Michigan State Gets Major Boost as Quarterback Milivojevic Returns Against Michigan

It’s been nearly three weeks since Michigan State’s starting quarterback, Alessio Milivojevic, last started a game for the Spartans.

Milivojevic missed the Spartans’ last game, two weeks ago at UCLA, and used last week’s bye to continue resting and recovering. However, even with that additional time off, the Spartans’ starter was still listed as questionable throughout the week.

Now, with the final availability report released, it appears Milivojevic will return to the starting lineup against Michigan State’s biggest rival, the Michigan Wolverines.

The Spartans still have a skeleton crew preparing to take the field in Ann Arbor, missing their top three running backs, top pass catcher, top defensive lineman, top linebacker and top two cornerbacks.

However, as bad as the injury situation looks, and despite the unexpected additions to the injury report following a bye week, there are still some players returning to the field who are ready to help the Spartans compete.

Michigan State may be without its top two cornerbacks, but for the first time in over a month, the Spartans will have their third- and fourth-rated cornerbacks back and available to step into the starting lineup.

Still, the defense will have to battle all game long to keep Michigan State within striking distance of the Wolverines. But with Milivojevic returning, there's at least a little more hope for the Spartans.

With Milivojevic missing their last game against UCLA, freshman Kayd Coffman and Leo Hannan got their first opportunities to put their work on film. Unfortunately, it wasn't pretty. There were plenty of growing pains, and both quarterbacks will continue to be works in progress, which is exactly where they were expected to be.

Milivojevic, on the other hand, brings a level of competitiveness and competence that gives the Spartans a chance to compete in this game.

Rivalry games bring out more in everyone than most people realize. Rivalries make you dig deeper than ever before, not only finding talent you didn't know you had but also uncovering the no-quit attitude that lives deep inside every person.

It becomes more of a survival situation, and for the Spartans, surviving is all they're expected to do. But now, with Milivojevic back and ready to play, that survival mentality may just turn into a killer instinct.

The Wolverines and Spartans are the two lowest-scoring teams in the Big Ten, meaning there's no automatic winner, despite Vegas giving Michigan a two-touchdown advantage.

The injury bug has been brutal for Michigan State, and that plays a major factor in the betting spread. But one player can single-handedly influence the outcome, and his name is Alessio Milivojevic.

He'll be suiting up in the green and white at the Big House tonight.