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Articles by Ryan O'Bleness
Kicker Liam Boyd's five field goals lift Michigan State to improbable 15-6 victory over Michigan
Michigan State did not find the end zone in a 15-6 victory over their archrival Michigan Wolverines, but on Saturday night, the Spartans didn't need to. A combination of a strong kicking game, elite defensive play and an offense that was able to control the clock and avoid turning the ball was enough to get the job done. Fifth-year senior kicker Liam Boyd was the only Michigan State player to score points on Saturday.
Michigan State's Brandon Tullis seizes opportunity in upset victory over Michigan
Michigan State stunned its biggest rival on Saturday night, defeating Michigan by a final score of 15-6 in Ann Arbor. Five made field goals by fifth-year senior kicker Liam Boyd lifted the Spartans to victory. But Boyd wasn't the only player who made an impact. While there were multiple contributors for MSU in the victory, one specific player stood out as a less-heralded Spartan who played a large role in the final result.
Michigan State vs. Michigan Availability Report: Updates on Alessio Milivojevic, Jordan Hall, Ben Roberts and more
The Michigan State football program is coming off of a much-needed bye week and is preparing for a rivalry game against the Michigan Wolverines in Week 10. The Spartans (2-6, 0-5 in Big Ten play) travel to Ann Arbor to take on the Wolverines (5-3, 2-3 in Big Ten play) on Saturday night, with kickoff set for 7:40 p.m. Eastern Time. Peacock will stream the game exclusively.
Running Back Snap Count Risers and Fallers - Fantasy Football Breakout Watch for Week 9
Ryan's fantasy football RB breakouts watch for Week 9, based on snap count risers/fallers in 2026. Whose usage and fantasy value is trending up or down? The 2026 NFL season is nearing its halfway point, with eight weeks complete. While fantasy football managers have likely figured out what works and what doesn't for their lineups at this point in the campaign, there is still a lot to learn, and there will likely be a few surprises along the way as the season marches on.
When Is Breece Hall Coming Back - Week 9 Fantasy Football Injury Return Update (2026)
MY ACCOUNT | LogoutRegisterMy AccountUpgrade Receive free daily analysis Already have an account? Log In Popular Articles When is Breece Hall coming back? Will Breece Hall play again this season? Read about Breece Hall's return date and injury updates for 2026. A return for New York Jets running back Breece Hall (quadriceps) appears to be imminent. Hall hasn't played in a game since suffering an injury to his right quadriceps in a 31-24 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 3.
Colby Parkinson Inactive Against Chargers in Week 8 0m Link copied!
Share: Link copied to clipboard! Nov 1, 2026, 12:19 PM ET Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. is a healthy scratch on Sunday for the team's Week 8 road matchup against the New York Jets. Receiver Malik Benson is also a healthy scratch with Jack Bech returning from Injured Reserve this weekend.
Should I Pickup Elijah Mitchell or Jaydon Blue? Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8
Should I pickup Elijah Mitchell or Jaydon Blue as fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 8 of 2026? Read our fantasy football waiver wire outlooks. To put it bluntly, the Philadelphia Eagles' backfield is a complete and utter mess. Starting running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring/back) missed two full games with a hamstring injury before returning for a Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He also suffered a back injury from that game that has since limited him.
Bye Week Check In and Intel: Where Michigan State stands through eight games
Things have not gone as planned for head coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Michigan State football program in 2026. The Spartans currently have a record of 2-6 overall and are winless in Big Ten play (0-5). The team has lost six consecutive games. MSU will need to win the remaining four games on its schedule to automatically qualify for a bowl game this season. Injuries to multiple starters on both sides of the ball have derailed MSU's season thus far, but the team continues to fight and play hard.
Running Back Snap Count Risers and Fallers - Fantasy Football Breakout Watch for Week 8
Ryan's fantasy football RB breakouts watch for Week 8, based on snap count risers/fallers in 2026. Whose usage and fantasy value is trending up or down? Seven weeks down, 11 weeks to go in the 2026 NFL regular season. While many questions have been answered about running back usage at this point, injuries, committees, coaching decisions, disappointing performances, and unexpected breakout games from certain players tend to complicate things for fantasy managers.
When Is Travis Etienne Jr. Coming Back - Week 7 Fantasy Football Injury Return Update (2026)
MY ACCOUNT | LogoutRegisterMy AccountUpgrade Receive free daily analysis Already have an account? Log In Popular Articles When is Travis Etienne Jr. coming back? Will Travis Etienne Jr. play again this season? Read about Travis Etienne Jr.'s return date and injury updates for 2026. Could New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) be ramping up for a return soon?
Running Back Snap Count Risers and Fallers - Fantasy Football Breakout Watch for Week 7
Ryan's fantasy football RB breakouts watch for Week 7, based on snap count risers/fallers in 2026. Whose usage and fantasy value is trending up or down? In This Article hide With six weeks of NFL football for the 2026 campaign in the record books, trends are becoming clear, and there is an abundance of data to sift through for fantasy managers. It also means that a lot has changed since Week 1, and a lot will continue to change as the 2026 season marches on.
Michigan State Men's Basketball: Spartans rank No. 6 in 2026-27 preseason polls
The Michigan State men's basketball program has high expectations for the 2026-2027 season — both within the program and externally. The Spartans enter the new campaign as the No. 6 team in both the Associated Press Top-25 College Basketball Poll and the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll. The polls were released on Monday. MSU is behind a top-five of No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Illinois, No. 4 Connecticut and No. 5 Arizona in the the AP Poll.
Running Back Snap Count Risers and Fallers - Fantasy Football Breakout Watch for Week 6
Ryan's fantasy football RB breakouts watch for Week 6, based on snap count risers/fallers in 2026. Whose usage and fantasy value is trending up or down? In This Article hide Another week of the 2026 NFL season is complete, as a busy Week 5 brought plenty of action. While plenty of questions have been answered, many more remain regarding fantasy football, as injuries continue to pile up, committees cause confusion for fantasy managers, and surprise players step up and perform.
Is Jadarian Price Out for the Season? Injury Update and Fantasy Football Outlook (Week 6)
MY ACCOUNT | LogoutRegisterMy AccountUpgrade Receive free daily analysis Already have an account? Log In Popular Articles Is Jadarian Price out for the season? When is Jadarian Price coming back? The latest Jadarian Price injury update and fantasy football outlook heading into Week 6 of 2026. Unfortunately, with five weeks now complete in the 2026 NFL season, many players are dealing with injuries, and several of those players currently find themselves on the injured reserve list.
Week 6 Availability Report: LB Jordan Hall questionable for Illinois vs. Michigan State
Michigan State will host Illinois for its homecoming game on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The game will air on FS1. Both teams enter the matchup with 2-3 overall records and are 0-2 in Big Ten play. On Wednesday, the Big Ten released its initial availability report for this weekend's contest between the Fighting Illini and Spartans. The report will be updated on Thursday night, Friday night and two hours before kickoff on Saturday.
Is Jordan Mason Out for the Season? Injury Update and Fantasy Football Outlook (Week 5)
MY ACCOUNT | LogoutRegisterMy AccountUpgrade Receive free daily analysis Already have an account? Log In Popular Articles Is Jordan Mason out for the season? When is Jordan Mason coming back? The latest Jordan Mason injury update and fantasy football outlook heading into Week 5 of 2026. With Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season quickly approaching, the injuries have inevitably been piling up. Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, and something that nobody wants to see happen.
Running Back Snap Count Risers and Fallers - Fantasy Football Breakout Watch for Week 5
Ryan's fantasy football RB breakouts watch for Week 5, based on snap count risers/fallers in 2026. Whose usage and fantasy value is trending up or down? In This Article hide There are now four full weeks of NFL football completed for the 2026 season. That means that there is a lot of data to consider, and the fantasy football picture is coming more into focus.
Michigan State men's basketball earns a commitment from 2027 four-star center Jaydn Jenkins
It is another victory for the Michigan State men's basketball program on the recruiting trail, as the Spartans earned a commitment from class of 2027 four-star center Jaydn Jenkins on Wednesday. Dushawn London of 247Sports was the first to report the news of Jenkins' commitment. Jenkins made an official visit to Michigan State during the weekend of Sept. 11, which also happened to be the program's annual "Grind Week" event.
Should I Pickup Ollie Gordon II or Jaylen Wright? Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 4
MY ACCOUNT | LogoutRegisterMy AccountUpgrade Receive free daily analysis Already have an account? Log In Popular Articles Should I pickup Ollie Gordon or Jaylen Wright as fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 4 of 2026? Read our fantasy football waiver wire outlooks.
Running Back Snap Count Risers and Fallers - Fantasy Football Breakout Watch for Week 4
Ryan's fantasy football RB breakouts watch for Week 4, based on snap count risers/fallers in 2026. Whose usage and fantasy value is trending up or down? In This Article hide With Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season now completed, roles are being solidified, and pictures are becoming clearer for NFL offenses.
Michigan State starting running back Cam Edwards will miss remainder of 2026 season
Michigan State starting running back Cam Edwards will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, MSU head coach Pat Fitzgerald announced on Monday. Edwards suffered what appeared to be a right knee injury in MSU's 31-13 loss to Nebraska on Saturday. The incident happened in the first quarter of the game after Edwards took a screen pass 23 yards and was hit low on his right knee, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Nebraska handles shorthanded Michigan State squad, 31-13
Michigan State opened Big Ten play against Nebraska on Saturday evening in East Lansing and left Spartan Stadium with its second consecutive loss and first defeat in conference play for the 2026 season. The Final score was 31-13. The Spartans fall to 2-2 (0-1 in Big Ten play) on the campaign, while Nebraska remains perfect on the year and moves to 4-0 (1-0 in the Big Ten). The injuries mounted up quickly for the Spartans on Saturday.
Week 4 Availability Report: Nebraska versus Michigan State
The Big Ten Conference updated its process for football availability reporting in 2026. Previously, Big Ten teams had to submit availability reports for players on game days. This season, the conference requires member institutions to provide reports three days before a contest and concluding with a game-day report. Schools must submit reports by 8 p.m. Eastern Time three days, two days and one day before scheduled kickoff. The final game-day report is due two hours before kickoff.
Running Back Snap Count Risers and Fallers - Fantasy Football Breakout Watch for Week 3
Ryan's fantasy football RB breakouts watch for Week 3, based on snap count risers/fallers in 2026. Whose usage and fantasy value is trending up or down? The 2026 NFL season has two weeks in the books. Following Week 2, there is a fresh batch of data to parse through regarding who is making an impact, who is seeing meaningful snaps, who has earned a rotational role, and — perhaps equally as important - who is not doing any of that for their teams.
Michigan State to host Incarnate Word for exhibition game during Izzone Campout
The Michigan State men's basketball program has scheduled an exhibition game against the University of Incarnate Word on Oct. 2, the team announced Thursday. The preseason matchup against the Cardinals will kick off exhibition play for the Spartans' 2026-2027 season and is scheduled to take place the same day as the Izzone Campout. The event is exclusively open only to 2026-2027 season ticket members and Izzone members who are attending the campout.
Running Back Snap Count Risers and Fallers - Fantasy Football Breakout Watch for Week 2
Ryan's fantasy football RB breakouts watch for Week 2 based on snap count risers/fallers in 2026. Whose usage and fantasy value is trending up or down? Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season is officially in the books. The opening week featured games on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, and Monday — and even included a game played down under in Australia between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams — to appease eager football fans after a long offseason.
Recruit Reactions: Michigan State hosts first group of game-day visitors during 35-7 win over Eastern Michigan
After a bit of a slow start in the first half, Michigan State surged in the second-half to defeat Eastern Michigan by a final score of 35-7. The Spartans currently sit at 2-0 on the 2026 season.
Rhamondre Stevenson Continues to Gain Redraft Momentum 6h Link copied!
Share: Link copied to clipboard! Sep 5, 2026, 2:58 PM ET New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has picked up another reason to climb draft boards. TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) was in street clothes for Saturday's practice and has not been back on the field since getting hurt Aug. 24. New England opens at Seattle on Wednesday, so Henderson is running out of time to get meaningful work in before Week 1. Stevenson was already making a push for the larger role.
Elijah Sarratt Comes Out of Camp Behind the Rookie Curve 6h Link copied!
Share: Link copied to clipboard! Sep 5, 2026, 2:35 PM ET Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Elijah Sarratt had a solid first NFL summer, but another rookie made a much stronger push for immediate work. Sarratt opened the preseason with six catches for 66 yards against Philadelphia, then managed only two catches for four yards over the final two games. Meanwhile, Ja'Kobi Lane kept stacking plays throughout camp and has emerged as Baltimore's No. 3 receiver behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
Pat Freiermuth Has More Receiving Work Up for Grabs 6h Link copied!
Share: Link copied to clipboard! Sep 5, 2026, 2:31 PM ET Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth should have a little more room to operate after spending last season stuck in a crowded rotation. Freiermuth played just over half of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps and saw 54 targets, the exact same number as Jonnu Smith. Smith is gone now after being released in March, leaving Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Robert Tonyan in the tight end room. That doesn't mean Washington disappears.
Xavier Legette's WR3 Role Looks Much Safer 6h Link copied!
Share: Link copied to clipboard! Sep 5, 2026, 2:18 PM ET Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette has a clearer hold on the No. 3 role after Chris Brazzell II went down with a season-ending knee injury. Brazzell had looked good early in camp and was expected to have a role, but surgery on the LCL in his left knee ended his rookie year before it started.
Andrei Iosivas Has Less Room for Error This Year 6h Link copied!
Share: Link copied to clipboard! Sep 5, 2026, 1:40 PM ET Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas is still holding onto the No. 3 job, but the players behind him made that spot feel a little less comfortable this summer. Iosivas caught 33 passes for 435 yards and two touchdowns last season, numbers that already left him well outside the weekly fantasy picture behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Deshaun Watson's Starting Job Doesn't Erase Preseason Concerns 6h Link copied!
Share: Link copied to clipboard! Sep 5, 2026, 1:29 PM ET Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson won the starting job, but his preseason left plenty of reasons to stay cautious in fantasy. Watson looked comfortable in the opener against Chicago, completing 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards, although he lost a fumble on a fourth-down sack. A week later, the offense went nowhere against Buffalo.
Treylon Burks Faces a Tougher Road to Consistent Targets 6h Link copied!
Share: Link copied to clipboard! Sep 5, 2026, 1:19 PM ET Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks had a good enough summer to put himself back on the fantasy radar, but the receiver room changed around him. Burks was getting legitimate first-team work early in camp after catching only 10 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown in eight games last season. Washington then added Stefon Diggs, who is expected to handle the No. 2 role opposite Terry McLaurin.
Elijah Arroyo Pushing for a Bigger Role After Strong Summer 6h Link copied!
Share: Link copied to clipboard! Sep 5, 2026, 1:07 PM ET Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo gave the team plenty to think about with one of the better summers on the roster. His rookie season was quiet, with 15 catches for 179 yards and one touchdown in 13 games before a knee injury sent him to injured reserve in December. He returned for Seattle's Super Bowl run, then spent this camp looking much more like the receiving threat the Seahawks drafted 50th overall in 2025.
Michigan State QB Alessio Milivojevic shows poise and leadership in win over Toledo
Perhaps it wasn't the most impressive of wins, but Michigan State defeated Toledo 30-20 on Friday night to open the 2026 season with a victory and give Pat Fitzgerald his first win as head coach of the Spartans. The Spartans raced out to a 13-0 lead in the early second quarter and led 19-7 at halftime. MSU scored on all five possessions in the first half (one touchdown and four field goals). However, adversity hit MSU in the second half.
Michigan State CB Tre Bell is not taking his final year of college for granted
It's been a long journey for Michigan State redshirt senior cornerback Tre Bell, but he is set to begin the final season of his collegiate career. MSU kicks off the 2026 season on Friday, Sept. 4, against the Toledo Rockets (8 p.m. Eastern Time on FS1). Bell started his career at Lindenwood (Football Championship Subdivision) from 2022 through 2024 and played one season at Iowa State in 2025.
Michigan State names six team captains for 2026
The Michigan State football program unveiled its six team captains for the 2026 season on Monday, following a team vote. The Spartans named redshirt senior rush end Kenny Soares Jr., redshirt senior center Trent Fraley, redshirt senior safety Nikai Martinez, senior linebacker Jordan Hall, junior punter Rhys Dakin and redshirt sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic as captains for the campaign.
Michigan State hires Dan Bartholomae as athletic director
Michigan State UniversityPresident Kevin M. Guskiewiczis expected to hireDan Bartholomae as the school's next athletic director, Spartans Illustrated can confirm. The move was reported by ESPN's Pete Thamel on Monday. Bartholomae becomes the 22nd athletic director in the school’s history. He will take over at Michigan State following the departure of J Batt, who left East Lansing to take a job at Kentucky as athletic director and chief executive officer of Champions Blue LLC.
LeVar Woods breaks down college football's new punt rule and advocates for it to be reversed
LeVar Woods is widely regarded as one of the most respected and best special teams coordinators in the country after consistently coaching some of the highest-rated units at Iowa year in and year out during his tenure as the Hawkeyes' special teams coordinator from 2018 through 2025.
2026 Michigan State Football Positional Preview: Quarterbacks
Football is nearly back for Michigan State, as the Spartans report to fall camp on Wednesday, Aug. 5 and will have their first practice on Saturday, Aug. 6. MSU ushers in a new era as head coach Pat Fitzgerald readies for his first season at the helm in East Lansing. Michigan State opens the season on Friday, Sept. 4 against Toledo. Prior to that, Spartans Illustarted will take a look at each positional group on MSU's 2026 roster.
Michigan State Football: 2026 preseason camp roster notes
WithMichigan State in Chicago for Big Ten Media Days, the Spartans released their 2026 preseason camp roster on Wednesday. While there were no unexpected names, several players who enrolled in the summer were added to the roster, a few players from the spring roster are no longer listed and there a few notable observations worth mentioning throughout the list of 111 Spartans. Spartans Illustrated takes a look at some interesting 2026 roster notes below.
MSU Men's Basketball finalizes Arkansas matchup, announces exhibition home-and-home series with Marquette
Michigan Statemen's basketball head coach Tom Izzohas always had a mantra of “anybody, any place, any time," when it comes to scheduling, and the 2026-2027 schedule for the Spartans is one that is shaping up to be especially challenging. On Wednesday, Michigan State officially announced that it will play Arkansas at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 26) at 4:30 p.m. as part of the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic.
Jeremy Fears Jr. withdraws from NBA Draft and will return to Michigan State for 2026-27 season
While it was widely expected to happen, the Michigan State men's basketball program received massive news on Wednesday, as sources tell Spartans Illustrated that All-American point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. has withdrawn from the 2026 NBA Draft and will return to the Spartans. He will enter his redshirt junior campaign with MSU during the 2026-2027 season. Fears announced on April 10 that he will declare for the NBA Draft, but maintain his college eligibility.
Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. declares for 2026 NBA Draft, maintains college eligibility
In an expected move, Michigan State redshirt sophomore point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, while maintaining college eligibility. He announced his decision on Instagram on Friday. "After speaking with my family, coaches, and representatives, I'm excited to announce that I will be declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility," Fears wrote on a social media graphic.
No. 13 Michigan State defeats No. 8 Purdue on the road, breaks losing streak at Mackey Arena
No. 13 Michigan State traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana on Thursday night for a top-15 ranked matchup against No. 8 Purdue. The Spartans earned a crucial conference win over the Boilermakers with final score of 76-74. With the win, Michigan State improves to 23-5 overall and 13-4 in conference play under head coach Tom Izzo on the 2025-2026 season. Meanwhile, Purdue falls to to 22-6 overall (12-5 in the Big Ten) under head coach Matt Painter.
Michigan State Football to host 2026 Spring Showcase in April
Michigan State Athletics and the MSU football program will host a "Spring Showcase" at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, April 18. The event, which is presented by Michigan Achievement Scholarship, will begin at noon Eastern Time and is free to attend. This event provides the first opportunity for Michigan State fans to see what the new-look Spartans look like under recently-hired head coach Pat Fitzgerald in 2026.
Pat Fitzgerald hires his former player, Al Netter, as Michigan State's senior offensive analyst and assistant OL coach
Michigan State has hired Al Netter as a senior offensive analyst and assistant offensive line coach, sources tell Spartans Illustrated. He has already arrived in East Lansing. Netter’s bio on X (formerly Twitter) reflects his new role at MSU as well. With Michigan State, Netter will work under head coach Pat Fitzgerald, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, offensive line coach Nick Tabacca and the rest of the staff.
Michigan State expected to hire John McNulty as quarterbacks coach
Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald has quickly found a new quarterbacks coach, as sources confirm to Spartans Illustarted that MSU is expected to hire John McNulty for the role. The news was first reported by ESPN's Pete Thamel. The move to bring McNulty to East Lansing comes after Mike Bajakian's departure for the NFL's Cleveland Browns. Bajakian was officially hired as Michigan State's quarterbacks coach on Jan. 2, and news broke on Feb.
Michigan State signs 2026 four-star wide receiver Samson Gash
The Michigan State football program has officially signed class of 2026 four-star wide receiver Samson Gash. It was a highly-contested recruitment for the Detroit Catholic Central High School (Novi, Michigan) standout, but ultimately, he decided to become a Spartan. He will play under head coach Pat Fitzgerald, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins and the rest of the MSU staff.
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