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Michigan State depth chart, injury report: A lot of unknowns for starters at Indiana

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Michigan State depth chart, injury report: A lot of unknowns for starters at Indiana


Three straight wins followed by three consecutive losses.

That’s how Michigan State started last season and is in the same spot again.

If the Spartans (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) are going to avoid their first four-game skid under second-year coach Jonathan Smith, it will require a massive upset at No. 3 Indiana (6-0, 3-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., Peacock) in Bloomington.

Injury report:

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Out: OL Luka Vincic (season), LB Brady Pretzlaff (season), DB Andrew Brinson (season), DB Caleb Gash (season), EDGE Anelu Lafaele (season), OL Stanton Ramil, WR Alante Brown. Questionable: QB Aidan Chiles, DT Ben Roberts, DE Jalen Thompson, S Nikai Martinez, DB Ade Willie, DB NiJhay Burt, TE Michael Masunas, TE Brennan Parachek, TE Jayden Savoury, OL Kristian Phillips, LB Marcellius Pulliam, LS Kaden Schickel, K Tarik Ahmetbasic, RB Jace Clarizio.

There’s obviously a lot to unpack here that’s not good for the Spartans. It starts with Chiles, who was knocked out of last week’s 38-13 loss against UCLA after suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit. Smith called him questionable and on Wednesday said the junior was limited but active in practice while CBS Sports reported Chiles is expected to be available. It’s a bit unclear what that means and Alessio Milivojevic will make his first career start if Chiles is sidelined.

Smith said there’s a chance Thompson, Martinez and Roberts – a late scratch last week – return against the Hoosiers. Masunas and Phillips are among the long list of those also questionable.

Projected depth chart:

Quarterback

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Starter: Aidan Chiles

Backup: Alessio Milivojevic

Others of note: Leo Hannan, Ryland Jessee

If Chiles is actually able to go on Saturday, he will be trying to break out of a two-game funk against one of the best defenses in the nation. Milivojevic played solid in relief each of the last two weeks.

Running back

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Starter: Makhi Frazier

Backup: Brandon Tullis

Others of note: Elijah Tau-Tolliver

The backfield depth chart hasn’t changed all season but the run game has been a disappointment and failed to even reach 90 yards on the ground in either of the last two games.

Fullback

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Starter: Jay Coyne

Backup: Jaxon McCaig

Coyne played three snaps against the Bruins.

Wide receiver

Starters: Nick Marsh, Omari Kelly, Chrishon McCray

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Backups: Rodney Bullard, Evan Boyd

Others of note: Braylon Collier, Charles Taplin

Marsh showed up last week and had seven catches for 77 yards and a touchdown on a whopping 15 targets. The Spartans want to get him the ball as much as possible but also need to get the other top targets involved.

Tight end

Starter: Jack Velling

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Backups: Kai Rios, Michael Masunas, Brennan Parachek

Others of note: Jayden Savoury

The Spartans could be very thin at tight end with three of the top five at the position (Masunas, Parachek and Savoury) all questionable and untested depth behind them.

Offensive line

Starters: LT Conner Moore, LG Gavin Broscious, C Matt Gulbin, RG Caleb Carter, RT Ashton Lepo

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Backups: OT Rustin Young, OG Kristian Phillips

Others of note: C Cooper Terpstra, OT/C Rakeem Johnson

Phillips was using crutches and wearing a walking boot on the sideline late last week. That wasn’t an encouraging sign so it’s just a guess that he’s out on Saturday and the Spartans shuffle at guard with two experienced options in Broscious and Carter. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see a change at tackle depending on which side they want to use Moore.

Defensive tackle

Starters: Alex VanSumeren, Ru’Quan Buckley

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Backups: Ben Roberts, Grady Kelly, Jalen Satchell

Others of note: Mikeshun Beeler, Derrick Simmons

With Roberts out, Buckley played a season-high 45 snaps last week, according to Pro Football Focus. VanSumeren tied a career high with six tackles.

Defensive end

Starters: Isaac Smith, Kekai Burnett

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Backups: Jalen Thompson, Quindarius Dunnigan, David Santiago

Others of note: Cam Williams, Tyler Gillison

Thompson’s absence last week led to Burnett making his first career start. Dunnigan and Williams combined for a sack.

Linebacker

Starters: Jordan Hall, Wayne Matthews, Darius Snow

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Backups: Aisea Moa, Semaj Bridgeman

Others of note: Marcellius Pulliam, Sam Edwards

Hall continues leading the way while Matthews and Snow have a ton of experience.

Cornerback

Starters: Malcolm Bell, Joshua Eaton

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Backups: Aydan West, Chance Rucker, Jeremiah Hughes

Others of note: Anthony Pinnace, NiJhay Burt

Michigan State shook up its starting corners by going with Rucker and true freshman West to open last week but that didn’t last. Bell, Eaton, West and Rucker make up the top four at the spot.

Safety/nickelback

Starters: Malik Spencer, Nikai Martinez, Ade Willie

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Backups: Armorion Smith, Dontavius Nash, Devynn Cromwell

Others of note: Justin Denson, Tracy Revels, Khalil Majeed, Aveon Grose

Another group with more uncertainty. Spencer should be good while Armorion Smith is coming off a rough outing as a safety/nickel option.

Special teams

PK: Martin Connington

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KO: Martin Connington

P: Ryan Eckley

LS: Jack Wills

KR: Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Chrishon McCray

PR: Omari Kelly

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A week after special teams sunk Michigan State in a loss at Nebraska, the third phase of the game was mostly a non-factor. The Spartans will be challenged by an Indiana team with three blocked kicks, two blocked punts and two punt return touchdowns.

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Michigan women’s basketball vs. Louisville in Sweet 16: Time, TV, stream

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Michigan women’s basketball vs. Louisville in Sweet 16: Time, TV, stream


When the Sweet 16 continues on Saturday during the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament, Michigan women’s basketball (27-6) will continue its climb to reach the Final Four for the first time.

The Wolverines, who earned the No. 2 seed in the Fort Worth 3 Region, are playing in the program’s third Sweet 16 under head coach Kim Barnes Arico.

“We committed to Michigan to do this, and we committed to Coach Arico to do it for her and for each other,” Michigan guard Olivia Olson said. “We’re accomplishing the goals we set out to, and we’re not done yet. So we’re going to keep having fun with it and keep preparing.”

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Michigan will take on No. 3 Louisville Cardinals (29-7) at 12:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

“This is my first time going to the Sweet 16, all of our first times, so I think the feeling of, we’re still dancing, we’re still playing basketball, it’s a great feeling,” Louisville guard Taj Roberts said.

The winner from Saturday’s matchup will play in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 30, for the right to advance to the Final Four.

What time is Michigan vs. Louisville?

  • Date: Saturday, March 28
  • Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Dickies Arena (Fort Worth, Texas)

The Michigan Wolverines will play the Louisville Cardinals in the Sweet 16 round of the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 28, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Michigan vs. Louisville: TV, streaming



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Morez Johnson Jr. NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land

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Morez Johnson Jr. NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land


The 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament is down to its Sweet 16 and we’ll have a Final Four by Sunday evening. For half of the college stars taking the court this weekend, it’s one final opportuniy to impress NBA teams with their play at full game speed when the lights are brightest as this year’s draft class comes into focus.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft, Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr.  is expected to go in the first round. Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the big man’s draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN’s projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

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Morez Johnson Jr. 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 25 overall, Los Angeles Lakers

Kalbrosky’s Analysis:

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best, most underrated two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson’s shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should find minutes at the next level.

See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here

Morez Johnson Jr. player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

  • Position: Forward-Center
  • Current Team: Michigan
  • 13.1 points per game
  • 7.2 rebounds per game
  • 1.1 assists per game
  • 62.8% field goal percentage
  • 37.9% three-point field goal percentage

Los Angeles Lakers 2026 projected draft picks



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Woman struck, fatally injured, while walking on the Lodge Freeway, state police say

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Woman struck, fatally injured, while walking on the Lodge Freeway, state police say



A pedestrian was struck and died of her injuries early Friday on the Lodge Freeway in Detroit. 

Emergency dispatchers started to get calls about 2:30 a.m. about someone who was walking along the Lodge, and then were notified that the person had been struck by a vehicle, the Michigan State Police reported. 

When troopers arrived, they found multiple cars stopped along the freeway, and people standing around a woman who was severely injured. 

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Detroit EMS pronounced the woman dead at the scene, state police said. She has not yet been identified. 

The driver who struck the woman did not stay at the scene. 

“Troopers are currently using technology that is available in the area to identify the vehicle involved,” MSP F/Lt. Mike Shaw said. 

The Lodge Freeway, also known as M-10, was closed at about 2:46 a.m. Friday between Chicago Boulevard / Hamilton Avenue and Clairmount Street for the investigation and emergency assistance, according to Michigan Department of Transportation reports. The Lodge was reported back open at 6:05 a.m.  

Michigan Department of Transportation traffic reports are at the MI Drive site. 

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State police said their investigation is continuing. Those who witnessed the crash or have other information are asked to call the MSP Metro South Post at 734-287-5000 or Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 800-SPEAK-UP. 



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