Toledo provides 4th quarter scare, but Michigan State hangs on, 30-20

Friday night in East Lansing marked a new era for two programs alike. Toledo debuted new head coach Mike Jacobs, while Michigan State countered with longtime Northwestern frontman Pat Fitzgerald.

In typical fashion, Michigan State opened its season on a Friday night. The Spartans were 13-0 on Friday night openers since 2011 and haven't lost an August or September opener since 2008. Those trends sustained to usher in the Fitzgerald era.

Although Toledo held a brief fourth quarter lead, Michigan State controlled the final frame to emerge in 30-20 fashion.

Michigan State dominated the first half, scoring on each of its five first half drives. While the Spartans moved the ball exceptionally well on a Toledo defense returning zero starters, they repeatedly sputtered in Rocket territory. Toledo held Michigan State to four consecutive Liam Boyd field goals, causing the Spartans to enter the half ahead 19-7, even though they out-gained the Rockets, 212-80.

60 of those 80 yards were courtesy of a deep touchdown connection between Toledo quarterback John Alan Richter and Mercer transfer wide receiver Adjatay Dabbs — a play that injected life into a previously dormant Toledo offense.

Turning Michigan State touchdown opportunities into field goals paid dividends for the Rockets. But the tide began to turn on the fifth field goal attempt of the night. Toledo cornerback Tyrell Russell flew off the boundary to block Boyd's 54-yard attempt. At this point, Michigan State ran 40 plays in Toledo territory, while the Rockets hadn't fielded a snap beyond the 50-yard line.

But that changed with under eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. Shortly after intruding into Michigan State territory, Richter fired a second touchdown strike to Dabbs, who produced a game-high 101 receiving yards in his Toledo debut.

Down 19-14, the Rocket defense came up clutch by stuffing Michigan State running back Cam Edwards on a 4th and 1. Two plays later, fourth-year Rocket running back Connor Walendzak — one of the more notable holdovers from the Jason Candle era — rumbled 71 yards down the field for the go-ahead touchdown. Suddenly, a double-digit deficit transformed into a 20-19 Toledo advantage with 13:47 remaining.

It was a short-lived lead, as Michigan State stormed down the field in roughly three minutes. Upon facing a 4th and 1, Fitzgerald bypassed the go-ahead chip shot field goal and rolled the dice. Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic rolled out on the critical play and found an open Rodney Bullard Jr. for six. Bullard then made a highlight grab on the ensuing 2-point try, "Moss"ing the Toledo defense to establish a 27-20 Spartan lead.

Toledo responded with a 53-yard drive, but the Rockets' first field goal attempt of the season flew extremely far right of the uprights. Michigan State answered with Boyd's fifth successful field goal of the night after the two-minute timeout, effectively sealing a 10-point win for the Spartans.

The Rockets fielded the No. 4 total defense and No. 2 scoring defense in the FBS last year. But after losing 11 starters, including nine All-MAC selections and two NFL Draft picks, a different story was observed Friday. Toledo, which never surrendered more than 28 points in 2025, allowed 397 yards and 30 points in its 2026 opener.

Milivojevic threw for an efficient 247 yards and a touchdown, while Edwards collected 98 rushing yards and a score after transferring in from UConn. Along with Dabbs, Toledo's most impressive performance came from inside linebacker Isaac Zay. A returning player who only logged seven tackles last season, Zay recorded a team-high 12 stops and a sack before succumbing to injury in the late fourth quarter.

After starting the Fitzgerald era on a high note, Michigan State eyes a 19th-straight win over the MAC next Saturday when Eastern Michigan pays a visit to Spartan Stadium. Meanwhile, Toledo searches for its first win of the Jacobs era Sept. 12 when hosting FCS opponent Central Connecticut — the first matchup of a three-game homestand.