MSU’s Offensive Portal Influx: 5 Game-Changers
In a whirlwind transfer portal spree, Michigan State added 31 new faces to its football roster and lost 44 elsewhere. Of the 13 offensive imports, five stand out: UConn left tackle Ben Murawski brings elite run-blocking and immense size; RB Cam Edwards racked up 1,240 yards and 15 TDs last season; North Dakota State center Trent Fraley won the FCS Rimington Award; Notre Dame WR KK Smith arrives with flashes of big-game potential; and Ferris State’s Carson Gulker, a former QB/RB, offers Swiss-Army versatility at tight end. Each transfer should make an immediate impact on East Lansing’s offense.
Who knew the portal was the new Aldi? Coach Fitzgerald just wheeled through the bargain bin and unloaded 13 offensive veggies into his cart—some of whom look like they might actually feed the team. Ben Murawski is the anchorman, because nothing says “elite blocker” like 6-7 and 340 pounds; Cam Edwards is hoping to outrun the ghosts of UConn’s schedule; Trent Fraley moves the line like a pro, proving size is optional if you win awards; KK Smith is the WR equivalent of “Don’t call me, I’ll call you”; and Carson Gulker might show up anywhere on the field with a Swiss-Army helmet. Buckle up for the gridiron salad bowl.
Fitzgerald’s Spartan Overhaul: A Titanic Rebuild
Pat Fitzgerald’s first season at Michigan State features seismic roster turnover: 44 departures via transfer portal and 31 incoming transfers, plus 21 new recruits. Key holdovers like LB Jordan Hall and RB Chrishon McCray provide continuity, while new staff additions LeVar Woods and Max Bullough bolster experience. ESPN ranks MSU last among 18 Big Ten teams amid these changes, questioning Fitzgerald’s readiness to navigate modern college football’s portal and NIL challenges.
Welcome to East Lansing, where “rebuild” is code for “we fired half the team, swapped in a dozen mystery transfers, then called it a ‘renaissance.’” Fitzgerald, who last coached when flip phones were a thing, now wrestles with NIL deals and portals as if they’re level bosses. Yes, ESPN put Spartans dead last—perfect for an underdog narrative or a visit from a blow-dryer on the sidelines. With half the roster in witness protection and the other half fresh off the transfer carousel, buckle in for a season of QB musical chairs and coach’s therapy sessions.
Spartans Ink Big 12 Home-and-Home Bonanza
MSU football has scheduled future home-and-home series with Big 12’s Oklahoma State (2028 in Stillwater, 2029 in East Lansing) and Cincinnati (2030 on the road, 2031 at Spartan Stadium). The 2027 non-conference slate now includes FCS Duquesne, Central Michigan, Notre Dame, and a road date with BYU in 2032. Oklahoma State will be a first-ever matchup, and the Bearcats haven’t visited East Lansing since 1946.
Mark your calendars… 2030 is a Tuesday? Doesn’t matter—Spartans fans will travel through time for these classics. Finally, MSU breaks its Big 12 tea-party drought with Oklahoma State and Cincinnati, because nothing says future bragging rights like scheduling a game eight years out. Throw in Duquesne to round out the ‘warm-up’ and a BYU road trip for the full passport. It’s the MSU version of “See you next decade.” Get those travel agents on speed dial.
Reid’s NHL Draft Dash: Ice Spartan Bound
Defenseman Chase Reid, committed to Michigan State hockey, tallied 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) in 45 OHL games this season. NHL.com mock drafts project him going top-five—fourth to Chicago (Morreale) or fifth to New York (Kimelman). Instagram hints and MSU’s official tag in his bio suggest Reid will join the Spartans as soon as next season.
Imagine your college recruiting pitch: “Join Michigan State… unless the NHL calls first.” Reid’s busy calculating power-play snaps one minute and tagging Spartans in his bio the next. Mock drafts pin him in Toronto’s backyard—err, Chicago or Manhattan—but those red and white hearts on Instagram scream “East Lansing or bust.” If this is hockey recruiting, Malt-O-Meal must be paying attention. Expect this Spartan to skate through campus with a Stanley Cup-shaped ice cream cone.
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