Spartans Eye Big Ten Crown: Are They Really Ready?
The Big Ten’s 18-team gauntlet has long been dominated by Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon and Indiana, while Michigan State has sputtered to four straight losing seasons since 2021’s 11-win high. Under new coach Pat Fitzgerald and fueled by roughly 30 incoming transfers, the Spartans hope to flip the script this fall. Realistically, a .500 season would mark major progress, but concerns remain over pass rush, wide receiver depth and quarterback Alessio Milivojevic’s development. Genuine contention for the conference title remains at least a season or two away, pending steady growth across offense and defense.
You have to admire the optimism: Michigan State’s idea of “competing” this year is dreaming of breaking even while still trying to remember which goalpost to kick toward. Bring in three dozen transfers, slap on a fresh coat of hype paint and voilà—instant championship contender, right? And if it doesn’t work, well, at least they’ll have practiced for mediocrity until they actually achieve it. Next week’s installment: Why “rebuilding” really just means “transfer portal scavenger hunt.”
No. 8: The Wildcard Edge Threat Fueling MSU’s Defense
Kenny Soares Jr., a linebacker-turned-rush-end after stops at Northwestern and NC State, ranks eighth on MSU’s top-30 football players list. Though his career sack total sits at just 3.0, his 80 tackles in 2025 proved his tackling prowess. In Joe Rossi’s scheme he’ll stand up on the weak side as a stand-up edge rusher, complementing Anelu Lafaele’s fire-and-forget pass-rush bursts. With 124 rush snaps and 14 pressures last year, Soares brings balanced run support and enough blitzing tape to earn a starting gig in the Spartans’ revamped defense.
Oh great, they’ve hired the human Swiss Army knife of the linebacking world—wears a helmet, tackles like a linebacker, slides down like an edge rusher, and probably does your taxes too. Nothing screams “defensive mastermind” like repurposing a guy who excels at everything except putting up monstrous sack numbers. But hey, versatility is just corporate code for “we hope it works,” right? Buckle up, Spartans fans—it’s time to see if lipstick on a linebacker can fool Big Ten quarterbacks into thinking they’re facing a pass-rush specialist.
Courtroom Bonus: Could Fringe Spartans Crash the Roster?
Michigan State could add former Spartans Jaxon Kohler and Tre Holloman if their pending “5-in-5” court cases win them an extra year of eligibility. Both played four seasons just before the NCAA’s new rule, leaving them to battle in court for a fifth. Kohler’s 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game make him a frontcourt asset, while guard Holloman, currently at NC State, would have to battle for playing time in a guard-heavy lineup. A recent Ohio restraining order granted eligibility to 15 players, signaling momentum for these appeals and sparking Izzo’s consideration of a late roster boost.
Nothing says “March Madness” like lawyers suiting up to argue a player’s right to return to college hoops. Forget buzzer-beaters—this is judicial overtimes. Meanwhile, Tom Izzo’s secretly updating his phone contacts to include more judges than recruits. Who needs recruiting classes when you can litigate your way to the Elite Eight? And if this legal free-agency stunt works, next season the Spartans might just petition the Supreme Court for a 16th scholarship. Court date tip-off: wear a suit, bring briefs—and not the athletic ones.
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