Fitzgerald Era Begins at MSU | Michigan State Spartans Football News

Michigan State football kicks off their 2026 season Friday night against Toledo, marking the official start of Pat Fitzgerald’s era in East Lansing. With redshirt sophomore QB Alessio Milivojevic — nicknamed “Les” — leading the charge, the Spartans are poised to rebuild after a major offseason overhaul. Key transfers like Doak Walker Award watchlist running back Cam Edwards and elite linemen Ben Murawski and Trent Fraley bolster the offense and trenches, while defensive standout Kenny Soares Jr. reunites with Fitzgerald and Charles Brantley returns for his final season. Veteran leaders Jordan Hall and Nikai Martinez provide crucial stability as Fitzgerald’s new coaching staff, including Alabama’s Nick Sheridan and Arizona Cardinals’ Winston DeLattiboudere, implements a fresh vision. This Toledo game is the first real test of Fitzgerald’s bold transformation. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b0e7b1d17a5bc6b4