Injuries have plagued Michigan State throughout the 2026 season, and the Spartans received more bad news hours before Saturday’s kickoff against UCLA.
Several key Spartans were listed as questionable ahead of the West Coast matchup with the Bruins.
Those players included starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, starting running back Jaziun Patterson, offensive lineman Ben Murawski, and linebackers Brady Pretzlaff and Caleb Wheatland.
The final availability report, posted on the Big Ten website at 1:30 p.m. EDT Saturday, lists Milivojevic and Patterson as out. Murawski, Pretzlaff, and Wheatland are available.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported that Milivojevic was not expected to play because of an undisclosed injury sustained in last week’s game against Northwestern. Sources confirmed the report to Spartans Illustrated. Milivojevic made the trip to Los Angeles.
With Milivojevic and second-string quarterback Cam Fancher sidelined by injuries, true freshman Kayd Coffman, of Kentwood, Michigan, is expected to start, according to Thamel.
Redshirt freshman Leo Hannan, of nearby Long Beach, California, could also see action at the Rose Bowl today. Hannan has yet to take a snap for the Green and White.
Milivojevic has taken 90% of the Spartans’ snaps this season. He has completed 121 of 185 passes (65.4%) for 1,263 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions. He has been sacked 18 times for a loss of 123 yards.
Excluding sacks, Milivojevic has rushed 23 times for 109 yards (4.7 yards per carry).
Coffman played 11 snaps over the final two drives in the fourth quarter of the blowout loss at Wisconsin. He did not attempt a pass, rushing twice for 8 yards and taking a sack for a loss of 9 yards.
Patterson took over as the starting running back after Cam Edwards suffered a season-ending injury in the first quarter against Nebraska. Patterson has 76 carries for 327 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and five touchdowns.
In Patterson’s absence, sophomore Marvis Parrish, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will likely start at tailback. He has 33 carries for 96 yards (2.9 yards per carry) this season.
Junior Brandon Tullis, of Dallas, will also likely see more snaps today. He has 10 carries for 49 yards (4.9 yards per carry) this season.
Starting left tackle Ben Murawski was injured in the overtime loss to Illinois on Oct. 10 and missed last week’s game against Northwestern.
Pretzlaff has battled injuries for much of the season. He was first injured in the first half against Notre Dame and missed the Nebraska game the following week. He returned at Wisconsin but was injured again in the first quarter against Illinois after just 16 plays. He missed last week’s game against Northwestern.
Wheatland was pressed into duty early in the season because of injuries to starting middle linebacker Jordan Hall. Wheatland then suffered an injury at Wisconsin on Oct. 3 and has not played since.
