Things got scary in a hurry for Michigan State football on Saturday, Sept. 20, when linebacker Wayne Matthew III had to get carted off on a backboard in the second quarter against USC in Los Angeles.
But there’s some good news.
After going to get checked out at LA General Hospital, the linebacker flew back to Michigan with the team last night, MSU said, a sign that he was at least OK enough to leave the hospital and get on a flight, despite no further update on his condition.
Michigan State also said last night that his motor skills were in tact after he was strapped down to the backboard as a precaution for a head or neck injury.
“What I was just told quickly that, going through all the thorough evaluation, took him over to the hospital, positive signs but they’re looking for confirmation on tests and things. But positive signs, that’s what I was quickly told,” Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith said after the game.
It was an emotional moment for the Spartans as Matthews laid on the field at LA Memorial Coliseum and was evaluated by team doctors. It quickly became clear that it was much more serious than a typical injury evaluation as players from both teams took a knee and anxiously watched as Matthews was carted off.
Per MSU, LB Wayne Matthews III flew back with the team after Saturday’s game at USC. The team landed this morning in Lansing.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 21, 2025
Aside from the emotional toll it took, it was also a major football development for the Spartans. MSU linebacker Jordan Hall was ejected earlier in the half for a targeting call and Matthews had been tasked with wearing the “green dot,” meaning he was relaying the play calls to the defense before the injury. In the first play after the injury, the Trojans scored a touchdown.
Michigan State did a decent job making adjustments without two top linebackers after halftime, though the Trojans still scored 21 more points and iced the Spartans out, even as the offense came alive.
In the end, Jordan Maiava and the Trojans were just too much for the shorthanded Spartans, winning 45-31 to hand MSU its first loss of the season.
Andrew Birkle is an assistant sports editor for the Free Press. Contact him at abirkle@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wayne Matthews III injury update: Michigan State LB flew home with team
