LOS ANGELES – A week after a glut of injuries, there’s some positive news on the health front for Michigan State.
The Spartans (3-0) play at No. 25 USC (3-0, 1-0) on Saturday (11 p.m., FOX) and star receiver Nick Marsh and top running back Makhi Frazier are not listed on the pregame availability report.
Both suffered leg injuries in last week’s 41-24 win against Youngstown State and coach Jonathan Smith on Monday said their status would be determined at the end of the week. ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Friday reported both were cleared to play against the Trojans.
Michigan State will still be shorthanded in its Big Ten opener after right guard Luka Vincic and wide receiver/kickoff returner Alante Brown suffered leg injuries last week. Smith said Vincic is likely done for the season and Brown will be sidelined for a while.
Those two are among the eight Spartans listed as out for Saturday’s game at USC. In addition to previously-announced season-ending injuries to defensive backs Andrew Brinson and Caleb Gash, linebacker Brady Pretzlaff, defensive tackle Jalen Satchell, long snapper Kaden Schickel and kicker Tarik Ahmetbasic are also unavailable.
Right tackle Ashton Lepo missed last week’s game but isn’t listed on the availability report.
Michigan State is 3-0 for the second straight season under coach Jonathan Smith. It’s a homecoming for the Pasadena native and quarterback Aidan Chiles, who hails from Long Beach.