Michigan State is expected to join the list of college football teams looking for a new coach.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel , Michigan State has plans to fire head coach Jonathan Smith after just two seasons and 24 games.

He led the team to a dismal 1-8 in the Big Ten this season, and a 4-8 record overall.

The brutal season marks the university’s fourth consecutive losing year, which is a stretch that hasn’t been seen since 1983, when it spanned across five years (1979-83). The historic mark likely forced Michigan State’s hand.

Smith will be owed $33 million of what was a seven-year deal.

Head coach Jonathan Smith of the Michigan State Spartans walks the sidelines in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes on November 22, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. Getty Image

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