The Michigan State Spartans kicked off their 2026 college football campaign on a high note by earning a hard-fought 30-20 victory over the Toledo Rockets at Spartan Stadium.
In a tight back-and-forth matchup, the Spartans rallied in the fourth quarter to secure the win in head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s debut with the team.
Fourth-quarter surge
Toledo kept the game competitive deep into the second half, briefly taking a 20-19 lead in the fourth quarter after an explosive 71-yard run by Connor Walendzak set up scoring opportunity.
However, Michigan State responded swiftly when quarterback Alessio Milivojevic converted a fourth-down attempt with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Rodney Bullard Jr. to reclaim the momentum.
Defensive stand and looking ahead
Michigan State’s defense held firm in the final minutes to prevent a late Toledo comeback and lock down the 10-point victory.
Despite securing the opening win, Fitzgerald noted post-game that the team still has plenty of work ahead as they prepare for the rest of their non-conference schedule.
