Game Preview: Michigan State faces Eastern Michigan with a whole lot still to prove

Michigan State enters Week 2 of the Pat Fitzgerald era looking to build on a successful opening night victory over Toledo. The Spartans opened the season with a 30-20 win over the Rockets, controlling the ball for more than 43 minutes and showing flashes of the physical, disciplined brand of football Fitzgerald is establishing in East Lansing. While there were certainly areas that still need improvement, particularly after surrendering a fourth-quarter lead, MSU left Week 1 with something it needs to continue to build: momentum.

This week presents a different kind of challenge. Eastern Michigan may not carry the same preseason expectations as Toledo, but after struggling for many years, the Eagles have built one of the more respected programs in the MAC under longtime head coach Chris Creighton. They also bring a unique storyline into Spartan Stadium, as former Michigan State quarterback Noah Kim returns to East Lansing for the first time since transferring out (originally to Coastal Carolina). With the Spartans looking to start 2-0 and continue building confidence under a new coaching staff, this game provides another important opportunity to establish an identity before a road trip to South Bend versus No. 3 Notre Dame. 

Game Info

Time: Saturday, Sept. 12, 3:38 p.m. ET
TV Channel: Big Ten Network
Radio: Spartan Media Network
Location: Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, Michigan)
Weather: Conditions are expected to be favorable for football with mild September temperatures and no significant weather concerns currently in the forecast.

Eastern Michigan notables

The Eagles enter Saturday with a 1-1 record after opening the season with a victory over Sacramento State before falling to San Jose State last weekend. Eastern Michigan had an opportunity to pull off a slight upset against San Jose State, leading 21-17 late in the third quarter before surrendering 14 fourth-quarter points. While the loss was disappointing, the Eagles showed enough to demonstrate they are capable of competing for a bowl game and making noise within the MAC.

The biggest storyline surrounding EMU is, as mentioned, undoubtedly quarterback Noah Kim. Spartan fans will remember Kim from his time in East Lansing, and he now returns as the Eagles' starting quarterback. Through two games, Kim has completed 51-of-81 passes for 453 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He currently leads the MAC in passing yards and has helped Eastern Michigan establish one of the better passing attacks in the conference early in the 2026 season.

Kim has several reliable targets at his disposal. Graduate senior receiver Nick Devereaux leads the team with nine receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Joshua Long has emerged as a favorite underneath target with 11 receptions through two games. Eastern Michigan has leaned heavily on its passing attack, throwing the football at a much higher rate than running it (81 passing attempts versus 55 rushing attempts).

The running game is led by sophomore Amareon Blue, who has rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. While the Eagles have struggled to establish a consistent ground attack, Blue has shown enough explosiveness to create problems if defenses focus too heavily on stopping the pass.

Defensively, Eastern Michigan has been opportunistic. The Eagles have four takeaways through two games and have posted a positive turnover margin to begin the season. Graduate linebacker Zach Mowchan has been a highly productive defender, leading all of FBS with 25 tackles through two games. Defensive back Caleb Dobbs has also had a strong start, recording six passes defended and already showing that he can be one of the top defensive backs in the MAC.

Eastern Michigan has not beaten Michigan State in 10 all-time meetings, but Creighton has consistently built competitive teams that rarely beat themselves. The Eagles will likely enter Saturday believing they have an opportunity to challenge the Spartans if they can force turnovers and capitalize on mistakes.

Michigan State Notables

The Spartans opened the season with a win over Toledo, but perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the performance was how they controlled the game. Michigan State dominated time of possession by more than 26 minutes, scored on seven of its 10 possessions and consistently moved the ball throughout the night. Fitzgerald's emphasis on physical football and ball control was evident from the opening drive.

Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic looked comfortable leading the offense in the season opener. The redshirt sophomore completed 26-of-34 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown, while avoiding turnovers. After showing promise during the final stretch of the 2025 season, Milivojevic appears poised to take another step forward as the leader of the offense. His efficiency against Toledo was one of the biggest reasons the Spartans were able to control the pace of the game.

The running game is led by graduate transfer Cam Edwards, who carried the ball 27 times for 98 yards and a touchdown in his Spartan debut. Edwards, a UConn transfer, brings a level of experience and reliability that Michigan State has lacked at times in recent years, and Fitzgerald appears willing to lean heavily on him as the offense continues to develop.

One of the biggest surprises from week one was the performance of kicker Liam Boyd. The Charlotte transfer connected on five field goals, including a career-long 51-yard kick to seal the victory. Boyd's ability to consistently convert scoring opportunities could become a major weapon for the Spartans throughout the season. Boyd was named as one of Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week for his efforts.

Where the offense will need to improve is finishing drives in the red zone. The Spartans were unable to capitalize as often as they wanted to against the Rockets, leading to a busy night for Boyd and the field goal unit. This was a point of emphasis Milivojevic immediately noted in the postgame press conference last Friday.

Defensively, there were plenty of positive signs as well. Michigan State generated six tackles for loss, recorded two sacks, and forced a turnover. Linebacker Jordan Hall remains the leader of the unit, while several transfer additions made immediate impacts in their Spartan debuts. The defense was not perfect, particularly during portions of the second half, but it showed the physicality and effort that Fitzgerald and defensive coordinator Joe Rossi have emphasized since arriving in East Lansing.

The MSU defense did give up a couple of explosive plays that led to touchdowns for the Rockets. That will need to be cleaned up in Week 2 and as the 2026 season progresses.

Overview

This game presents a different challenge than the season opener. Toledo arrived with considerable expectations and was viewed by many as one of the stronger teams in the MAC. Eastern Michigan may not possess the same level of preseason hype, but the Eagles are experienced, well-coached and have a quarterback in Kim who will be highly motivated returning to East Lansing.

For Michigan State, the focus should remain on continuing to establish the foundation Fitzgerald wants to build. The Spartans were at their best against Toledo when they controlled the line of scrimmage, protected the football and sustained long drives. If they can replicate that formula, they should once again be in position to control the game. The continued development of Milivojevic and the offense will also be worth monitoring as Michigan State attempts to find more explosiveness in the passing game.

Eastern Michigan has enough experience to make things uncomfortable if the Spartans come out flat. Noah Kim is capable of moving the football through the air, and the Eagles have already shown a knack for creating turnovers. However, Michigan State appears to hold the advantage in overall talent, depth and physicality, particularly in the trenches.

Expect the Spartans to come out focused after a productive opening week. There are still questions surrounding just how high this team's ceiling can be in 2026, but another strong performance would go a long way toward building confidence before the schedule becomes difficult. Eastern Michigan should compete and keep things interesting at times, but this feels like a game Michigan State should win comfortably and the Spartans can continue building momentum as the season progresses.