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Coffman to Start at QB as UCLA’s Iamaleava Out

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 11:08 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Michigan State Starts Freshman

Michigan State will start true freshman Kayd Coffman at quarterback vs No. 9 UCLA on Oct. 24, 2026.
Alessio Milivojevic is out with an undisclosed injury per the team’s availability report.
Coffman becomes Michigan State’s first true-freshman starter at quarterback since Jeff Smoker in 2000.
UCLA is a 16½-point favorite with an 83% win probability.
UCLA starter Nico Iamaleava is out for the season with a knee injury.

Summary

UCLA Grants Free

UCLA grants students free admission to football and men’s and women’s basketball games.
UCLA averaged 32,978 fans per home game across three Rose Bowl contests.
Rose Bowl stadium seats about 81,258, with tarps covering the upper end-zone sections.
Interim AD Tim Harris uses scanned gate tickets for transparent attendance counts.
Coach Bob Chesney is the first UCLA head coach to win his first six games.

History

Historical Context

In 2000, Michigan State installed true-freshman quarterback Jeff Smoker, leading the Spartans to a 31–28 victory over Northwestern. That season, Smoker threw for 2,500 yards, while head coach Bobby Williams recorded a 6-6 record and a $12 million athletic budget. Similarly, the 2026 Spartans will start true freshman Kayd Coffman against No. 9 UCLA, while Bruins grant free admission under interim AD Tim Harris. These moves echo past attempts to boost fan engagement and on-field daring, suggesting universities may prioritize youthful talent and ticket incentives to sustain revenue amid fluctuating attendance.

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Michigan State Starts Freshman

Michigan State will start true freshman Kayd Coffman at quarterback vs No. 9 UCLA on Oct. 24, 2026.
Alessio Milivojevic is out with an undisclosed injury per the team’s availability report.
Coffman becomes Michigan State’s first true-freshman starter at quarterback since Jeff Smoker in 2000.
UCLA is a 16½-point favorite with an 83% win probability.
UCLA starter Nico Iamaleava is out for the season with a knee injury.

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