EAST LANSING ~ MSU head football coach Pat Fitzgerald said Monday that his team is resetting after its fifth straight loss, gearing up for a week-eight road test against top‑ranked UCLA.
“You just got to play play by play, day by day, and you know, it’s just the way the world goes,” Fitzgerald said, emphasizing that the Spartans returned to practice in good spirits despite Saturday’s last‑minute defeat. He pointed to several positives, including redshirt freshman wide receiver Bryson Williams, whose 32‑yard touchdown earned him Big Playmaker of the game.
Fitzgerald also highlighted the defensive line as a stabilizing force, noting that lineman Ben Roberts “is playing at an all Big Ten level.” He said the group’s adaptability has set a standard for the rest of MSU’s schemes as the team works to correct issues that stalled momentum late.
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(CONTINUED) Even with achievements on both sides of the ball, missed offensive opportunities throughout the game proved costly in the final minutes. Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic overthrew deep passes and hesitated in critical situations, leading to sacks and drive-killing losses. Still, Fitzgerald said “we’ve got great confidence in Les and belief in him.”
With preparations underway, Fitzgerald said the week will follow a standard practice structure, though MSU will need sharper execution to challenge UCLA’s defense. The Spartans travel to Pasadena for Saturday’s matchup on Oct. 24 at 3:30 p.m.
