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Michigan State football: Power ranking head coaching candidates after Week 7

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 14, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko runs out before the first half of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko runs out before the first half of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith walks the field before the spring showcase at Reser Stadium, Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Corvallis, Ore.Oregon State Spring Game597
Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith walks the field before the spring showcase at Reser Stadium, Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Corvallis, Ore.Oregon State Spring Game597 /

Jonathan Smith is becoming a much more popular name for Michigan State fans. The Oregon State head coach has completely turned that program around.

Don’t be scared away by his overall record of 32-32 at Oregon State, but rather look at the turnaround he has made. The Beavers were Pac-12 bottom-dwellers when he took over. They were a laughingstock. He went 2-10 in his first season, 5-7 in year two, and then 2-5 during the COVID-19 campaign. Since then, he’s 23-10.

Oregon State made their first bowl game since 2013 in 2021 as Smith led the Beavers to a 7-6 record and then won their first bowl in a decade in 2022. Oh yeah, and the Beavers went 10-3 last season with a 6-3 record in Pac-12 play, finishing No. 17 in the nation.

This year, Oregon State is even better, sitting at 6-1 to start the season with two ranked wins in the last three games. The Beavers’ only loss this season was a 38-35 thriller at then-No. 21 Washington State. They have multiple chances moving forward to make a statement and a move in the playoff race.

If the Beavers are a legit playoff contender in mid-November (they will be), we should seriously consider prying Smith away from his alma mater.

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