Michigan State Spartans 2026 Football Preview
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Pat Fitzgerald’s Northwestern teams rarely, if ever, out-talented their Power Five opponents. Didn’t matter; they still won. How Fitzgerald’s teams did that is by outsmarting and outplaying them much of the time. Not always, mind you. Remember in 2021 when Nebraska walloped Northwestern 56-3 in Lincoln, only for Fitzgerald to get revenge in Ireland the next year, winning 31-28.
It was Fitzgerald’s last win at his alma mater.
In 2023, Fitzgerald was fired just before the season amidst a hazing controversy, though Fitzgerald eventually was cleared of any knowledge of the situation. Now Pat Fitzgerald is back in college football, this time at Michigan State. I dare say Fitzgerald’s ceiling at Michigan State will eventually be higher in East Lansing than it ever was in Evanston.
Eventually. Not in 2026, though. Frank Cignetti-like turnarounds are the exception, not the rule. Too much turnover on this roster to expect much more than a team that will play hard and smart, but likely will only be able to put a scare into a couple of opponents this year.
Sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic (6’2” 225 lbs.) finished last season as Sparty’s starter, completing 64% of his passes for 1,267 yards and ten touchdowns with three interceptions. Expect Milivojevic to be challenged by dual-threat transfer Cam Fancher (6’2” 200 lbs.), who Scott Frost named as his starting quarterback at UCF last season. Fancher completed 57% of his passes in an injury-plagued season at UCF, and rushed for 170 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. If healthy, I suspect Fancher will be the starter by the end of September, but that’s a big assumption.
At running back, Uconn transfer Cam Edwards (5’11” 200 lbs.) is expected to be their premier back after rushing for 1,240 yards last season, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Iowa transfer Jaziun Patterson (5’10” 220 lbs.) rushed for 811 yards in three seasons with the Hawkeyes. Junior Brandon Tullis (6’1” 234 lbs.) is Sparty’s lone returning running back, rushing for 301 yards last season and leading the Spartans with four rushing touchdowns. Also of note is former Husker Kenneth Williams (5’9” 190 lbs.)
Michigan State’s receiver room is in rebuild mode, with only senior Chrishon McCray (5’10” 171 lbs.) returning. McCray caugh 24 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns last year. Ferris State transfer Carson Gulkier (6’3” 240 lbs.) has 44 career starts at tight end.
The offensive line is another rebuild, but incoming transfers should lessen that blow. Senior right guard Conner Moore (6’6’ 315 lbs.) returns from last year along with sophomore right tackle Rakeem Johnson (6’4” 305 lbs.). North Dakota State transfer Trent Fraley (6’1” 310 lbs.) won the FCS Rimington Award for the top center at that level. Left tackle Ben Murawski (6’7” 340 lbs.) and left guard Nick Sharpe (6’2” 350 lbs.) established themselves at UConn and South Carolina respectively. This group could end up being the strength of the offense by season’s end.
Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi was a holdover from the previous staff with a proven track record at Minnesota. Depth on the defensive line is going to be an issue with only junior defensive end Isaac Smith (6’6” 255 lbs.) returning. He’ll match up with North Carolina State transfer rush end Kenny Soares (6’3” 235 lbs.), who was second in tackles for the Wolfpack with 80 last season.
Senior middle linebacker Jordan Hall (6’3” 250 lbs.) was the Spartans’ leading tackler last season with 88. Transfer weakside linebacker Caleb Wheatland (6’1” 245 lbs.) started twelve games for Maryland over his career with 101 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss and three pass breakups. Also in the mix is Buffalo transfer Dion Crawford (6’1” 245 lbs.) who started 26 games with 171 career tackles and 12 sacks.
Senior cornerback Charles Brantley (6’1” 170 lbs.) started 24 games for the Spartans with 103 tackles, 18 pass breakups and five interceptions prior to transferring to Miami last season, where he didn’t see much action. He’s back now, and will pair up with Iowa State transfer Tre Bell (6’2” 205 lbs.), who had 36 tackles and two interceptions for the Cyclones last season. Senior free safety Nikai Martinez (5’11” 200 lbs.) had 24 tackles last year as a reserve, while Maine transfer Devin Vaught (6’0” 210 lbs.) has 103 career tackles the last two seasons.
It’s noteworthy that Pat Fitzgerald was able to snag former Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods for the same role at Michigan State. Woods in turn snagged Iowa punter Rhys Dakin (6’4” 223 lbs.) to bring his 44.1 yds/punt average to East Lansing.
Michigan State hosts the Huskers the week after a road game at Notre Dame. The Spartans do start November at Michigan then hosting both Washington and Oregon before finishing with Rutgers on Thanksgiving weekend. It’s not an easy schedule, and bowl eligibility likely revolves around pulling off an upset at some point in October against either Wisconsin on the road or Illinois for homecoming, unless they can get it against the Huskers or Fighting Irish.
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