EAST LANSING ~ MSU head football coach Pat Fitzgerald said Monday that his focus after the Spartans’ first loss of the season is restoring consistency ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Nebraska: “My biggest job to do now is to get us to play consistently.”
Michigan State fell 27-10 at Notre Dame, a game in which Fitzgerald took responsibility during his postgame remarks. He said he saw “flashes” of the level of play he expects, but not enough sustained execution to stay competitive on the road. The loss also marked MSU’s first away game of the season, and Fitzgerald said he was proud of how the team handled the environment despite the uneven performance.
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Travel games also force roster decisions, and Fitzgerald continued to emphasize competition for playing time. Teams can bring up to 80 players, and he said Monday that selection for one road trip does not guarantee selection for the next. “We’re going to make it very competitive for that 80‑man travel roster each week,” he said, adding that roles are earned through practice.
That approach has shaped early‑season development for several players, including sophomore defensive edge Trey Lisle. Fitzgerald said Lisle’s responsibilities have grown as his practice performance has improved, pointing to him as an example of the weekly standard he expects.
The Spartans return home this weekend to face undefeated Nebraska, a team Fitzgerald described as “as good of a Nebraska team as I’ve seen in a long time.” He said Monday’s practice was productive and set the tone for a week he hopes will bring the consistency he has been pushing for since Saturday’s loss.
