Jonathan Smith Press Conference

Michigan State Spartans football fans, meet your next generation of defensive stars. Can breakout talents like Derrick Simmons, Tyran Chappell, and Dion Crawford become household names by midseason and shore up the Spartans’ rotating defense? Matt Sheehan spotlights these under-the-radar standouts and unpacks how Michigan State’s transfer-heavy roster could shake up the Big Ten this year.

Michigan State Spartans football faces a pivotal season as anticipation builds for new quarterback Alessio Milivojevic and top transfer running back Cam Edwards. Can the Spartans finally ignite their ground game and relieve pressure on Milivojevic after last season’s sky-high QB hurry rate? The conversation focused on breakout candidates like Derrick Simmons and Samson Gash, the emergence of reliable leadership with six newly named captains, and the crucial contributions expected from transfers across the roster.

Michigan State Spartans finally secure Rodney Bullard’s eligibility for the 2026 season, bolstering a wide receiver room desperate for experience. Is Bullard the answer to the Spartans’ offensive questions, or will competition from transfers like KK Smith and Frederick Moore shape the starting lineup? Matt Sheehan breaks down Pat Fitzgerald’s key comments on lineup battles, highlights the linebackers to watch—including Caleb Wheatland and Dion Crawford—and analyzes what needs to happen in the first two weeks against Toledo and Eastern Michigan to boost fan optimism.