A New Era Begins: Michigan State Spring Showcase Date Announced

There’s less than three weeks until daylight saving time ends and less than a month until the first day of spring. As we all start to step out of our hibernation phase, hit the gym to work off the holiday chocolate cake, and remind ourselves what lies beneath the blanket of snow that’s covered our lives for the past three months, the football team in East Lansing is already hard at work preparing for the annual Green and White Spring Showcase. Probably more of an open practice opposed to a scrimmage.

It’s going to be a whole new look for this team. From the players to the staff, there’s a new vibe surrounding the program, and it has fans buzzing with anticipation.

The Spring Showcase will be played at Spartan Stadium on April 18th at 12:00 PM EST.

Fans can’t wait to see the newly tooled Spartan squad, and this showcase serves as a preview of what’s to come in the fall. But it also symbolizes something bigger. Much like Opening Day in baseball, the Spring Game/Showcase signals a shift in seasons. It means spring and summer are right around the corner. Time to break out the colorful apparel. Time to start planning lake days, booking trips, and looking forward to long evenings in the sun. Listening to Billy Strings while soaking up the Pure Michigan warmth. The Spring Game/Showcase is the unofficial kickoff to great times and good vibes.

Last season, though, the vibes were anything but good. The Spartans struggled mightily, and the program felt disconnected. That led to a major change: Michigan State parted ways with former head coach Jonathan Smith and brought in longtime Northwestern Wildcats football head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

The move sent shockwaves through the Big Ten. Fitzgerald spent 17 seasons at Northwestern, transforming the Wildcats from perennial bottom dwellers into a consistently competitive program known for discipline and physicality. Now, he’s tasked with restoring that same identity in East Lansing.

It won’t be easy. The Spartans saw over 40 players enter the transfer portal during the whirlwind two-week window. But Fitzgerald quickly went to work rebuilding the roster to fit his system. The additions are highlighted by offensive tackle Ben Murawski and his former UConn teammate, running back Cam Edwards. Michigan State also brought in multiple projected starters along the offensive line, reinforcing Fitzgerald’s clear emphasis on the trenches.

Defensively, the Spartans secured key pieces, including the return of Charles Brantley and the addition of linebacker Caleb Wheatland to help anchor the unit.

Fitzgerald didn’t just rebuild the roster — he assembled an experienced staff. Michigan State alum Max Bullough returns as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. LeVar Woods steps in as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator, while Nick Sheridan will oversee the offense as coordinator. The common theme: experience, structure, and accountability.

One of the biggest wins of the offseason wasn’t a transfer addition at all — it was retaining quarterback Alessio Milivojevic. When he took over for the final four games last season, the team immediately showed more energy and cohesion. The Spartans closed the year with their lone Big Ten win during that stretch, and Milivojevic’s development was evident each week.

He showed poise, toughness, and a live arm, often under duress behind an offensive line that struggled for much of the season outside of center Matt Gulbin. His escapability was on display regularly, as he was forced to create under pressure.

Now, with what appears on paper to be a significantly upgraded offensive line featuring Murawski, Trent Fraley (son of Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley), and Nick Sharpe, Milivojevic should have more time in the pocket — and far less chaos at his feet.

The vision is clear: a return to blue-collar football. Build from the inside out. Control the trenches. Win field position. Dominate time of possession. Play disciplined, physical football — even if it isn’t always pretty.

And for the first time, fans will get to see the foundation of that identity take shape on April 18th at noon.

If you’re not paying attention, that’s only a couple of months away.