It was supposed to be the "climb." That’s what Jonathan Smith called it when he arrived from Corvallis. But by the time the dust settled on the 2025 season, the michigan state standings football situation looked more like a freefall than a mountain trek.
Spartan fans are a patient bunch, mostly. They lived through the end of the Dantonio era and the chaotic, expensive collapse of the Mel Tucker years. But 4-8? That wasn't in the brochure. Especially not with a 1-8 conference record that left them buried at the bottom of the Big Ten, tied with Maryland and only technically "ahead" of a winless-in-conference Purdue.
Honestly, the way it ended was just weird.
The High Hopes and the Hard Reality
The season actually started like a dream. Three games in, Michigan State was 3-0. They’d beaten Western Michigan, survived a wild 42-40 double-overtime thriller against Boston College, and handled Youngstown State.
Aidan Chiles looked like the real deal. Nick Marsh was catching everything in sight. People were starting to whisper about bowl games. Maybe even a sneaky upset in the meat of the schedule.
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Then the wheels didn't just come off; they disintegrated.
Between September 20 and November 22, the Spartans didn't win a single game. Not one. They lost eight straight. It wasn't just that they were losing; it was the way they were losing. They’d jump out to a lead—like they did against Indiana and UCLA—and then just vanish. It was like the team collectively forgot how to play football the moment the second quarter started. Against Indiana, they led 10-7. They lost 38-13. Against UCLA, they led 7-0. They lost 38-13.
The michigan state standings football trajectory was a flat line across the bottom of the Big Ten charts.
Why Jonathan Smith Is Out
If you’re looking for the exact moment the Jonathan Smith era ended, it was probably Sunday, November 30, 2025. Athletics Director Alan Haller—who’s had to make far too many of these calls lately—announced Smith wouldn't be back for 2026.
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It feels fast, right? Two years? But the numbers don't lie. Smith went 9-15 overall.
- Recruiting Woes: In a world where Oregon and Ohio State are stacking five-stars like cordwood, MSU was ranking 14th out of 18 Big Ten teams in recruiting.
- The Portal Problem: While other teams used the transfer portal to plug holes, MSU seemed to be a sieve. Star running back Makhi Frazier, who was basically the only bright spot in the backfield with 520 yards, checked out for the portal almost immediately after the season ended.
- Sideline Energy: Fans grew tired of Smith’s "stoic" demeanor. When your team is getting outscored 31-0 in the second half, people want to see a coach who looks like he cares. They wanted fire; they got a guy who looked like he was waiting for a bus.
A Brutal Big Ten Landscape
Let’s be fair for a second. The Big Ten in 2025 was a meat grinder. Look at the final michigan state standings football context within the league.
Indiana—yes, Indiana—went 15-0 and won the conference. Ohio State and Oregon were juggernauts. Even the "middle" class of the Big Ten like Iowa and Minnesota were disciplined and physical. Michigan State, by comparison, felt soft. They were 89th in the country in scoring and 104th in points allowed. You can't win in this conference when you're giving up nearly 30 points a game while your own offense is sputtering in the red zone.
The Spartans finished 17th out of 18 teams. Only Purdue, who went 0-9 in the conference, prevented MSU from holding the absolute basement.
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The Pat Fitzgerald Experiment?
The news cycle didn't stay quiet for long. Almost immediately after Smith was let go, the rumors started about Pat Fitzgerald. Yes, that Pat Fitzgerald.
He was officially introduced in early December. It’s a move that has split the fanbase right down the middle. Half the people think his "toughness" and Big Ten experience are exactly what the doctor ordered to fix the culture. The other half are still wary of the baggage he brings from Northwestern.
Regardless of how you feel about the hire, the goal for 2026 is simple: stop the bleeding.
What’s Next for Spartan Fans?
If you're tracking the michigan state standings football future, here is the reality. The roster is going to look completely different in August. With the transfer portal open and a new coaching staff in place, expect a "reset" that makes the 2024 reset look small.
Actionable Steps for the Offseason:
- Watch the Portal: Keep an eye on the defensive line. MSU’s inability to stop the run (allowing 4.5 yards per carry) was the primary reason they couldn't hold leads.
- Quarterback Battle: Aidan Chiles showed flashes, but he was benched for Alessio Milivojevic late in the year. Whether Fitzgerald brings in a veteran or sticks with the youth will tell us everything about his win-now timeline.
- Spring Game Attendance: The vibe in East Lansing is low right now. The turnout for the spring game will be a major indicator of whether the community is buying into the new leadership.
The 2025 season was a bitter pill. Finishing 4-8 with a lone conference win over Maryland in the season finale (a 38-28 win at Ford Field) is not the "Spartan Way." But in the era of NIL and the 12-team playoff, things can change fast. They just have to start actually climbing the mountain instead of sliding down it.
Track the official scholarship numbers and portal entries via the MSU Athletics site to see who stays through the coaching transition.