PAT FITZGERALD DEFENDS CONNOR STALIONS POST ON MICHIGAN RIVALRY

Michigan State have appointed Pat Fitzgerald as head coach, and the in-state rivalry with Michigan has already shown signs of renewed intensity. Fitzgerald has adopted a habit of referring to Michigan as "the team in Ann Arbor" rather than by name. Connor Stalions, a former figure associated with Michigan, posted on X to praise Fitzgerald's approach. Stalions wrote that Fitzgerald's refusal to say "Michigan" was "the little things that'll rejuvenate the rivalry" and added that he supported the hire.

Kyle Whittingham now leads Michigan following his move from Utah, and his arrival brought defensive tackle coach Larry Black to the programme. Black extended an offer to four-star defensive lineman Xavier Muhammad in February 2026, though Muhammad subsequently announced a transfer decision after leaving his secondary school. Fitzgerald replaced Jonathan Smith, who was sacked in 2025 and had been noted for treating the Michigan State–Michigan fixture as "just a game." Fitzgerald previously coached at Northwestern before returning to the sidelines with what has been described as a more confrontational approach to the rivalry.

The Michigan State–Michigan rivalry previously reached its most heated point during the Mark Dantonio and Jim Harbaugh eras. Dantonio's public description of Michigan State as a "little brother" programme contributed to a period of significant animosity between the two sides. That period culminated in criminal charges against eight Michigan State players for assault involving helmets and a $100,000 fine levied against the team. Fitzgerald's appointment has raised expectations among supporters on both sides that the rivalry will return to that level of competition.