A New Era in East Lansing
Michigan State football enters the 2026 season with substantial changes, including a new head coach, a largely rebuilt roster, and a mostly new coaching staff. As reported by Sports Illustrated, the Spartans have undergone significant off-field transformation, but the on-field results will ultimately define the season. The Lansing State Journal echoes this sentiment, noting that Michigan State reshaped its roster in year one under coach Pat Fitzgerald.
A Run-First Offense
One of the most notable tactical shifts expected this year is a greater emphasis on the running game. According to Sports Illustrated, the switch from Brian Lindgren to Nick Sheridan as offensive coordinator is not the primary driver; rather, it is a matter of personnel. Michigan State has at least four running backs expected to carry the ball, led by UConn transfer Cam Edwards, who rushed for 1,240 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, as both sources report.
The Spartans also added Marvis Parrish, Western Kentucky's RB1 last year, and Jaziun Patterson, Iowa's RB2, while retaining Brandon Tullis, who was RB2 for much of the 2025 season, as Sports Illustrated notes. The offensive line has been bolstered with additions like Ben Murawski, whose 86.4 run-blocking grade on PFF was fifth-best among FBS tackles last season, according to Sports Illustrated. The same report highlights that Edwards averaged 8.0 yards per carry while running into gaps adjacent to Murawski at UConn, suggesting a promising partnership in East Lansing.
The Lansing State Journal adds that Edwards wants to be the best running back in the country, a goal echoed by Fitzgerald, who reportedly wants to model the run game after the bruising style of past Spartans, including 2021 Doak Walker Award winner Kenneth Walker III.
Reinforced Secondary
The defensive backfield has been completely overhauled due to graduation attrition, with only safety Nikai Martinez returning, as the Lansing State Journal reports. Key additions include cornerback Tre Bell, a former Division II player at Lindenwood who transferred to Iowa State last year and followed new cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat to MSU. Bell recorded 36 tackles and two interceptions for the Cyclones, per the Lansing State Journal.
Charles Brantley, a familiar name, returns to MSU after a brief, frustrating stint at Miami (Florida) last season. Brantley played just 31 snaps in three games for the Hurricanes before coming back, and he started 24 of his 31 career games with the Spartans from 2021-24, tallying five interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, with one sealing MSU's last win over Michigan in 2021, according to the Lansing State Journal.
Safety Devin Vaught, another transfer addition, is reportedly fitting seamlessly alongside Martinez, giving the Spartans a new-look secondary with experience. Sports Illustrated projects the starting defensive backs as Brantley, Bell, Michael Richard, Martinez, and Vaught.
Aggressive Front Seven
The defensive line and edge rushers are also expected to be more aggressive. Sports Illustrated notes that defensive coordinator Joe Rossi was retained, and the team is looking to improve on a pass rush that tied for 10th in the Big Ten with 16 sacks during conference play last season. The report mentions rush ends Kenny Soares Jr. and Anelu Lafaele, defensive end Keahnist Thompson, and line backers Jordan Hall, Caleb Wheatland, and Dion Crawford as part of the rotation.
Soares Jr., who began his career as a Fitzgerald recruit at Northwestern and played there for three seasons, posted 80 tackles over 656 snaps in 13 games last year at North Carolina State, mostly as a linebacker due to injuries, as the Lansing State Journal reports. Rossi is said to be putting Soares Jr.'s hand on the ground at edge rusher, a tactical shift that could boost the Spartans' pass-rushing production.
Last year's team had only nine takeaways, tied for sixth-fewest in the country, and the revamped secondary and aggressive front are aimed at addressing that deficiency, as Sports Illustrated highlights.
Other Notable Newcomers
The Lansing State Journal also profiles several other newcomers expected to make an impact. Tight end Carson Gulker, a Ferris State transfer and three-time Division II national champion, caught 34 passes for 548 yards and seven touchdowns last season, adding 81 carries for 541 yards and five more scores. He played quarterback, running back, and tight end at Ferris State, according to both sources. Defensive end Kenny Soares Jr. is joined by offensive linemen including Nick Sharpe from South Carolina (with a 351-pound frame at guard) and Trent Fraley, the Rimington Trophy winner as the FCS's top center from North Dakota State, as the Lansing State Journal reports.
Wide receiver KK Smith, a Notre Dame transfer, caught eight passes for 123 yards with two touchdowns in 10 games last season, and is working with the No. 2 receivers behind returning starter Chrishon McCray, with roster carryovers Rodney Bullard Jr. and Charles Taplin also in the mix, per the Lansing State Journal. The report also notes that Nick Marsh transferred out to Indiana.
Season Outlook
Michigan State, which finished 4-8 in 2025, opens the 2026 season against Toledo (8-5 in 2025) on Friday, Sept. 4, at 8 p.m. at Spartan Stadium, as the Lansing State Journal reports. The Spartans' new-look roster and tactical shifts will be put to the test in that opener.