When Michigan State kicks off its season Friday night in East Lansing against visiting Western Michigan, it won't just be the start of another fall campaign. It'll be a litmus test for Jonathan Smith, who kicks off his second year as head coach of the Spartans.

After his team lost four of its last five games and finished 5-7 in 2024, Smith is embracing the challenge of goals that include bowl eligibility and beyond for a program hungry for relevance.

"Our guys are focused in their prep of Western Michigan," Smith said. "This is our first opportunity. We're only guaranteed 12 of those (games). Obviously, we want to be playing more than 12, but we're only guaranteed 12."

A great deal of the Spartans' success will depend on the improvement of quarterback Aidan Chiles. He followed Smith fro

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