Michigan State Turns to Freshman Kayd Coffman as Key Starters Miss No. 9 UCLA Showdown

With Alessio Milivojevic, Cam Fancher and Jaziun Patterson unavailable, the Spartans face a difficult road test with a true freshman quarterback.

PASADENA, Calif. (October 24, 2026) — Michigan State entered Saturday’s matchup against No. 9 UCLA searching for answers after five consecutive losses.

Now, the Spartans must find those answers with a new quarterback.

True freshman Kayd Coffman is making his first collegiate start against the undefeated Bruins after Michigan State ruled out starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic and running back Jaziun Patterson.

Backup quarterback Cam Fancher is also unavailable, leaving Michigan State without its top two options at the position.

The game-day developments create a difficult situation for head coach Pat Fitzgerald and an offense already struggling to find consistency.

For Coffman, the opportunity comes on one of college football’s biggest stages: the Rose Bowl.

Michigan State Loses Two Key Offensive Starters

Milivojevic and Patterson were listed as questionable earlier in the week before being ruled out Saturday.

Milivojevic had started all seven games for Michigan State this season, completing 65.4 percent of his passes for 1,263 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Spartans have struggled to turn that production into victories, entering Saturday with a 2–5 overall record and an 0–4 mark in Big Ten play.

Patterson’s absence creates another challenge.

The running back had rushed for 327 yards and five touchdowns on 76 carries this season.

With Patterson unavailable and Cam Edwards already sidelined by a season-ending knee injury, Michigan State must rely on additional depth in the backfield.

Marvis Parrish and Brandon Tullis are among the players expected to take on greater responsibilities.

For an offense already averaging fewer than 22 points per game, losing its starting quarterback and running back creates significant uncertainty.

Who Is Kayd Coffman?

Coffman arrived at Michigan State as a highly regarded quarterback prospect from East Kentwood High School.

The former four-star recruit helped lead East Kentwood to the Division 1 state semifinals during his senior season.

He finished that campaign with 2,599 passing yards, 34 touchdown passes and just four interceptions.

Coffman also demonstrated his ability to make plays with his legs, rushing for 710 yards and eight touchdowns.

His combination of size, athleticism and passing ability made him one of the important additions to Michigan State’s 2026 recruiting class.

However, his college experience remains limited.

Before Saturday, Coffman had appeared in only one game, seeing brief action during Michigan State’s October 3 loss to Wisconsin.

He had not attempted a collegiate pass entering the UCLA matchup.

Now, he is being asked to lead the Spartans against one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams.

A Difficult First Assignment

UCLA entered Saturday undefeated at 6–0 overall and 4–0 in Big Ten play.

The Bruins have established themselves as one of the conference’s strongest teams under head coach Bob Chesney.

Their defense presents a significant challenge for an inexperienced quarterback, particularly one making his first start on the road.

Michigan State must find ways to protect Coffman and avoid putting him in situations where he is forced to carry the offense.

Establishing a productive running game will be especially important.

The Spartans must also limit turnovers and penalties, two areas that can quickly derail an offense working with an inexperienced quarterback.

Coffman’s mobility could provide Michigan State with additional options, but asking him to consistently make difficult throws against a top-10 opponent would be a risky approach.

UCLA Is Also Dealing With Quarterback Injuries

Michigan State isn’t the only team entering Saturday with uncertainty at quarterback.

UCLA lost starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to a knee injury earlier this month.

Ty Dieffenbach has taken over the position and helped the Bruins maintain their undefeated record.

That creates an unusual matchup in which both programs are relying on quarterbacks who began the season outside their starting roles.

However, the circumstances are different.

Dieffenbach has already gained valuable game experience, while Coffman is making his first collegiate start.

That difference could become significant as the game progresses.

Michigan State’s Season Is Reaching a Critical Point

The Spartans entered Saturday having lost five consecutive games.

Three of those defeats came by seven points or fewer, including a 38–37 loss to Illinois and a 24–21 defeat against Northwestern.

Those narrow losses have added to the frustration surrounding a program trying to establish consistency under Fitzgerald.

Michigan State has demonstrated that it can compete in stretches.

The problem has been putting together complete performances.

Now, the Spartans must attempt to end their losing streak while dealing with injuries at multiple important positions.

Saturday’s matchup is difficult enough without those complications.

MCSN Take: Coffman Deserves a Fair Opportunity

This is an enormous assignment for a true freshman.

Coffman isn’t stepping into a comfortable situation with an established offense and a healthy backfield.

He’s being asked to lead a struggling team against an undefeated, top-10 opponent on the road.

That context matters.

Michigan State should not judge Coffman’s long-term potential solely on what happens against UCLA.

The coaching staff must put him in manageable situations, protect him as effectively as possible and establish some offensive balance.

Coffman’s high school production suggests he has the tools to become a productive college quarterback.

But developing those tools takes time.

For Fitzgerald, Saturday is about more than determining whether Coffman can win a football game.

It’s also an opportunity to evaluate a young player who could become an important part of Michigan State’s future.

The Spartans desperately need a victory.

But regardless of Saturday’s result, they must also make sure their freshman quarterback has a legitimate opportunity to develop.

Coffman may be Michigan State’s quarterback of the future. Saturday provides his first major opportunity to show what he can do.