Michigan State may have lost, but their future just won — thanks to the emergence of Alessio Milivojevic.

The Spartans were on the verge of their first conference victory last night, battling back from a 10-point deficit to take a late lead against Minnesota on the road. It looked like the game was in their hands, but as it often goes, the refs couldn’t keep their whistles holstered when Michigan State’s defense was on the field — yet were quick to pocket them when Minnesota needed a break.

Still, win or lose, my opinion doesn’t change: the Spartans finally found their spark. Head coach Jonathan Smith — whose seat remains as hot as Mr. Heat Miser’s hair — finally got his head out of his playbook and made the move fans have been waiting for. He benched Aidan Chiles, the Oregon State transfer who’s struggled all season to get the offense moving, and handed the reins to redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic.

To be fair, Chiles hasn’t had it easy — questionable play-calling, a leaky offensive line, and inconsistent effort around him didn’t help. But his body language said it all. He looked disinterested, and it showed in the results. Last week’s loss to Michigan ended with Milivojevic stepping in and going 6-of-7 for 70 yards and a touchdown, giving fans a glimpse of what might be coming.

This week, after much deliberation, Smith finally pulled the trigger — and from the first snap, the offense looked alive again.

Milivojevic threw darts to the sideline, owned the middle, and hit on deep and short routes alike. He went 10-of-13 in the first half and finished 20-of-28 for 311 yards and a touchdown. The offensive line did him no favors — Minnesota racked up seven sacks, including six in the first half — but even with the pocket collapsing around him, Milivojevic showed poise and presence beyond his years.

The Spartans moved the ball well throughout the first half but came up empty with missed field goals and a failed fourth down. In the second half, they came alive — scoring 17 unanswered points to take a late lead. For the first time in weeks, Michigan State fans saw an offense that looked confident, dangerous, and fun.

Unfortunately, the defense couldn’t close it out. A couple of questionable officiating moments didn’t help, including a picked-up flag on what looked like clear pass interference against Minnesota. But that’s home cooking for you. The Spartans needed to put the game away sooner to beat a solid Gophers team.

Still, the takeaway is clear: the future is bright. Milivojevic’s debut — 311 yards in his first career start — is something you don’t see often, especially from a Michigan State quarterback. His composure, accuracy, and leadership give real reason for optimism in East Lansing.

Jonathan Smith might still be sitting on a hot seat, but he quieted a few doubters this week by finally making the right call — even if it came a few games too late.

The Spartans return home next week to face Penn State, with both teams searching for their first Big Ten win. But one thing’s for sure — the Spartans may have finally found their quarterback of the future.