EAST LANSING ~ Michigan State football defeated Michigan 15-9 in Ann Arbor on Saturday, earning its first rivalry win since 2021. With his 24-hour celebration period over, head coach Pat Fitzgerald has turned his attention to Washington.
Fitzgerald told reporters Monday that the Huskies have a “really explosive offense. They’re super fast and super physical on defense.” He said quarterback Demond Williams “presents huge problems for our defense. He’s just too complete of a quarterback, but we’ve got to be able to find a way to contain him to be able to keep points off the board, and it’s going to be a huge challenge for our defense.”
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Our game time for Washington is set https://t.co/JrhiZjZS4s
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 2, 2026
(CONTINUED) Michigan State nearly held Michigan scoreless, allowing its only touchdown in the fourth quarter. Three quarters of dominant play showed the Spartans had adjusted effectively despite multiple injuries. Fitzgerald pointed to captain defensive end Kenny Soares Jr. as the team’s top playmaker after stopping Michigan’s two-point conversion attempt.
Spartan defense will need to adapt again ahead of the Washington game after losing safety Devin Vaught and linebacker Dion Crawford to injury in Ann Arbor. Neither player returned to the field after sustained injuries Saturday, but their status for the upcoming game has not been announced.
The Washington matchup is a must-win for Michigan State’s bowl hopes. The Spartans have three wins and need victories in their next three games to become bowl eligible. Williams-led Washington will visit East Lansing on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
