Let's be real for a second. If you’ve been following Michigan State University football news lately, your head is probably spinning faster than a freshman kick returner. One minute we’re talking about the "rebuilding" under Jonathan Smith, and the next, the entire foundation has been ripped up and replaced. It’s been a wild ride. Honestly, nobody expected the Smith era to end after just two seasons, but a 4-8 finish and an eight-game skid tend to change plans quickly.
Enter Pat Fitzgerald.
Yeah, that Pat Fitzgerald. The former Northwestern mainstay is now the man in charge in East Lansing, and he isn't wasting any time.
The Fitzgerald Hire: What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of fans think bringing in a guy like Fitzgerald is just about "toughness" or "Big Ten experience." It’s more than that. It’s a complete cultural reset. When Jonathan Smith was fired on November 30, 2025, the program felt a bit... lost. The sideline was quiet. The energy was low.
Fitzgerald brings the exact opposite. He’s already calling MSU a "sleeping giant." You’ve gotta love that confidence, even if the roster looks like a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing. He’s moving fast, securing a $30 million contract with heavy incentives. This isn't a "wait and see" hire. It’s a "win now or else" move.
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The New Coaching Staff
Fitzgerald didn’t just show up alone. He’s assembling a "super-staff" that looks surprisingly balanced.
- Nick Sheridan (OC): Coming over from Alabama. He’s got that high-level play-calling experience.
- Joe Rossi (DC): One of the few holdovers from the previous staff. This was a smart move. Rossi’s defense actually showed life at the end of last season, and Fitzgerald knows a good defensive mind when he sees one.
- Max Bullough (Co-DC/LBs): The prodigal son returns. Seeing a Bullough back on the Spartan sidelines? That’s pure East Lansing magic.
- LeVar Woods (ST/Assistant Head Coach): Poaching him from Iowa is arguably the biggest win of the offseason. Iowa’s special teams have been the gold standard for a decade.
Roster Chaos and the Transfer Portal
If you look at the current depth chart, it’s basically written in pencil. Maybe even erasable ink. We’ve seen over 30 scholarship players hit the portal. That’s a massive exodus. Losing a star like wide receiver Nick Marsh stings—badly. He was the only consistent spark on offense for two years.
But it’s not all bad news.
The Spartans just landed Ben Murawski, a massive offensive tackle from UConn. PFF had him graded as the third-best run blocker in the FBS last year. That’s the kind of "meat and potatoes" signing Fitzgerald thrives on. Protecting the quarterback has to be priority number one, especially if we want to see what the young guys can actually do.
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Speaking of quarterbacks, Alessio Milivojevic is the name you need to know.
He stayed. While everyone else was packing their bags, Milivojevic plant his flag. He finished the 2025 season strong, throwing for 291 yards and four touchdowns against Maryland. He’s tough, he’s got a cannon, and he’s actually helping Fitzgerald recruit the 2026 class. That’s leadership you can't coach.
The 2026 Recruiting Class: Quality Over Quantity
Right now, the 2026 class is hovering around the top 45-50 mark nationally. That sounds low, but remember, Fitzgerald took over right before the early signing period. He basically had to do a year's worth of work in two weeks.
Key Names to Watch
- Collin Campbell (OT): A four-star tackle from Arizona. He’s a top 200 player nationally and arguably the crown jewel of this class.
- Kayd Coffman (QB): The local kid from Grand Rapids. He’s a four-star talent who chose MSU over SEC and ACC offers.
- Trey Serauskis (LS): Okay, I know, a long snapper? But listen, he’s the #2 ranked snapper in the country. In a Fitzgerald/LeVar Woods system, special teams are a weapon.
There’s also the Samson Gash situation. He’s the #1 wide receiver in Michigan and still hasn't signed his Letter of Intent. His brother, Caleb, is already on the team. If Fitzgerald can keep Samson home and away from Alabama, it’s a massive statement.
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Why This Matters Right Now
The Big Ten is changing. With the West Coast teams fully integrated, the schedule is a gauntlet. You can’t survive on "potential" anymore.
Michigan State University football news isn't just about scores anymore; it’s about survival in the NIL and portal era. Fitzgerald is betting on player development and "Spartan toughness." It’s a bit old-school, but with a guy like Nick Sheridan modernizing the offense, it might just work.
The defense will be fine. Rossi and Bullough together? That’s a nightmare for opposing O-lines. The real question is whether the offense can score enough points to keep up with the Oregons and Ohio States of the world.
Actionable Insights for Spartan Fans
If you’re trying to keep up with all the moving parts, here’s how to navigate the next few months:
- Watch the Spring Game: This will be the first time we see Fitzgerald’s "culture" on the field. Don't look at the score; look at the discipline and the offensive tempo.
- Monitor the Post-Spring Portal: Expect another wave of transfers. Fitzgerald will likely look for a veteran wide receiver and another linebacker to bolster the depth.
- Keep an eye on Jordan Hall: He’s the heart of the defense. If he stays healthy and buys into the Rossi/Bullough system, he could be an All-American.
- Check the Special Teams: With LeVar Woods in the building, watch for MSU to start winning the field position battle. It’s the "boring" stuff that wins 7- or 8-win seasons.
The 2026 season opener against Toledo will be here before you know it. It won't be perfect, and the roster might still feel a little thin in spots. But for the first time in a few years, it feels like there's an actual plan in East Lansing. Go Green.
To stay ahead of the curve, you should follow the official scholarship trackers daily, as the 85-man limit is going to be a moving target until fall camp begins. Focus specifically on the interior offensive line depth, as that remains the most volatile area of the current roster construction.