Michigan State is going to have the Big Ten’s most improved offensive line

Michigan State’s offensive line has been a sore subject for years.

While the unit has produced several NFL draft prospects even since Mark Dantonio retired, it has been overwhelmingly disappointing for the better part of a decade now. Pat Fitzgerald and Nick Tabacca are now tasked with turning it around.

So far, the new staff is doing a solid job. The Spartans haven’t played a single game yet, but the line is coming together nicely.

Not only did Tabacca convince guys like Conner Moore, Rustin Young, Andrew Dennis, and Luka Vincic to stay, but he also landed Nick Sharpe, Ben Murawski, Robert Wright Jr., and Trent Fraley from the transfer portal.

On top of that, he was able to hold onto Eli Bickel and Collin Campbell in the 2026 class. The latter was the top-ranked signee that Jonathan Smith had in his final class.

I haven’t been this optimistic about a Michigan State offensive line since the prime Dantonio days and it’s because recruiting has been impressive in such a short period of time (the Spartans’ top 2027 commit is a four-star offensive lineman) and Fitzgerald seems to be putting an emphasis on the position. It’s been a while since the line felt like a priority.

Michigan State is going to have the most improved offensive lineman in the Big Ten this season.

There’s nowhere for Michigan State to go but up

I am so confident in saying that Michigan State will have one of the most improved offensive lines not only in the Big Ten, but in the nation, because of one stat:

Michigan State allowed the second-most sacks in the Big Ten last season, averaging over three per game allowed. That’s unacceptable for a program like Michigan State which has had a history of producing really strong offensive linemen. But there’s nowhere to go from there but up. Second-to-last in sacks allowed is not a label that Michigan State fans are OK with.

Fitzgerald and Tabacca saw that number and immediately hit the transfer portal back in December. They were able to pick up the aforementioned transfer commitments and two of the newcomers were named to Phile Steele’s preseason All-Big Ten second team.

With three guys (including Moore) who Steele projected as All-Big Ten offensive linemen, Michigan State should finally see an offense with a pulse because of that line opening holes and protecting QB1.

Will we finally see an offense where a quarterback isn’t running for his life every play? I think so.

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