"Leave it here, walk out and get ready to go back to work on Monday; that's it," MSU head coach Pat Fitzgerald said regarding what he takes away from the game.

While sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has taken the majority of the offensive snaps this season, Fancher's dual-threat ability has allowed the Spartans to use him when they need a spark. That strategy was on full display against Notre Dame.

Fancher scored MSU's only touchdown in the 27-10 loss, a 15-yard run in the second quarter that trimmed Notre Dame's lead to 17-10 at halftime. He was inches from a touchdown pass, too, but his intended receiver dropped a wide-open ball in the end zone. His legs were a threat defenses had to account for, something they didn't have to worry about with Milivojevic.

Since then, it's been a different story. Instead of jump-starting the offense, Fancher has halted drives.

Last week in a 31-13 loss to Nebraska, MSU trailed 14-3 early in the second quarter and desperately needed a score to stay competitive. The coaches sent out Fancher to start the drive, and two plays in, he threw an interception that set up Nebraska at MSU's 15-yard line. He wasn't seen for the rest of the game.

A similar situation played out against Wisconsin. Milivojevic looked comfortable, taking the snap, diagnosing the defense and finding open receivers quickly. The offense moved 43 yards in eight plays to the Badgers' 32-yard line.

Then he was pulled for Fancher.

It mirrors a baseball manager over-managing by the spreadsheet: yanking a starting pitcher who's rolling in a tight game right when the stakes get highest, just to force a situational matchup with a cold reliever.

Neither quarterback benefits. Milivojevic, who was in rhythm, loses his tempo, while Fancher comes off the bench cold. Using a quarterback for designed runs, as MSU does with Fancher, isn't unusual, but four straight plays while Milivojevic was driving is.

That drive was arguably the Spartans' most efficient of the game, and it might have ended in a touchdown had Milivojevic stayed in. Though MSU had a lone trip to the red zone to close the first half, that trip came largely thanks to two Wisconsin penalties totaling 30 yards.

It also raises a bigger question: Is the quarterback shuffling hurting Milivojevic's development, or is something else at play?

His numbers are arguably regressing, even with an additional start this season. His accuracy has improved, from 58% in his four starts last season to 62% through five starts this year, but the production hasn't followed. He averaged about 247 yards per start last season, compared to about 170 this year. The touchdowns have dried up even more: seven last season, just three this year, and none since Week 2.

The quarterback room saw more changes before the game ended. Fancher left with an apparent right knee injury on MSU's opening drive of the third quarter and didn't return.

Then, with 7:50 left in the fourth quarter and the game out of reach, true freshman Kayd Coffman made his first career appearance and led the Spartans' final two drives. Coffman was a four-star recruit out of high school according to 247's composite rankings.

"We're not there yet, it's obvious and we just got to keep working," Fitzgerald said. "You don't stop. You keep pounding that rock and eventually it will crack."

MSU (2-3) returns to East Lansing for its Homecoming game against Illinois (2-2). Kick off is set for 3:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Spartan Stadium, and the game will air on FS1.