Michigan State Athletics
Michigan State opens the 2025 season Friday night at Spartan Stadium, and for all the talk about Aidan Chiles and the progress made under Jonathan Smith, the most pressing storyline heading into kickoff might just be the kicking game.
The Spartans still don’t know who will trot out first for field goals and extra points when the ball goes in the air against Western Michigan. Sophomore Tarik Ahmetbasic, a preferred walk-on who has shown plenty of leg strength, remains a game-time decision after battling through injuries in camp. Redshirt freshman Martin Connington, the highly touted scholarship kicker out of Idaho, is still “a week or two away,” according to Smith. That leaves veteran walk-on Blake Sislo, a fifth-year senior who hasn’t kicked in a game since high school, as the next man up.
“To be honest, Blake has been solid through camp,” Smith said. “Statistically, his numbers are similar to the way we were kicking with Jonathan Kim last year. We’ve got confidence in him.”
Replacing Kim is no small task. He connected on over 82% of his field goal attempts across two seasons and scored nearly a third of Michigan State’s points last year. For a program still trying to get its offense firing consistently, having stability at kicker could be the difference in close games.
Beyond special teams, the Spartans also face some lingering health questions. Long snapper Kaden Schickel is questionable, meaning true freshman Jack Wills could be thrown into the fire right away. Safety Nikai Martinez will also be a game-time decision, while tight end Jack Velling is expected to play after returning to practice last week.
Western Michigan isn’t coming in at full strength either. The Broncos will be without transfer running back Cole Cabana, a familiar name for Spartan fans. The Dexter native was once a highly recruited four-star prospect who briefly played at Michigan before bouncing to Minnesota, then landing at WMU. He was expected to be a key piece of Lance Taylor’s offense this fall, but he’ll miss the opener due to an injury suffered in camp.
History is firmly on Michigan State’s side. The Spartans are 15-2 all-time against Western Michigan, with the Broncos’ last win in the series dating all the way back to 1919. MSU has won 13 straight, including a 35-13 victory in the last matchup in 2022.
Oddsmakers have Michigan State listed as a 20.5-point favorite, and that feels about right. WMU is coming off a 6-7 season that included a bowl berth but hasn’t beaten a non-conference FBS team in the regular season since 2021. Meanwhile, the Spartans are eager to turn the page after a 5-7 campaign, leaning on Chiles’ growth at quarterback and a defense that showed signs of maturity late in the year.
“This team is excited to play,” Smith said. “There’s a maturity in how they’ve prepared. No signs of looking ahead — just focusing on the task in front of them.”
The task is simple: start fast, clean up the little things, and leave no doubt. The kicking situation is a storyline worth following, but make no mistake — Michigan State expects to walk out of Friday night 1-0.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on FS1.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
