Michigan State Football: The Jonathan Smith Era Hangs by a Thread
In a season marred by disappointment and mounting losses, Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith faces an increasingly precarious future after another deflating defeat. The Spartans fell 28-10 to Penn State on Saturday in front of over 61,000 home fans at Spartan Stadium, extending their losing streak to seven games and effectively ending any slim hopes of salvaging the 2024 campaign. This latest setback follows a troubling pattern, marking the second time this season that Michigan State has lost at home to a Big Ten program led by an interim head coach, reminiscent of their 38-13 defeat to UCLA in October.
The numbers paint a grim picture for Smith’s tenure in East Lansing. With a current record of 3-7 overall and a winless 0-7 in Big Ten play, the second-year coach has compiled just three wins against fourteen losses during his time at Michigan State. His situation is further complicated by the program’s recent history—Michigan State had to vacate five wins from the 2024 season due to recruiting violations that occurred during previous coach Mel Tucker’s tenure. This administrative setback, though not of Smith’s making, has only intensified the scrutiny surrounding the program’s direction under his leadership.
Speculation about Smith’s job security has become a prominent topic in college football circles, with many observers believing his dismissal is now a matter of “when” rather than “if.” Cory Linsner of Spartans Wire articulated this sentiment, noting that while an immediate firing announcement seems unlikely, the decision has likely been made behind closed doors. “With the loss to Penn State, and the Spartans failing to become bowl eligible for the fourth straight year, any chance left to save his job is over,” Linsner wrote. The analyst pointed out that Smith has had multiple opportunities in recent weeks to make a compelling case for retention but has been unable to deliver the wins needed to change the narrative.
The coaching carousel rumors have already begun swirling, with former LSU head coach Brian Kelly emerging as a potential high-profile replacement candidate. Such speculation reflects both the significance of the Michigan State position within college football’s landscape and the administration’s likely desire to make a splash with their next hire. At 46 years old, Smith arrived at Michigan State with promise and potential, but the results on the field have failed to materialize in a conference that becomes increasingly competitive with each passing season.
Michigan State’s remaining schedule offers little comfort, with a road game against 21st-ranked Iowa followed by a season finale at home against Maryland. With bowl eligibility mathematically eliminated following the Penn State defeat, these final contests serve only as opportunities for pride and potential momentum heading into what appears to be an inevitable coaching transition. The lack of postseason possibilities further highlights the program’s recent struggles, as they’ll miss bowl eligibility for a fourth consecutive season—a troubling stretch for a program that once regularly competed for Big Ten championships under former coach Mark Dantonio.
The broader context of Michigan State’s situation reflects the harsh realities of modern college football, where patience for rebuilding projects has diminished considerably. Smith inherited a program in transition following the Tucker era’s tumultuous end, but the competitive demands of the expanded Big Ten conference and the financial investments made by the university create expectations that transcend traditional rebuilding timelines. As the Spartans play out the string on this disappointing season, attention increasingly turns to what comes next—a critical coaching search that could determine whether Michigan State can reclaim its place among the Big Ten’s competitive programs or face a more extended period in the conference’s lower tier.
