I just want to do a film review on a win again. It's been too long. Instead, I'm struggling to find anything Michigan State can hang its hat on. The Spartans had 303 punting yards compared to 156 yards of total offense, nearly twice as much. Even their two fumble returns covered 112 yards, just 44 fewer than the offense managed all game. Their best offense against UCLA was their defense.
I can handle watching a bad football game. Watching a bad football game while more of your best players go down is another thing entirely. Starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic had an undisclosed injury pop up midweek and was unavailable to play in this one. Ben Roberts went out on the first defensive play, and Marvis Parrish was out during the first offensive series. Before you've even settled in, you're wondering who's left.
That's what makes these losses so frustrating. Losing with your starters on the field would be one thing. Watching an already struggling team lose more pieces every week feels unfair to the coaching staff, to the remaining starters trying to hold things together, and to a fan base that has dealt with this all season.
There wasn't much joy in Pasadena, so let's talk about the freshmen. I went back through my game notes looking for something to dig into, and the list wasn't exactly long. No easy answers, but Kayd Coffman and Leo Hannan gave us something to watch. This week's Film Room focuses on what each showed against UCLA, where they struggled, and how much help they got along the way.
Let's get into the film.
Kayd Coffman (No. 10), a 6-foot-2, 206-pound true freshman from Kentwood, Michigan, got the start against UCLA ahead of Leo Hannan. That caught my attention, given the expectations surrounding Hannan. Coffman's first start gave us a chance to see what the younger quarterback could offer.
One comment from Coffman stuck with me. As Justin Thind shared ahead of the game, Coffman told him in December 2024: "I like that it's a rebuild. I get to be a part of bringing a new era to MSU football." Well, he's getting an early look at just how much rebuilding there is to do.
Justin Thind's breakdown offers a look at Coffman's high school film and describes him as a pass-first, pro-style quarterback with athletic ability. The traits I'm interested in watching are his pocket management, deep ball, ability to throw on the run, and quick release. Those are things to look for as we work through his UCLA snaps.
Coffman completed 4 of 10 passes for 42 yards, a touchdown and an interception and took three sacks. There was an early score, but the offense struggled to build on it. Let's start with his first-quarter completion to Chrishon McCray, then look at the touchdown and the interception that followed.
Play 1: A Little Promise on the Opening Drive
On 2nd and 10, Michigan State lines up with two pass catchers on each side running similar concepts. Both inside receivers going deep and the outside receivers running double moves towards the sideline before running upfield. Coffman keeps his eyes to the middle of the field, appearing to work from his first read to his second read Chrishon McCray (No. 13). McCray runs an out-and-up, selling the outside break about five yards downfield before turning up the sideline. UCLA's Scooter Jackson (No. 1) stays tight to him, but Coffman has time to let the route develop. The offensive line gives him a clean pocket, with Kenneth Williams (No. 32) initially helping in protection before releasing as a safety valve. Nobody is in Coffman's face or at his feet, and he can step into the throw.
What I really like here is the touch. McCray doesn't have much separation, but Coffman gives him a ball he can go get. The pass comes in a little short, allowing McCray to slow down, rise up and put his body between the defender and the football for a 19-yard gain and a first down. Whether that placement was intentional or simply worked out, it gives his receiver a chance against sticky coverage. We've seen Milivojevic overthrow these opportunities too often, so watching Coffman connect on one was encouraging. Good protection, a receiver helping his quarterback and a beautiful touch throw to move the chains.
Play 2: First Start, First Touchdown
Devin Vaught's 56-yard fumble return set Michigan State up in the red zone, and the offense capitalized. On 2nd and 9, the Spartans line up in a condensed formation with two pass catchers on each side. Both tight ends on the left cross toward the right, drawing the underneath coverage away from Kenneth Williams (No. 32), who releases out of the backfield on a wheel route to the left. Nobody follows him. Williams had been helping in protection earlier, and UCLA may have expected him to stay in again. Instead, the crossing routes occupy the defenders inside and leave him wide open.
The offensive line gives Coffman enough time to get the ball out, and I really like his placement. He hits Williams in stride, allowing him to keep his speed and run untouched into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown. Put that ball behind him and force him to turn around, and UCLA has a chance to close. It's a straightforward throw, but the accuracy matters. Good protection, smart play design, and clean execution all come together for Coffman's first career touchdown pass.
Play 3: A Gift Returned to Sender
Nikai Martinez's 56-yard fumble return puts Michigan State back in the red zone with another opportunity to add points. The Spartans send five pass catchers out, but Kayd Coffman keeps his eyes to the right. Fredrick Moore (No. 6) runs a go route into the end zone, while Bryson Williams (No. 14) works a curl just past the first-down marker. I don't love Williams' route here. He gets pressed off the snap and pushed wide toward Moore, which crowds the spacing. I'd like to see him be stronger through the release, hold a tighter path and get to his break faster. That wasted time gives the underneath defender more opportunity to get into the throwing lane.
Coffman throws as Williams turns, but UCLA's Donavyn Pellot (No. 0) appears to follow Coffman's eyes and slides underneath for the interception. From the broadcast angle, it's easy to ask how Coffman didn't see him. The additional CBS replay angle offers a better perspective, and it looks like Coffman never accounts for Pellot. Williams could help with a cleaner release and tighter route, but Coffman still has to recognize the underneath coverage and avoid staring down his read. I'd like to see him look left before coming back right, trying to hold Pellot away from the route and create a throwing window. Instead, his eyes lead Pellot right into the path of the pass. Credit Pellot for recognizing it and returning the interception 67 yards. A scoring opportunity handed to Michigan State by its defense ends with the ball going right back the other way.
Leo Hannan (No. 15) is a 6-foot-3, 221-pound redshirt freshman from Long Beach, California. The Cali kid, nicknamed "The Pope" because of his devout faith, got his opportunity in the 4th quarter with Michigan State searching for something on offense.
Justin Thind's breakdown from Hannan's commitment gives us a look at what made him an intriguing prospect. Thind highlighted his deep passing, touch, off-platform throws, and ability to fire the ball into tight windows. He also praised Hannan's scrambling and elusiveness. That's a lot of tools, and I was interested to see which showed up against UCLA.
Hannan finished 9 of 15 passes for 67 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception, while taking one sack. He helped move the ball, though the game situation matters when evaluating those snaps. Let's look at his completions to Bryson Williams and Chrishon McCray, then finish with the interception.
Play 4: Hannan Finds Williams
Michigan State comes out in another condensed formation with four pass catchers and Kenneth Williams (No. 32) staying in to protect Leo Hannan. Before getting to the throw, watch Williams pick up UCLA's blitzing Mason Rivera (No. 28). He meets a defender coming at full speed and absolutely stonewalls him, giving Hannan room to get the ball out. The offensive line holds up well, too. Hannan appears focused on Bryson Williams (No. 14) throughout the play, and the protection gives him time for the double move to develop. Williams sells the out-breaking route before turning upfield, another example of a concept we've seen Michigan State use multiple times in this game.
What I really like is the loft Hannan puts on this football. It's almost like a rainbow shot in basketball, dropping over the defender and giving Williams a chance to go up and get it. A flatter throw could end up hitting the defensive back in the helmet or back, but this trajectory gives Williams room to adjust and pull it down through contact. UCLA gets flagged for pass interference, but Williams finishes the catch for 19 yards, allowing Michigan State to decline the penalty. We haven't seen enough of that touch from Milivojevic this season. With younger players and guys farther down the depth chart getting snaps, the repeated double moves suggest Sheridan leaned on concepts the group was comfortable executing. Good protection, a nice touch throw and a receiver finishing a difficult catch.
Play 5: McCray Moves the Chains
Michigan State faces 3rd and 3 in the fourth quarter, down 21, with four receivers split out and Kenneth Williams releasing from the backfield as a safety valve. UCLA's coverage gives the receivers plenty of cushion, protecting against anything over the top, but the Bruins still bring pressure. They overload Michigan State's left side, Hannan's blind side, sending more rushers than the Spartans have blockers available to pick up. That leaves linebacker Sammy Omosigho (No. 10) with a straight shot at the quarterback. Hannan appears focused on Chrishon McCray over the middle from the start, but what I like here is his awareness of the pressure and how much time he has. He stands in, delivers the ball and takes the hit rather than letting the free rusher derail the play.
The placement makes a difference, too. Hannan puts the ball right on McCray's numbers, allowing him to make a clean catch and keep moving for more than 10 yards after the catch, turning 3rd and 3 into a 23-yard gain. UCLA's softer coverage provides an opportunity underneath, but Hannan still has to make an accurate throw under pressure, and McCray finishes with tough running to pick up extra yards. Watch Bryson Williams at the bottom of the screen, too, throwing his arms up to celebrate his teammate's first down. The game is out of reach, but I love seeing that enthusiasm and McCray still fighting for yardage. There's something to appreciate in a young quarterback taking a hit to complete a pass and his teammates continuing to compete around him.
Play 6: Pope Hail Mary
With 4:21 left in the game and Michigan State trailing 28-10, Leo Hannan goes for a deep shot fitting for a guy nicknamed Pope. The Spartans line up with trips to the right, and Hannan fakes the handoff to Kenneth Williams before looking downfield. The two inside receivers run in-breaking routes, while Samson Gash (No. 5) goes deep on the outside. It looks like Hannan wants Gash the entire time, hoping the inside routes occupy the coverage and create an opportunity downfield. The protection is good again, giving him time to make the throw. Michigan State struggled to create movement in the running game, but I thought the line held up well in pass protection on these selected plays.
I don't mind taking a shot with the game pretty much decided, but Hannan leads Gash too far and leaves the ball hanging long enough for UCLA safety Malik Hartford (No. 12) to close and intercept it. An earlier throw, placed between the underneath coverage and the safety, might give Gash a better opportunity. I also want more from Gash at the catch point. It's hard to tell whether he sees Hartford coming, but I'd like to see him go up and fight for the ball. If you can't make the catch, try to get a hand in and knock it away. These look like similarly sized players, and Hartford comes down with it far too easily. Good protection gives Michigan State a chance, but the throw and the response at the catch point turn the Pope's Hail Mary into the final nail in the coffin.
Michigan State showed some fight in this one, and I thought Kayd Coffman gave us reasons for optimism. Coming in as a true freshman and showing something against a Big Ten defense in your first career start is impressive. There were growing pains, but there were also plays that reflected well on the staff's ability to find talented players and put them in positions to succeed. Hannan had his moments, too. There's some hope here—and some Pope.
Now I want to see Michigan State build on it and keep these guys around. After watching former Spartans like Katin Houser at Illinois, Aidan Chiles at Northwestern and Sam Leavitt at LSU find success elsewhere, it's hard not to think about the transfer portal when a young quarterback shows promise. Finding talent is one part of the job. Developing it and getting those players' best football while they're still wearing green and white is the next step, especially at quarterback.
For now, everybody could use the bye week. Robbie Bettelon had the right idea in his recap : send these guys to a resort in Mexico for massages and piña coladas. Rest, heal up and hopefully get some key players back before facing that team down the road. I'll take a little magical recovery if it's available. It also sounds like a big recruiting week for Coach Fitzgerald, getting around Michigan by helicopter to visit in-state recruits . Get healthy, get after the next group of Spartans and come back ready for the rivalry.
If you haven't checked it out already, here's the game breakdown on The Red Cedar Rundown . We're live Sundays on YouTube, so come hang out, give us a like and subscribe while you're there.
You can also find me on X @W00dsyOwl . Comment below with what you'd like to see more of in future breakdowns, and I'll try to work it in. Thanks for your support!
Go Green!
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