that had plenty of twists. He originally committed to Michigan State in June of 2025 after visiting Jonathan Smith and the Spartans just two days earlier, flipping from UCF to Michigan State in a surprise move. Georgia was in the mix as well, and Smith managed to win out over the Bulldogs for the four-star wideout.
Michigan State couldn’t hold on.
After the commitment, Hornes drew interest from Florida State and Auburn, then decommitted in October as the Spartans’ season started going off the rails. Washington and Penn State later joined the chase, but Hornes eventually chose to recommit to UCF in January.
For Michigan State, the miss is a familiar kind of pain. Hornes was ranked by 247Sports as a 4-star prospect and the No. 172 overall player in the 2026 class, and his breakout against a top-two opponent only underscored what the Spartans let slip away.
Michigan State has had one of the most elite “what could have been” receiving corps of all time.
Tyren Hornes. Keon Coleman.
Germie Bernard. Nick Marsh.
That list says plenty.
In Other News...
Michigan State Fans Had Another Reason To Be Frustrated After UCLA
UCLAs 28-10 win over Michigan State at the Rose Bowl did more than push the Bruins to 7-0 and keep their College Football Playoff hopes intact. For the Spartans, it was another frustrating afternoon in a game that started with early miscues and never really gave them much traction, even as Bob Chesney pointed to the two costly fumbles that handed Michigan State favorable field position and return yards.
By halftime, UCLA had steadied itself and played a cleaner second half to close out the victory, leaving Michigan State to regroup after a loss that never felt far away but also never felt truly winnable. And while the action on the field was enough to drive plenty of reaction, the game also drew a separate wave of attention online as photos of UCLA cheerleader Kelsey Lowder spread across social media, adding an unexpected layer to an already talked-about night in Pasadena. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Already Has One Worry As Its Backcourt Takes Shape
Michigan States backcourt is starting to look like the clear strength of Tom Izzos newest group, with Jeremy Fears Jr., Jasiah Jervis and Jordan Scott all starting together in recent exhibition action. Scott, in particular, offered a glimpse of how much he can help on both ends, scoring 18 points while also making his presence felt defensively with blocks and steals, which is the kind of two-way lift the Spartans can build around as the season approaches.
The concern, though, is in front of that perimeter trio, where the frontcourt left more questions than answers. Center Anton Bonke had limited impact, while power forwards Cam Ward and Coen Carr were uneven, leaving Michigan State with some real work to do in the paint before the games start counting. The guard play looks ready to carry a significant load, but the Spartans still need the interior rotation to settle in if they want the rest of the roster to match that progress. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Volleyball Heads Home With Real Big Ten Momentum
Michigan State wrapped up a four-match road trip in convincing fashion, finishing with a 3-0 sweep at Maryland and heading back home with its Big Ten standing looking a lot stronger. The Spartans are 17-3 overall and 7-3 in conference play after controlling the match in just about every phase, from kills and service aces to blocks and digs.
Madi Andrews supplied 12 kills and Hayley Ogden added seven blocks as Michigan State kept Maryland from finding much rhythm on its home floor. With the Spartans now back in East Lansing, the bigger question is how this momentum carries into the next stretch of league play, where every clean road result can shape the conference race. [Read more 🡒]