This past week, we previewed the offensive line, the tight ends, the wide receivers, the running backs and the quarterbacks. Between those five rooms, Michigan State lost 27 players from the 2025 roster, while returning 26 names and welcoming 24 new guys to the team from the transfer portal and the high school ranks. That leaves MSU with a net loss of three players on the offensive side of the ball.
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We are expecting some more returning players in the starting lineup on this side of the ball, though we still have some new names to learn. We are projecting transfers to occupy three spots on the offensive line as well as the RB1 role. Having Alessio Milivojevic returning as our quarterback and a number of 2025 players, however unspectacular, projected as our primary pass-catchers is where we will see more familiarity. With a new coaching staff in place, we need to see if the familiarity between our QB and his targets will lead to improved performance. It seems safe to say at this point that optimism is higher for the Spartan run game in 2026 than it is for the passing game.
I am most excited about the new names on the offensive line. I have high expectations for the guy responsible for Milivojevic’s blindside and the guy snapping him the ball. Ben Murawski from UConn, our projected LT, and Trent Fraley, our announced C, look like studs from videos I have seen. Fraley, son of Detroit Lions O-Line coach Hank Fraley, should be key in helping Alessio identify defensive reads.
As mentioned above, my main concern will be among the TE and WR groups. Our three main guys from last year – Nick Marsh, Omari Kelly, and Jack Velling – are gone. Chrishon McCray is the top guy back. There are plenty of new names coming in, even some from Power 4 programs, but none of those guys accomplished much at their previous spots. So we need to see if those guys at least benefitted from the coaching they have received at the college level and if they are ready to break out in their new stadiums, or if there was a reason they were buried on their previous depth charts.
Overall, I do expect Michigan State to have an improved offense compared to 2025. The main part of this is belief in our QB1, something I did not have at the beginning of last season under our previous man under center. As I discussed in yesterday’s article, I expect the (presumedly) improved offensive line and an offseason preparing to be the starter are going to take Milivojevic to new levels this year. He is just going to have to get it done with a group of WRs and TEs that are not as talented as last year’s guys, and he may be lacking that deep threat.
In 2025, MSU was 10th of 18 in the Big Ten in passing YPG at 222.7 and 15th in rushing YPG with 122.8. I think we could see those rankings flip in 2026, with the rushing attack being more middle-of-the-road compared to the rest of the conference, while our air stats might move lower on the totem pole. Our 345.5 total YPG was good for 13th, and I am expecting a slight move up from there.
I’m not expecting too many games where we light up the scoreboard as I still have my concerns, as I’m sure you all do too. Which position group gives you the most apprehension? Please vote in this week’s survey if you haven’t yet.
TOC will have articles on the special teams tomorrow, and then the coaches. Next week, we will dive into the schedule.
