Michigan State University Athletics
Spring Practice Preview
3/17/2026 10:00:00 AM | Football
â–ºSPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE: MARCH 17-APRIL 18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald will conduct his first spring practice for the Spartans beginning on Tuesday, March 17. MSU's 15 spring practices will conclude with the Spring Showcase, presented by Michigan Achievement Scholarship, in Spartan Stadium on Saturday, April 18 at noon.
â–ºPERSONNEL SNAPSHOTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State has 98 players on its spring roster, including 53 returning players and 45 newcomers.
• Among the 45 newcomers, 30 transfers joined the program in January along with 15 midyear enrollees. | 2026 Midyear Enrollees
• The Spartans added 14 transfers on defense that have started a combined 176 games.Â
• Michigan State's 12 transfers on offense have started a combined 160 games.
â–ºQUARTERBACK ALESSIO MILIVOJEVIC RETURNS IN 2026Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic started the last four games of the 2025 season for the Spartans, completing 58 percent of his passes (79-of-136) for 986 yards and seven touchdowns in his four starts. Overall in nine games of action, Milivojevic connected on 64 percent of his throws (111-of-173) for 1,267 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
• The Spartans also brought in sixth-year graduate transfer Cam Fancher, who has played in 37 career games at quarterback, including 28 starts. Fancher has played at Marshall (2021-23), Florida Atlantic (2024) and UCF (2025).
â–ºCAPTAIN JORDAN HALL IS BACK FOR SENIOR SEASONÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Senior linebacker Jordan Hall, who was voted a co-captain in 2025, led the Spartans with a career-high 88 tackles last season, including 4.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks to go along with three forced fumbles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.Â
â–ºQUICK LOOK AT THE 2026 SCHEDULEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State opens the season with back-to-back home nonconference games against Toledo (Sept. 5) and Eastern Michigan (Sept. 12) and wraps up nonconference action at Notre Dame (Sept. 19).
• MSU will begin conference play Sept. 26 at home against Nebraska. The Spartans then travel to Wisconsin Oct. 3 before hosting Illinois Oct. 10 and Northwestern Oct. 17. The Green and White close the month at UCLA Oct. 24.
• Following a bye on Halloween, MSU travels to Michigan Nov. 7. The Spartans' last two home games are against Washington (Nov. 14) and Oregon (Nov. 21). The regular-season finale is set for Nov. 28 at Rutgers.
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â–º2026 SPARTAN COACHING STAFFÂ Â Â Â
• Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald, one of the winningest coaches in Big Ten history, was named Michigan State's 27th head coach on Dec. 1, 2025.Â
• Over 17 seasons as the head coach at Northwestern University from 2006-22, Fitzgerald won 110 games, while guiding the Wildcats to 10 bowl games, five AP Top 25 finishes and a pair of appearances in the Big Ten Football Championship Game after winning the Big Ten West Division title in both 2018 and 2020. He was named the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year, and in 2020, won the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year Award after leading the Wildcats to a No. 10 national ranking and a win in the Citrus Bowl over Auburn.
• Fitzgerald's 110 wins rank 14th all-time for a Big Ten football coach, while his five bowl game victories rank tied for 12th among conference coaches.
• During Fitzgerald's tenure at Northwestern (2006-22) his teams also excelled in the classroom, earning seven American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Academic Achievement Awards, the most of any team in the FBS during that time span. In 2019, the Wildcats became the first Power 5 team to post a perfect 100 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR).
• Fitzgerald was named to the AFCA Board of Trustees for the second time in his career in 2026. While he was at Northwestern, Fitzgerald served on the AFCA board from 2012-21; he was the president of the association in 2021.
• Michigan State has eight new assistant coaches on the 2026 staff, including offensive offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and assistant head coach/special teams coordinator LeVar Woods.Â
• A coaching veteran of 15 years in the collegiate ranks, Sheridan has previous experience as an offensive coordinator at Alabama and Indiana. In his first season as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Alabama in 2024 under Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide ranked third in the SEC and No. 22 in the FBS with 33.8 points per game.Â
• One of the most respected special teams coaches in college football, Woods spent the previous 18 years under Kirk Ferentz at Iowa, including the last 14 coaching special teams, with coordinator duties added in 2017. He has led some of the best special teams units in the country throughout his career and has coached multiple All-Americans, national award winners, NFL Draft picks, Pro Bowlers and all-conference players.
• Max Bullough (co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach), Winston DeLattiboudere III (defensive line coach), John McNulty (quarterbacks coach), Hank Poteat (cornerbacks coach), Devon Spalding (running backs coach) and Nick Tabacca (offensive line coach) are also new to the Spartan staff.Â
• Four assistant coaches are back in 2026 for the Spartans: defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, safeties coach James Adams, wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins and tight ends coach Brian Wozniak. Rossi will be in his third season coordinating the defense for the Spartans.
• Andrew Bindelglass, who was an assistant linebackers coach in 2025, was promoted to rush ends coach.
â–º2026 MICHIGAN STATE SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. 1 – Tuesday, March 17
No. 2 – Thursday, March 19
No. 3 – Saturday, March 21
No. 4 – Tuesday, March 24
No. 5 – Thursday, March 26
No. 6 – Saturday, March 28
No. 7 – Tuesday, March 31
No. 8 – Thursday, April 2
No. 9 – Saturday, April 4
No. 10 – Tuesday, April 7
No. 11 – Thursday, April 9
No. 12 – Saturday, Apri 11
No. 13 – Tuesday, April 14
No. 14 – Thursday, April 16
No. 15 – Saturday, April 18, Spring Showcase presented by Michigan Achievement Scholarship (12 p.m., Spartan Stadium)
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• Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald will conduct his first spring practice for the Spartans beginning on Tuesday, March 17. MSU's 15 spring practices will conclude with the Spring Showcase, presented by Michigan Achievement Scholarship, in Spartan Stadium on Saturday, April 18 at noon.
â–ºPERSONNEL SNAPSHOTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State has 98 players on its spring roster, including 53 returning players and 45 newcomers.
• Among the 45 newcomers, 30 transfers joined the program in January along with 15 midyear enrollees. | 2026 Midyear Enrollees
• The Spartans added 14 transfers on defense that have started a combined 176 games.Â
• Michigan State's 12 transfers on offense have started a combined 160 games.
â–ºQUARTERBACK ALESSIO MILIVOJEVIC RETURNS IN 2026Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic started the last four games of the 2025 season for the Spartans, completing 58 percent of his passes (79-of-136) for 986 yards and seven touchdowns in his four starts. Overall in nine games of action, Milivojevic connected on 64 percent of his throws (111-of-173) for 1,267 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
• The Spartans also brought in sixth-year graduate transfer Cam Fancher, who has played in 37 career games at quarterback, including 28 starts. Fancher has played at Marshall (2021-23), Florida Atlantic (2024) and UCF (2025).
â–ºCAPTAIN JORDAN HALL IS BACK FOR SENIOR SEASONÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Senior linebacker Jordan Hall, who was voted a co-captain in 2025, led the Spartans with a career-high 88 tackles last season, including 4.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks to go along with three forced fumbles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.Â
â–ºQUICK LOOK AT THE 2026 SCHEDULEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• Michigan State opens the season with back-to-back home nonconference games against Toledo (Sept. 5) and Eastern Michigan (Sept. 12) and wraps up nonconference action at Notre Dame (Sept. 19).
• MSU will begin conference play Sept. 26 at home against Nebraska. The Spartans then travel to Wisconsin Oct. 3 before hosting Illinois Oct. 10 and Northwestern Oct. 17. The Green and White close the month at UCLA Oct. 24.
• Following a bye on Halloween, MSU travels to Michigan Nov. 7. The Spartans' last two home games are against Washington (Nov. 14) and Oregon (Nov. 21). The regular-season finale is set for Nov. 28 at Rutgers.
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â–º2026 SPARTAN COACHING STAFFÂ Â Â Â
• Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald, one of the winningest coaches in Big Ten history, was named Michigan State's 27th head coach on Dec. 1, 2025.Â
• Over 17 seasons as the head coach at Northwestern University from 2006-22, Fitzgerald won 110 games, while guiding the Wildcats to 10 bowl games, five AP Top 25 finishes and a pair of appearances in the Big Ten Football Championship Game after winning the Big Ten West Division title in both 2018 and 2020. He was named the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year, and in 2020, won the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year Award after leading the Wildcats to a No. 10 national ranking and a win in the Citrus Bowl over Auburn.
• Fitzgerald's 110 wins rank 14th all-time for a Big Ten football coach, while his five bowl game victories rank tied for 12th among conference coaches.
• During Fitzgerald's tenure at Northwestern (2006-22) his teams also excelled in the classroom, earning seven American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Academic Achievement Awards, the most of any team in the FBS during that time span. In 2019, the Wildcats became the first Power 5 team to post a perfect 100 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR).
• Fitzgerald was named to the AFCA Board of Trustees for the second time in his career in 2026. While he was at Northwestern, Fitzgerald served on the AFCA board from 2012-21; he was the president of the association in 2021.
• Michigan State has eight new assistant coaches on the 2026 staff, including offensive offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and assistant head coach/special teams coordinator LeVar Woods.Â
• A coaching veteran of 15 years in the collegiate ranks, Sheridan has previous experience as an offensive coordinator at Alabama and Indiana. In his first season as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Alabama in 2024 under Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide ranked third in the SEC and No. 22 in the FBS with 33.8 points per game.Â
• One of the most respected special teams coaches in college football, Woods spent the previous 18 years under Kirk Ferentz at Iowa, including the last 14 coaching special teams, with coordinator duties added in 2017. He has led some of the best special teams units in the country throughout his career and has coached multiple All-Americans, national award winners, NFL Draft picks, Pro Bowlers and all-conference players.
• Max Bullough (co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach), Winston DeLattiboudere III (defensive line coach), John McNulty (quarterbacks coach), Hank Poteat (cornerbacks coach), Devon Spalding (running backs coach) and Nick Tabacca (offensive line coach) are also new to the Spartan staff.Â
• Four assistant coaches are back in 2026 for the Spartans: defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, safeties coach James Adams, wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins and tight ends coach Brian Wozniak. Rossi will be in his third season coordinating the defense for the Spartans.
• Andrew Bindelglass, who was an assistant linebackers coach in 2025, was promoted to rush ends coach.
â–º2026 MICHIGAN STATE SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
No. 1 – Tuesday, March 17
No. 2 – Thursday, March 19
No. 3 – Saturday, March 21
No. 4 – Tuesday, March 24
No. 5 – Thursday, March 26
No. 6 – Saturday, March 28
No. 7 – Tuesday, March 31
No. 8 – Thursday, April 2
No. 9 – Saturday, April 4
No. 10 – Tuesday, April 7
No. 11 – Thursday, April 9
No. 12 – Saturday, Apri 11
No. 13 – Tuesday, April 14
No. 14 – Thursday, April 16
No. 15 – Saturday, April 18, Spring Showcase presented by Michigan Achievement Scholarship (12 p.m., Spartan Stadium)
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Players Mentioned
Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Mar. 17, 2026
Tuesday, March 17
Pat Fitzgerald | Signing Day Press Conference | Feb. 4 2026
Wednesday, February 04
A New Era | Pat Fitzgerald's First Day in East Lansing
Wednesday, December 03
Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Dec. 2nd, 2025
Tuesday, December 02