Michigan State Fires Coach Jonathan Smith After Two Seasons

Michigan State University has fired head football coach Jonathan Smith after two seasons, ending his tenure with the Spartans amid a disappointing record and ongoing program challenges.

The decision, reported by multiple sources close to the program, came on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Michigan State secured a 38-28 victory over Maryland at Ford Field in Detroit to close out the 2024 season. That win marked the Spartans' first Big Ten victory of the year and snapped an eight-game losing streak, but it was not enough to save Smith's job. The 46-year-old coach, who signed a seven-year contract worth more than $33 million before the 2024 season, will receive a buyout of approximately that amount upon departure.

Smith's teams finished with an overall record of 9-15 during his time in East Lansing, missing bowl eligibility in both seasons. The Spartans started his first year with a 5-7 mark, including five non-conference wins that were later vacated as part of an NCAA punishment tied to a prior investigation involving Smith's predecessor, Mel Tucker. This season, Michigan State went 4-8, opening with victories over Western Michigan, Boston College, and Youngstown State before...