Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546555
34 SEPT. 19, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: MICHIGAN STATE BY TYLER JAMES P at Fitzgerald spent three sea- sons away from college football and waited more than four years between wins as a head coach. Fitzgerald, who led Northwestern for 17 seasons before the university fired him in 2023 following allegations of hazing in the program, resurfaced as Michigan State's head coach last December. Nine months later, the Spartans se- cured a 30-20 victory over Toledo in Fitzgerald's Michigan State debut Sept. 4. Fitzgerald, who went 1-11 in his final season at Northwestern, earned his first college victory since Aug. 27, 2022. "Not being in a managerial role in a couple of years, it was kind of like rid- ing a bike," Fitzgerald said. "It just kind of felt like, 'All right, here we go,' just making decisions that I think I've been trained to do from great coaches that I've worked with and the experience of great staffs." Fitzgerald entered the 2026 season relying on a significant number of new- comers in meaningful roles. In the sea- son opener alone, 13 players who made their Michigan State debuts were in the starting lineup: five on offense, five on defense and three on special teams. "We were not at the standard we want to be at (against Toledo), so we have to get one step closer to that," Fitzgerald said on his radio show. "I'd love to get all the way there, but we're trying to play a lot of guys. I want to play more guys." Many of the players making their Michigan State debuts provided impor- tant production. Connecticut transfer running back Cam Edwards rushed for 98 yards and 1 touchdown. North Caro- lina State transfer defensive end Kenny Soares Jr. intercepted a pass. Louisiana Tech safety transfer Michael Richard and Maine safety transfer Devin Vaught (along with junior linebacker Brady Pretzlaff) tied for the team lead with 5 tackles. Illinois defensive tackle transfer Eli Coenen sacked the quarterback as one of his 3 tackles. Perhaps the most important contri- bution from a newcomer belonged to Charlotte transfer kicker Liam Boyd. He made 5 of 6 field goal attempts and 1 of 1 extra points to provide more than half of Michigan State's scoring. "I was looking for him every time he came off the field after making a kick," THE RETURN Head coach Pat Fitzgerald is rebuilding Michigan State and his own coaching career Fitzgerald, who led Northwestern for 17 seasons, picked up his first win as Michigan State's head coach, 30-20 over Toledo on Sept. 4. His previous college victory came with the Wildcats all the way back on Aug. 27, 2022. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN STATE ATHLETICS "Not being in a managerial role in a couple of years, it was kind of like riding a bike." FITZGERALD ON RETURNING TO COACHING AFTER THREE YEARS AWAY