"In this landscape of college football, that's always a solid question," Smith said when asked how confident he is that he and his staff will return to MSU next year. "College coaching nowadays, it's a week-to-week thing. I'm still really confident in the people that are in the building right now."

Following this statement, Smith said that nothing has been communicated to him from MSU leadership about his future. 

The leadership in MSU’s building is primarily new. Former athletic director Alan Haller – the same athletic director who hired Smith – was fired in May of 2025, and replacing him was J Batt, who was hired by MSU in June of 2025. Batt and MSU have yet to announce a decision on Smith’s future, making MSU one of the only power four programs to not announce whether or not it's keeping its head coach. 

Under new leadership and coupled with defeat and the growing impatience of the fanbase, Smith seems to have everything against him. In these moments of adversity, Smith says that he continues to look forward. 

"Again, you go back to this approach, and you have to understand the landscape [of college football] that you're in," Smith said. "So that's what we're locked in on, tomorrow's practice and toward this upcoming game."

On Nov. 25, 2023, Smith was hired as MSU’s 26th head coach. He left his position at Oregon State, where he compiled a 34–35 record and helped turn around a Beaver program that had struggled for decades. The hope was that he would do the same at MSU.

However, a turnaround for MSU has yet to come, and Smith’s Spartan tenure has so far been a forgettable ride. Over 23 games, the second-year head coach has gone 8–15, including a 3–14 record against Big Ten opponents and a 0–2 mark against rival Michigan. MSU has yet to record a winning season under Smith, just as it has yet to reach a bowl game.

This season, Smith and the Spartans are 3-8 and suffering from an eight-game losing streak. It’s been a streak that has stretched for over two months, making fans grow restless of not just defeat, but of Smith and his coaching style, and calls for his termination have sparked all over social media, creating a whirlwind of rumors.

Despite the rumors and a seat that grows hotter with each loss, Smith has kept his head down, continuing to coach a team that continues to show fight game in and game out. He expects that this Saturday against Maryland, that fight will still be there — not just from his team, but from him as well.

"Eight straight [losses] is a tough road, there's no other way to say, it’s tough," Smith said. "And what's the alternative? You just quit and run? You start blaming others? No. We’re keeping the main theme this week, deeply believing in our guys, and we want to come out on the right side of the score board. That's the approach this week."

This week, Smith will have one more chance to end up on the right side of the score board. It may be his final chance dressed in green and white. On Saturday at Ford Field, MSU (3-8, 0-8) will take on Maryland (4-7, 1-7) at 7:00 p.m. The game will air on Fox.