For Saturday’s game against the Michigan State Spartans will be starting a backup against the No. 9 UCLA Bruins with Michigan State announcing that starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic being ruled out for the Week 8 matchup.

On the season, Milivojevic has thrown for 1,263 yards in seven games with seven touchdown passes and three picks, adding one extra touchdown on the ground.

Michigan State will now be starting true freshman Kayd Coffman against the very talented UCLA defense. Coffman has yet to throw a pass at the NCAA level but will have a big test ahead of them, facing a UCLA defense that has forced 19 turnovers so far this season.

Spartans Wire writer Andrew Brewster has more about the last-second change at quarterback for Michigan State.

“On the one hand, this might be deflating news for MSU fans who are still waiting to see the Spartans get their first Big Ten win of the season. On the other hand, with the Spartans effectively already out of bowl contention, it will give the team a chance to evaluate a promising young player and give him some live game reps to show what he can do,” Brewster wrote. “While the assumption is that Alessio Milivojevic will return next year and reclaim his starting quarterback spot, in this day and age, you can't assume any player will return year-to-year, so it can't hurt to know what your younger players can do in live game action.”

This isn’t UCLA’s first time facing a backup quarterback this season under new defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler, as the Bruins faced the Oregon Ducks without starter Dante Moore. 

UCLA was already significant favorites for Saturday’s game with Milivojevic at quarterback, with a backup quarterback in, the Bruins should be able to handle business for their homecoming game.