Another week, another interesting way to lose in disappointing fashion for head coach Jonathan Smith and Michigan State football.
The Spartans roared back from a 10-0 halftime deficit to take a 17-10 lead with just about two minutes left, but Minnesota went down to tie the game with an impressive two-minute drill, and then won in overtime, 23-20.
Before that end result, though, didn’t come without controversy.
During Michigan State’s overtime possession, Alessio Milivojevic threw a corner route to Rod Bullard in the end zone that fell incomplete, but there was a flag sitting at around the 5-yard-line that was for a defensive pass interference. The penalty was called, the refs spotted the ball after the penalty inside the 10, and both teams lined up to play.
Seconds later, the referee got back on the mic and said that there was no foul for defensive holding or pass interference, moving the ball back and making it fourth-and-3. Michigan State had to settle for a field goal, meaning that a subsequent Minnesota touchdown would win it.
And it did, even though the Minnesota ball-carrier was out of bounds just short of the goal line — but apparently a review just wasn’t good enough to make the right call and it was upheld.
Fans were irate, former players were disgusted, and the coaches on the field seemed bewildered by the call, but after the game when he was questioned about it, Smith gave a disappointing response.
MSU coach Jonathan Smith says it is "tough to totally describe" the loss to Minnesota. Asked about the PI call, explanation was "there's not just one referee out there." Said one ref came in late with a strong opinion and they picked it up. "I felt it was late" with the flag.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) November 1, 2025
Smith gave a very mild response to a loss that could very well cost him his job when the officiating was egregiously poor in overtime. That just feels like a response from a defeated coach who knows his fate. It’s that type of response and “aw, shucks” attitude that got him in this situation.
I still firmly believe Smith is a good coach and he’s a good person, but the fit at Michigan State just isn’t there. Fans would have loved some fire in that post-game presser. At least act like it was heartbreaking.