“The 2025 football season has not lived up to our shared standards for Michigan State Football. 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,” said athletic director J Batt in a statement released by MSU.

Frustration had been mounting among fans, headlined by NBA Hall of Famer and MSU alum Magic Johnson, and Batt recognized it was time for a change.

"It’s been hard for me to cheer for my Michigan State football team. They are 0-5 in the Big Ten, the offense is lacking imagination, and the team overall looks uninspired," Johnson posted on X on Oct. 27 after MSU’s loss to Michigan.

Big-name alumni were not the only indication of a fan base ready for change. The sparse crowd of 30,317 that showed up at Ford Field on Saturday for the season finale made its feelings clear. A group of shirtless fans gathered in an upper corner of the stadium and started "Fire Smith!" chants that echoed throughout the stadium.

The chants were not far-fetched, either. MSU appeared on the verge of blowing another game as Maryland ripped off a 47-yard gain on third-and-8 early in the fourth quarter, having already outscored the Spartans 21–7 in the half to erase what had been a 24–7 MSU lead.

The Spartans ultimately pulled out a 38-28 win — their lone Big Ten win of the season — avoiding their first winless conference slate since 1958. But by the game's end Smith still had no idea what 2026 would look like.

"We have continued to converse through the week. I'm sure we’ll begin talking again in the coming days," Smith said after the game regarding his discussions with Batt.

When asked directly whether he would be back for 2026, Smith responded: "Don’t have that."

The 46-year-old coach, who signed a seven-year, $52.85 million deal on Nov. 25, 2023, will still be owed $33.5 million to buy out the remaining five years and two months on his contract.

He initially appeared to be a strong fit for a rebuilding Spartan program hoping to return to national relevance and compete for Big Ten titles. Smith left his alma mater, Oregon State, with a 34-35 overall record, capped by an 8-4 season in 2023.

In six years in Corvallis, he rebuilt the Beavers from the ground up, producing three winning seasons after a 2-10 debut in 2018. His best year came in 2022, when the team finished 10-3 and won its bowl game.

Calling Smith’s two seasons at MSU a disappointment would be an understatement, but the coaching search is officially underway. The move gives Batt an opportunity to bring in his own hire, as Smith was appointed by former athletic director Alan Haller.

Once a new coach is hired, it will be MSU’s fourth head coach since 2019 — a significant amount of turnover for a program that reached the College Football Playoff just over a decade ago.

“Michigan State football has a proud history, a history that includes National Championships, Rose Bowl victories, Big Ten Championships, and a College Football Playoff appearance,” Batt said. “The standards for our program have not changed. It is our expectation that we compete for championships.