While Michigan State football missed a third straight bowl game in the first year of Jonathan Smith, it does hold one major advantage over other programs heading into the season.
Some contenders and other teams in the middle of rebuilds still have yet to identify a starting quarterback for the 2025 season while the Spartans have their guy. Aidan Chiles is entering his second season as Michigan State's starting quarterback and expectations are on the rise.
In year one as the starter, Chiles had just 13 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, but he got better as the year progressed. He finished strong after a shaky, turnover-riddled start.
Another important depth chart position to figure out is the backup quarterback spot.
Fortunately, the Spartans have that spot locked down as well. Earlier this week, Smith spoke to the media and said that Alessio Milivojevic was going to be the team's backup quarterback.
And, according to Brian Lindgren, the staff is "fired up" about him, and he apparently has a huge arm.
Brian Lindgren: “Too soon to say” if he’d play Milivojevic for a series or two like they did with Chiles at OrSt. “We feel really fired up about him, he has a huge arm. We’d feel good about him.”
— Emmett Matasovsky (@E_Matasovsky57) July 31, 2025
Then says to ask QB Coach Jon Boyer
This feels like a really good development, especially if something were to happen to Chiles. If he needed to miss time with an injury to come out for a series or two, the Spartans have a capable backup that the staff is really excited about and he's not there just to be a game manager, he's there to sling it with his "huge arm".
While we may not see it immediately, I think Milivojevic's growth is only going to make Chiles better because he'll feel some pressure behind him to get the job done.
Two years ago, Michigan State couldn't figure out who to play at quarterback, and now the Spartans have a solidified starter and a more-than-capable backup. It's finally OK to feel good about the quarterback room in East Lansing.