Michigan State football: Trio of Spartans affected by proposed rule change

On Tuesday, three Michigan State football players saw their chances for an extra year of eligibility jump up. It was announced that FBS coaches had unanimously agreed to a recommendation that the maximum games played to maintain a redshirt as nine instead of the current four.

With the recent coaching changes, there have been quite a few players that burned their redshirt year, or missing time makes them eligible for another redshirt year retroactively. The key player this would affect is true junior running back Brandon Tullis.

Tullis played in eight games during the 2024 season with Jonathan Smith, recording a carry in three games and special teams action in all eight. In most circumstances, that is a clearly “burnt” redshirt and would result in Tullis being a “four-and-done” player. However, with the rule change proposing that the NCAA extend it to nine games, Tullis could appeal for his freshman season to be a redshirt. That would give the now-junior a third season remaining in his eligibility clock.

Two other Michigan State football players affected

Michigan State football would also have two more players gain a year back retroactively by this ruling, albeit due to medical hardships players faced.

Andrew Brinson IV is the first of these players affected. The Florida native played in five games in 2024, with the staff making a controversial decision to burn his redshirt during the second half of the season finale, despite the Spartans trailing by three possessions. However, he “gained” the year back due to a preseason upper body injury that forced him to miss 2025.

Under the new ruling, Brinson IV could claim 2024 as a regular redshirt, with 2025 being a medical redshirt.

Similarly, redshirt junior tight end Brennan Parachek falls in the same boat. Parachek played eight games as a true freshman in 2023, before playing all of 2024 and then missing eight games in 2025 with various injuries. Currently, the NCAA is allowing players that miss eight games in a season to get a medical redshirt.

As a result, 2023 becomes a regular redshirt for Parachek, along with 2025 becoming a medical redshirt season.

This rule could also apply to Malik Spencer, who played in five games as a freshman, but he seems content to be heading to the NFL Draft process.

A few other Spartans in the portal could see that rule retroactively apply to them as well, namely Justin Denson Jr. (who has committed to Purdue, and depending on if his matters away from football meant injury) and Makhi Frazier.

A few other redshirt status notes

Brady Pretzlaff is also under this ruling, but he should be free to apply for a medical redshirt for last season with only three games played. Similarly, Caleb Gash (one game played in 2025) and Luka Vincic (two games) are in the same situation as Pretzlaff. Jayden Savoury missed eight games in 2025, but the NCAA ruling is that players must take a regular redshirt before being able to enact a medical redshirt for a season.

Anelu Lafaele could be affected by this ruling, too, but he played in five games during 2025. Check back for more updates. Based on the NCAA traditionally wanting a redshirt to happen before a medical redshirt occurs, this might not affect the young EDGE.

As a reminder, this is only a proposed rule, and the NCAA would have to “okay” it before it goes into effect. This will likely be voted upon in April.