"Remember, MSU has actually made the College Football Playoff, unlike programs like USC, Florida, Miami and Texas A&M. The Spartans had an AP top-10 finish as recently as 2021, when they finished 11-2 and won the Peach Bowl after awarding then-coach Mel Tucker a record contract. Even after Tucker's tenure ended in disgrace, Michigan State aggressively plucked Smith, who briefly had Oregon State in the CFP conversation in 2023, to lead its program."
"But Smith's tenure started slowly last season and, after a 3-0 start to the 2025 season, veered sharply with four consecutive Big Ten losses. The concerns about Smith being a total outsider who had never coached East of Montana became magnified. The athletics director who hired Smith, Alan Haller, was fired this spring, replaced by J Batt, who had no connection to him."
"Michigan State hired Batt to improve its financial structure, which will help football climb up the Big Ten pecking order. The Spartans might not win two league titles in three years any time soon, like they did in 2013 and 2015, but they have the ingredients to be in the top half of the league and occasionally chase CFP appearances. MSU also might need its next coach to be more connected to the school or the region."
Michigan State fired Jonathan Smith after he compiled a 4-15 record. Smith began 2025 with a 3-0 start but then lost four consecutive Big Ten games. Concerns grew about Smith's outsider status and lack of East-of-Montana coaching experience. The athletics director who hired Smith, Alan Haller, was replaced by J Batt, who had no prior connection to Smith. Michigan State previously reached the College Football Playoff and finished AP top-10 in 2021 under Mel Tucker. Michigan State seeks financial and structural improvements under Batt to return the program to competitiveness and may prefer a coach more connected to the region.
Read at ESPN.com
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