Michigan State has dismissed head coach Jonathan Smith following a disappointing 1-8 Big Ten record, ending his two-season tenure with a 9-15 overall record. Athletic Director J Batt said, "The 2025 football season has not lived up to our shared standards for Michigan State Football."
Speculation has already pointed to Pat Fitzgerald as a potential successor. Batt added, "While that does not fall solely on Jonathan Smith, it's become necessary to make a coaching change in order to chart a new direction for the program," according to MSU Spartans.
Michigan State will pay about $33 million to buy out Coach Smith’s contract, covering 85% of his remaining base pay and supplemental income. The school plans to support the football program, with Batt and Guskiewicz saying, "We are committed to providing an increased level of donor investment, department resources and enhanced infrastructure to effectively and efficiently deploy those resources," as reported by Detroit Free Press. Under new NCAA rules, players can enter the transfer portal for 15 days starting five days after a new coach is hired, instead of the previous 30-day window.
