Michigan State has quietly made one of its most deliberate offseason investments in special teams , adding multiple scholarship kickers, punters, long snappers , and a proven All-Big Ten kickoff returner . This is not a surprise, considering the hire of Lavar Wood from Iowa. It's clear Coach Fitz wants Special Teams to be a strength of the team. And the execution of Portal and High School recruiting has led to immediate answers and long-term succession plans , a sharp contras

Portal classes are often judged by star ratings and name recognition. But the more revealing exercise is asking a different question: What roles did the staff expect these players to fill — and for how long? By pairing Michigan State’s portal additions with their projected 2026 roles and remaining eligibility, a clear pattern emerges. This wasn’t a volume grab or a long-term overhaul. It was a precision roster correction , built around immediate starters, rotational stability

Michigan State’s secondary experienced near-total turnover this offseason. Between graduation, the portal, and role changes, the Spartans lost the bulk of last year’s snaps at both corner and safety. Rather than attempting a one-for-one replacement, the staff rebuilt the back end with a clear structural vision: defined outside corners, interchangeable safeties, and flexibility to play nickel-heavy looks . Secondary Departures Cornerbacks lost: Malcolm Bell, Joshua Eaton, Nija

Departures: Experience and Volume Out, Not Elite Production Michigan State loses five defensive tackles  from last season, creating a noticeable turnover in snaps and experience—but not necessarily elite-level production. Departing DTs Alex VanSumeren  – 52 tackles, 1.5 sacks 2025 PFF: 66.9 overall  (backup-level) Strength: Tackling (78.9) Limitation: Pass rush (61.2) Quindarius Dunnigan  – 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks Flashed high-end games (85.7 PFF late Nov) but inconsistent week

Passing Game Context: Why 2026 Is About Damage Control Michigan State’s 2025 passing game finished with 240 total receptions  and 2,672 receiving yards , production that was uneven but still driven by a more talented group on paper  than what the Spartans project heading into 2026. The problem in 2025 wasn’t a lack of capable bodies. It was: Inconsistent separation Limited third-down reliability A passing game that stalled too often despite veteran presence That context matte

Stability, Experience, and a Better Environment 2025 Recap: Limited and Under Pressure The 2025 Michigan State passing offense was semi-functional at best but capped by circumstance. From a macro view, the Spartans shockingly landed squarely in the middle of the FBS in pass rate and volume, but well below average in efficiency and explosiveness: Pass Play %:  51.9% (37th) Completion %:  62.5% (56th) Yards per Attempt:  6.9 (79th) Pass Yards/Game:  218.4 (76th) INT Rate:  1.43

Snapshot Michigan State’s 2026 linebacker room isn’t about replacing one player with another; it’s about creating options . With clearer role definitions and better alignment between skill sets and usage, MSU enters the season with a linebacker group that can adapt to personnel, down-and-distance, and opponent tendencies without exposing weaknesses. This is less about “who starts” and more about what tools the defense now has available . Departures: Good Run Defense, Moderate

Individually, Michigan State’s 2026 offensive line and running back rooms look improved . Together, they look intentional . After evaluating both rooms in isolation, the bigger takeaway is this: MSU’s roster is quietly being built around a defined rushing identity , not just incremental upgrades. This isn’t about flash — it’s about fit. The Big Picture Michigan State Spartans football enters 2026 with: A stronger, more physical interior offensive line A deep RB room with defi

Michigan State Spartans RB Room Year-over-Year Analysis If we want to think about YoY improvements, we need to understand what we are benchmarking off. In short, it's a low bar... and it's easy to point fingers to what led to the lack of success: 1. Not the most talented RB room. 2. OL injuries. 3. Unstable QB play. 4. Play-calling. But don't worry, there's reason for optimism ( check out the Offensive Line Revamp here ). Departures (2025 Production Leaving) Even with poor na

Context: 2025 Offensive Line Before projecting what Michigan State’s offensive line can  be in 2026, it’s important to be clear about what it was  in 2025, because the baseline matters. Statistically, MSU’s offense struggled to function on a down-to-down basis: Yards per play:  ~4.8 (≈108th nationally) Third-down conversion:  ~33% (≈114th nationally) Rushing yards/game:  ~123 (≈109th nationally) Sack rate:  9.6% of dropbacks (127th nationally) Total sacks allowed:  37 (12th-m

MSU made its first splash in the portal. Adding the 6-7 Green to slide into the SF role. He's a bit of a combo 3/4 like Carr, but...

After a refreshing season for Michigan State basketball fans, there’s a mix of unknown and anticipation as we look ahead to the...

The Spartans are in the midst of a significant offensive overhaul, reshaping key parts of the roster heading into next season. Here's a...

Michigan State showed grit and depth in a thrilling 94-91 overtime victory against No. 12 North Carolina in the Maui Invitational's...

Game Info: 🗓 Tuesday, Nov. 26 ⏰ 6:00 PM ET 📍 Maui, Hawaii 📺 ESPN Setting the Stage Michigan State takes on Memphis in the second round of the Maui Invitational , with the winner advancing to the championship game and likely facing UNC or Auburn. Both teams enter with momentum, but their paths to this matchup were very different: MSU:  The Spartans handled Colorado with relative ease, showcasing depth and balance while staying in control for most of the game. Memphis:  The

With a 4-1 record to start the season, Michigan State basketball has already shown flashes of promise and areas for growth. The loss to top-ranked Kansas highlighted both the team’s potential and its struggles, but there’s reason for optimism as the Spartans gear up for the always-competitive Maui Invitational , starting with a matchup against Colorado on November 25. What We’ve Seen So Far Shooting Woes MSU’s three-point shooting  has been its Achilles' heel. Despite an impr

For the first time in what feels like forever, MSU enters a game with the predictions, analytics, and even Vegas on its side. Match-Up Preview: Michigan State vs. Purdue The Michigan State Spartans (4-6, 2-5 Big Ten) welcome the struggling Purdue Boilermakers (1-9, 0-7 Big Ten) to East Lansing in a Friday night matchup between two teams looking to salvage what’s left of their seasons. While Purdue’s record paints a bleak picture, this game may be closer than it seems at first

It’s no secret: Michigan State football recruiting is in a tough spot. Currently, the Spartans’ 2024 class ranks 58th in the nation  and...

I'll admit I only watched the first quarter, so maybe this loss is on me, as we stunk as soon as I turned it off. This was a massive...

If there's one thing that can change the momentum and trajectory of a program, it's pulling off an upset. If there's one thing Mel did...