Bartholomae promises more resources for Fitzgerald at Michigan State

The Spartans’ new athletic director renewed a paused financial process after a 2-3 start, but the amount and timing remain unknown.

The Pate State Wire DeskVerified reporting · full source list below · monitored by an editor

● Confirmed
OCT 10, 2026

The Pate State · Wire Graphic

2-3

Michigan State’s current record

14-1

Combined record of Notre Dame, Nebraska and Wisconsin

4-8 (1-8)

2025 overall and Big Ten records

01 · The NewsMore Resources for Fitzgerald

On Wednesday, Michigan State athletic director Dan Bartholomae said the school would provide first-year coach Pat Fitzgerald with more football resources despite a three-game losing streak.

“Football must be resourced to be competitive immediately, and they will be,” Bartholomae wrote in a letter to alumni, students and donors.

The need is visible on a thin roster. Running back Cam Edwards is out for the season, and linebacker Jordan Hall has missed two games with separate injuries. Michigan State is 2-3 after going 4-8 overall and 1-8 in the Big Ten in 2025.

The Spartans lost 27-10 at Notre Dame on Sept. 19, 31-13 to Nebraska on Sept. 26 and 31-3 at Wisconsin on Oct. 3. Those opponents had a combined 14-1 record through that stretch, while Michigan State struggled to create explosive plays and prevent sacks.

Bartholomae had already said after the Notre Dame loss that he believed Michigan State had a strong coach for the future.

Joe and Julie Serra gave Michigan State $10 million to help upgrade Spartan Stadium, but the school has not detailed how or when the additional football resources for Fitzgerald will arrive.

Fitzgerald said July 29 that the program’s financial direction had been paused while Michigan State searched for an athletic director. The school hired Bartholomae on Aug. 17 after J Batt left for Kentucky.

Michigan State hosts Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 10. Tom Izzo, the longtime basketball coach, also backed Fitzgerald at Big Ten basketball media day.

“I think you're gonna see Pat Fitzgerald – you know, we've struggled a little bit lately – but he's gonna get it done there. I have no ifs, ands or buts about that. And being the big football fan I am, I hope he gets it,” Izzo said Thursday.

02 · The StakesWhy It Matters

Michigan State is betting that sustained investment can make Fitzgerald’s rebuild work without another coaching reset. The letter restarted a financial process paused during the athletic-director transition, but it did not specify the amount, timing or form of the additional support or formally guarantee Fitzgerald’s job.

03 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching

Can the offense create explosive plays?

Michigan State struggled to create explosive plays during its three-game losing streak.

Can the defense keep the quarterback upright?

Michigan State struggled to prevent sacks against Notre Dame, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Sourcing & standards: Reporting via Yahoo Sports. Produced by the Pate State Wire Desk under the site's verification rules, monitored by an editor. Corrections are timestamped, never silent.