Photo: Nick King ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING ~ Over the past few weeks, Michigan State football has gone through a transformative offseason marked by unexpected departures and surprising commitments. Among the most notable changes, junior quarterback Aidan Chiles has officially entered the NCAA transfer portal. Once a four-star recruit out of California, Chiles took over as MSU’s starting quarterback in 2024 and amassed 3,807 passing yards and 452 rushing yards during his two seasons. Despite flashes of potential, inconsistency and coaching upheaval, most notably the firing of Jonathan Smith, led to his benching in favor of freshman Alessio Milivojevic late in the 2025 season. With Chiles officially seeking a fresh start elsewhere, his Spartan journey has come to an end.
In a similar vein, sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh has also decided to pursue new opportunities. The 6-foot-3 sophomore from River Rouge, Michigan, emerged as a key playmaker over his two seasons, tallying 100 receptions for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns. Marsh followed the same path out of the portal as Chiles, leveraging his explosive talent to become one of the top prospects in this year’s portal cycle.
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(CONTINUED) Amid the departures, Milivojevic has bucked the trend by confirming his commitment to return for the 2026 season. Milivojevic stepped into the starting role midseason following Chiles’s struggles, delivering a solid performance with 1,267 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and a 64% completion rate. His candid social media post, “Run it back”, and his father’s public support sent a clear message: Milivojevic is ready to lead the Spartans into the next chapter under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
These shifting dynamics paint a portrait of both loss and hope for Michigan State. The exits of Chiles and Marsh undeniably leave significant voids at quarterback and wide receiver, leaving room for questions about the Spartans’ offensive identity. Yet Milivojevic’s return brings a measure of continuity and optimism. As MSU enters a new coaching era under Fitzgerald, the Spartans will lean on Milivojevic’s emerging leadership while working to fill the gaps left by his departing teammates.
