A day after announcing the termination of Jonathan Smith, Michigan State and its football program announces the hiring of its new head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Head men's basketball coach Tom Izzo spoke on Monday about the firing of Jonathan Smith and the outlook for a future head football coach.
Michigan State fired head coach Jonathan Smith after a 4-8 season marked by an eight-game losing streak, growing fan frustration and public criticism from prominent alumni like Magic Johnson. The move ends Smith’s two-year tenure at 9-15 and launches another coaching search for a program now seeking its fourth head coach since 2019.
Alante “Cadillac” Brown’s 92-yard kickoff return flipped a collapsing game on its head and gave Michigan State the spark it had searched for all season. His emotional touchdown ignited a fourth-quarter response that delivered MSU its first Big Ten win and a much-needed sign of life for the program.
Michigan State beat Maryland 38–28 in a chaotic, back-and-forth game highlighted by Alante Brown’s 92-yard kickoff-return touchdown and Maryland freshman QB Malik Washington’s huge passing performance. But when Maryland had a chance to win late, MSU’s defense dominated, delivering a decisive sack on fourth down to seal the Spartans’ victory.
Through the loss and the changes and the pressure, Michigan State football head coach Jonathan Smith addresses the questions and concerns of his future as MSU's head coach.
Michigan State looked like it had finally turned a corner after a dominant third quarter, but a familiar fourth-quarter collapse erased a 10-point lead and handed Iowa a 20-17 win on a last-second field goal. The loss adds another chapter to a season defined by late-game failures, as the Spartans once again showed flashes of promise before unraveling when it mattered most.
Michigan State football and its offensive line has been anything but productive this season. It's been inefficient and inconsistent, ranks at the bottom of the FBS statically and has lost MSU game after game. In order for MSU to have a future, the offensive line must protect it.
Michigan State opened its final home game with a 57-yard jolt of energy, but the spark didn’t last. Behind an inconsistent offense, protection issues and a late collapse, the Spartans fell 28-10 to Penn State, ending their bowl hopes for the fourth straight season. Elijah Tau-Tolliver’s breakout performance kept MSU afloat, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a dominant Nittany Lion front and a inefficiency to convert on third down.
In Michigan States 28-10 loss to Penn State, its defense clawed and fought play after play. For three quarters it did this, playing with motivation and a willingness to get off the field. But when the fourth quarter began, these traits disappeared, and Penn State and its offense took advantage.
Despite a six-game losing streak, Michigan State football continues to compete at a high level, showing resilience and effort in nearly every game. From close losses against rivals Michigan and Minnesota to leadership in the locker room, the Spartans remain committed, proving they can fight through adversity while keeping their season alive.
With three games left in the 2025 football season, Michigan State still has an opportunity to finish strong. To do what they desire, the Spartans must finish games better, and it starts this Saturday against Penn State.
Michigan State football has been placed on a three-year probationary period by the NCAA after investigators found that former staff members “arranged and provided impermissible recruiting inducements and benefits and unofficial visit expenses” during the tenure of former head coach Mel Tucker.
Michigan State University partnered with Levy to manage concessions at athletic venues starting this season, but the rollout drew widespread fan criticism. Surveys and feedback described long lines, poor food quality, and overpriced options, prompting calls for improvement and healthier choices.
