It started Saturday, when MSU picked up its first Big Ten win of the season — a 38-28 victory over Maryland — avoiding its first winless Big Ten campaign since 1958 and snapping a program-record, eight-game losing streak.

MSU dominated the first half, leading 24-7 at halftime, but the narrative flipped quickly. Maryland’s passing offense exploded for 259 yards in the second half, cutting the Spartans' lead to 24-21.

It looked like MSU might let another game slip away, until sixth-year wide receiver Alante Brown touched the ball for the first time since Week 2. After battling injuries for most of the season, Brown returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown.

"I've been having a lot of things going on outside [the game], some off-the-field things going on with my fiancée," Brown said after the game. "It just meant a lot for me, my family at that moment and her family as well. So, I dedicate that to God and my family."

That third-quarter spark reignited the Spartans and helped them pull away from the Terrapins.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic continued to shine, going 27-for-39 for 292 yards and four touchdowns — a performance that earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Less than 24 hours later, the chaos began as head coach Jonathan Smith was fired after two seasons, leaving East Lansing with a 9-15 overall record and a 4-14 mark in Big Ten play.

By Monday evening — just over a day after Smith’s dismissal — MSU had already made its next move. Former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who spent 17 seasons leading the Wildcats and compiled a 110-101 record, was officially hired and introduced Tuesday afternoon. It is his first head coaching job since his July 2023 dismissal amid hazing allegations surrounding Northwestern.

Those allegations have since been dismissed, as Fitzgerald’s wrongful termination lawsuit against Northwestern was settled in August 2025. After three years away from the field, it is safe to say he’s glad to be back.

"As far as my motivation. You don’t need to ask me about that," Fitzgerald said at his opening press conference. "I’ve been dreaming about this day for a long time. … There'll be no more motivated coach to get this program where it needs to be than I will be, compared to anywhere else in the country.”

The combination of a disappointing 4-8 season and a head-coaching change has sparked roster movement as well. Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh and sophomore running back Makhi Frazier have entered the transfer portal.

Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley is also leaving the program, but in a different direction — foregoing his senior season to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Men’s Basketball

MSU displayed Big Ten dominance in its premier conference game of the season. The now No. 7 Spartans topped the Iowa Hawkeyes, 71-52, amid a new era of MSU athletics ushered in by Pat Fitzgerald and a $1 billion fundraising campaign.

Iowa’s top player and national player of the year, hopeful Bennett Stirtz, averages close to 19 points per game. His agility and sharp ball-handling make him a tiring player to defined, but Jeremy Fears Jr. had little issue guarding his counterpart point guard.

"He's a great player, great point guard, and it’s some of my dreams and goals to get the awards [that he’ll get] at the end of the year," Fears said. "So, it was a great challenge and a great matchup."

And that they did. MSU left nothing to the imagination in its most physical game yet. The Spartans more than doubled Iowa’s rebound total and led by a 37-18 margin. They grabbed offensive rebounds on 13 of their 23 misses, a true testament to this team’s culture.

Coen Carr led with 15 points, Fears followed with 14 on a perfect 10 free throws and Jaxon Kohler had his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds, 4 of which on the offensive glass. 

"Our goal is to be back-to-back, Big Ten champions, and there's no better way to start it than with the first game a win," Fears said. 'It’s a lot easier when you start 1-0 instead of 0-1 in the Big Ten. So, we just made sure we came in and tried to get the job done."

Women’s Basketball

The No. 20 MSU women’s basketball team just keeps winning.

After a trip to the Bahamas for the Baha Mar Nassau Junkanoo Division tournament, the Spartans not only won the championship but stayed perfect on the season, improving to 8-0.

MSU opened with an 85-50 win over Temple on Friday after leading only 18-12 at the end of the first quarter. Junior guard Rashunda Jones led the way with a season-high 18 points.

Next came the title game on Sunday against Clemson, a 72-64 victory powered by a double-double from redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Blair, who finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds. The Spartans handled business despite being without senior guard Theryn Hallock, who did not play and was seen wearing a boot on her foot.

Senior forward Grace VanSlooten was named tournament MVP, while Blair earned a spot on the all-tournament team.

Next up for the Spartans is their first Big Ten matchup of the season, a road game at Wisconsin on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

Hockey

No. 3 MSU hockey swept Colgate last week, earning a 5-2 win on Wednesday followed by a 4-1 victory on Friday. 

The Spartans improve to 11-3-0 and will face No. 1 Michigan this weekend. Game 1 is set for Friday, Dec. 5, at 8:30 p.m. EST in Munn Ice Arena. Game 2 will be on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7:00 p.m. EST at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor. 

MSU set the tone early in Game 1, scoring three goals in the first eight minutes. Sophomore defenseman Owen West scored his first collegiate goal, and 10 Spartans finished with points. Freshman goaltender Melvin Strahl made his second career start, recording 29 saves for a 2-0-0 record in goal.

Unlike the Wisconsin series, the Spartans maintained their edge, amid a chippy contest. Junior defenseman Patrick Geary and Colgate's forward Ryan Sullivan were ejected from the game with fighting and disqualification penalties. Both were forced to sit out the following game. 

In Game 2, junior forward Daniel Russell matched his career high in points, notching two goals and an assist (2-1-3). 

Head coach Adam Nightingale praised freshman forward Eric Nilson’s line after the game, calling it consistent and likely the team’s best. Nilson netted the first goal of the night, with his linemates, freshman forward Ryker Lee and sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi, contributing as well. Junior netminder Trey Augustine made 25 saves in the Spartans' victory.

Additionally, freshman forward Cayden Lindstrom returned to the ice in Game 2 after missing five games with a lower body injury. 

Women’s Soccer

No. 9 MSU women's soccer saw its season come to an end, falling 5-1 to No. 1 Stanford in the Elite Eight. Junior midfielder Bella Najera scored the lone consolation goal, her third in two games. 

The Spartans flew out to California as the underdog and although they put up a good fight, Stanford proved why they are the favorites for the whole tournament. The Cardinal became utterly dominant as the game wore on, and it became clear that MSU could do nothing but keep defending and hoping.

It marked the end of a historical season. While the Spartans ended without a trophy, they made it further into the season than ever before with their trip to the Elite Eight and achieved head coach Jeff Hosler’s main objective: becoming a part of the national conversation. 

Their record rests at 15-4-6, with 15 wins being the second most in program history. 

Volleyball

MSU volleyball’s losing streak carried into the final week of the season, as the Spartans closed the 2025 campaign on a six-game skid.

They welcomed both California schools to Breslin Center, beginning with No. 14 USC, which controlled the match and swept MSU 3-0 on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Next came senior day against UCLA, where the Spartans pushed the match to five sets but ultimately fell 3-2.

Despite the tough finish, it was still a successful first year under head coach Kristen Kelsey. The team’s 10-0 start marked its first undefeated nonconference slate since 2012 and the best start ever for a first-year head coach at MSU. The Spartans’ 18-12 record was also the program’s most wins since 2017.

Track & Field:

The MSU indoor track and field season is set to begin this weekend, with athletes competing at both the GVSU Holiday Open in Allendale and the Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener in Boston.

Wrestling:

After a strong showing at the Keystone Classic, the MSU wrestling team will travel to Boiling Springs, North Carolina, for a dual meet against Gardner-Webb on Friday at 6:00 p.m.