From Broncos to Spartans? MSU’s AD Power Broker Emerges
Dan Bartholomae, currently Western Michigan’s athletic director, is on Michigan State’s radar to replace the outgoing AD. He carries a hefty $5 million buyout, which MSU could largely cover with funds from Kentucky’s payout. Bartholomae’s resume boasts football hires that transformed WMU’s record, including the Lance Taylor era and a MAC title, plus a 473% growth in donor support, culminating in a record-beating $21.8 million fundraising haul. Before Kalamazoo, he sharpened his compliance chops at Pitt and was OSU’s executive deputy AD, where he built strong football partnerships alongside ex-Spartan coach Jonathan Smith.
Spartans fans, rejoice! Because if there’s one thing a college football program needs, it’s an AD who can single-handedly conjure millions for locker-room upgrades, stadium tampon dispensers, and mascot Botox sessions. Forget signing five-star recruits or winning championships—Bartholomae’s real magic trick is turning donors into ATM machines. After all, who wouldn’t want a leader whose compliance background translates into perfectly compliant bank deposits? Just pray he doesn’t decide to buy himself out next year.
MSU’s Hidden Achilles’ Heel: The Invisible D-Line Backup Brigade
Michigan State’s defense boasts strong starters at defensive tackle—Ben Roberts, Eli Coenen, and redshirt freshman Derrick Simmons—but beyond them, bodies thin dramatically. Transfers Carlos Hazelwood and Hudson Aultman, plus micromeasured veteran Mikeshun Beeler, have a combined handful of snaps under their belts. With limited depth on the interior, MSU could struggle to maintain its run-stopping identity if injuries strike. The previous season’s rotation of five or six tackles has now shrunk to a skeletal three-plus brigade, raising questions about endurance and reliability over a punishing Big Ten slate.
Here’s a fun fact: if MSU’s defensive tackle depth chart were a TV series, it’d be called “Where Are They Now?” between endless reruns of “Ben Roberts Does Everything” and the pilot for “The Hazelwood Experiment.” Fans might need to invest in crystal balls to predict which rotating freshman will pop up next. At this rate, Spartan injuries could double as surprise guest stars—just don’t expect a spin-off about the bench.
Kohler in Court: Will MSU’s Big Man Bounce Back?
Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State’s top rebounder and second-leading scorer last season, is fighting for a fifth NCAA season through a California injunction. A return would boost MSU’s frontcourt, pairing him with new recruits and transfers to restore up to 76.1% of last year’s scoring. The NCAA’s “5-in-5” rule could have favored him had it arrived earlier, and a return might net him $2 million+ in portal value—far more than a G League stint. Though Kohler stands to profit, his decision to rejoin the Spartans remains under 50% odds, complicating Tom Izzo’s roster plans
Nothing says “March Madness” like a courtroom scramble before tip-off. Imagine Tom Izzo drawing up plays around his fax machine, while Kohler debates whether to grace East Lansing or globe-trot for peanuts overseas. It’s the ultimate “choose your own adventure,” where the only certainty is that Spartans fans will be holding popcorn instead of banners until the gavel drops.
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