Michigan State Spartans 2026 Football Preview
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 […]
Michigan State's football team is set to make a return in 2026 under the guidance of former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. Despite Northwestern's dominance in recent years, Fitzgerald proved to be a formidable competitor, leading his team to a 31-28 victory against Nebraska in 2023. Fitzgerald's coaching style focuses on smart, hard-hitting football, which he believes will serve him well in East Lansing.
Fitzgerald is bringing a number of experienced players with him from Northwestern, including sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, who completed 64% of his passes last season and led the team with 1,267 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, dual-threat transfer Cam Fancher, who completed 57% of his passes and rushed for 170 yards at UCF, is expected to challenge for the starting position.
The Spartans' backfield is anchored by UConn transfer Cam Edwards, who rushed for 1,240 yards last season. Iowa transfer Jaziun Patterson adds another potent weapon, having amassed 811 yards on the ground in three seasons with the Hawkeyes. Sophomore running back Brandon Tullis returns to the lineup, having rushed for 301 yards and four touchdowns last season.
The offensive line and defensive line both appear to be in transition, with incoming transfers helping to shore up the roster. Defensively, junior defensive end Isaac Smith and transfer rush end Kenny Soares will form the core of the defensive line, supported by linebacker Jordan Hall and transfer linebacker Caleb Wheatland.
The Spartans' defensive backfield is led by senior cornerback Charles Brantley and Iowa State transfer Tre Bell, who will be supported by senior free safety Nikai Martinez and Buffalo transfer Dion Crawford. Fitzgerald has also brought in former Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods, who in turn signed Iowa punter Rhys Dakin.
The Spartans' schedule for 2026 features tough road games against Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Illinois, but also home games against Michigan, Washington, and Oregon, as well as a Thanksgiving weekend matchup against Rutgers.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
