Michigan State’s season ended with a 4-8 record after a late win over Maryland, leaving the program at a crossroads. Expectations were high after hiring Jonathan Smith from Oregon State; the results didn’t match.
“Michigan State plans to fire coach Jonathan Smith today. He went 1-8 in the Big Ten this season, and his overall record in two seasons was 9-15. He’s set to be owed $33 million,” reported Pete Thamel (X).
Sources: Michigan State plans to fire coach Jonathan Smith today. He went 1-8 in the Big Ten this season and his overall record in two seasons was 9-15. He's set to be owed $33 million. pic.twitter.com/M31wFM4CWi
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 30, 2025
Michigan State Fires Jonathan Smith Amid Stalled Progress
Michigan State is moving fast. Sources tell us the Spartans are parting ways with Jonathan Smith after a 4-8 season that included just one conference win. Pete Thamel first reported the news, stating that the school plans to fire the coach today.
Smith’s two-year run ended with a 9-15 overall mark and a brutal 1-8 Big Ten ledger this season, numbers that undercut any long-term pitch the program had. The reported buyout figure is eye-watering: roughly $33 million, with offset language expected to apply.
Donor pressure and a fan base running out of patience all converged. Athletic director decisions often strike a balance between optics and the timeline to regain relevance. In East Lansing, those scales tipped the other way.
Expect an immediate search for a replacement who can steady recruiting and sell a vision. The Spartans must sell to prospects, appease donors, and quiet a restive stadium. That’s a tall order in the Big Ten’s current arms race. Local outlets and national aggregators picked up the exact details within hours of Thamel’s post, underlining that this report was not an idle rumor.
The coach, who left Oregon State to try and reboot a power program, simply couldn’t deliver quickly enough. Michigan State’s fans wanted an immediate upward trajectory, but the record and the conference slate made that an impossible sell. The program now faces short-term pain for potential long-term gain. Whoever gets the job must flip culture, stabilize recruiting, and win quickly, or the cycle could repeat in East Lansing.
This move signals urgency from Michigan State’s administration and donors. The Spartans will now begin a national search to recruit and address their immediate needs. The reported $33 million buyout complicates timing and signals the price of impatience in college football.
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