We’re a little over a month into the 2026 season and we have a good idea of what kind of team Michigan State is. The Spartans don’t quite have the talent that you’d see from a Big Ten contender nor do they really resemble a bowl team through five games, but they have some clear strengths.
Sure, there are a lot of weaknesses on this roster, but one strength that was somewhat expected entering the year but has only been bolstered by Max Bullough has been the linebacker room.
Jordan Hall has been one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten over the past couple of years when he’s been able to stay healthy and he’s now joined by rising star Brady Pretzlaff who also looks really solid — if he, too, can stay healthy. When both are on the field at the same time, Michigan State’s defense can play to its full potential.
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen much of that this season.
Depth was a concern entering the season and it remains that way at linebacker, but another Pro Football Focus grade proves that Michigan State has quietly pieced together one of the best linebacker units in the Big Ten, but there’s just one main issue: they can’t stay healthy.
Hall and Pretzlaff have been good this year, but so has Buffalo transfer Dion Crawford who’s listed as PFF’s ninth highest-graded linebacker in college football this season.
Highest Graded Linebackers This Season🔥 pic.twitter.com/LTo1AN01uZ
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 7, 2026
When you think of Michigan State’s linebacking corps, Hall and Pretzlaff immediately come to mind, but Crawford being one of the nation’s top backers is a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, like his other linebacking mates, he’s missed time with an injury this year.
Caleb Wheatland, too, has been solid for the Spartans, but guess what? He’s officially ruled out for Saturday’s homecoming game against Illinois.
Michigan State has one of the best linebacker trios in the conference, if not the country, and yet it’s all being wasted by injuries and inconsistent play around them. If only they could all stay healthy for a 5-6 game stretch. Michigan State would almost surely be bowl bound.
Max Bullough has done wonders with this group
Should we even be surprised that Bullough has been one of the best hires by Pat Fitzgerald? The former All-American and Big Ten champion returned home this offseason after coaching at Notre Dame under Marcus Freeman for a few years, and his return has been a sight for sore eyes.
The linebackers have gotten better this season and while the injury bug has taken a chunk out of the room, it’s still just deep enough to field two really good players at the same time each week.
Whether it’s Hall and Pretzlaff, Hall and Crawford, or Pretzlaff and Crawford, Michigan State will seemingly always have a great duo out there controlling the defense.
Yes, there have been some lapses that can be blamed on wrong reads from the linebackers, but they’ve been overall impressive. The defensive front has definitely improved even if the numbers don’t show it and that’s because opposing quarterbacks have identified the Spartans’ weakness on defense and they’ve exploited it with quick throws and testing an unproven and injury-riddled secondary.
If the defense continues to struggle as a whole moving forward, Joe Rossi could soon be looking for a new job and Bullough would have to be the favorite to take over as full-time defensive coordinator.
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