If you’re looking for a light at the end of the tunnel regarding Michigan State football, Jonathan Smith may have provided it on Monday afternoon.
During his weekly presser, Smith spoke about the current losing streak and how it’s taken a toll on him and his players, but they’re still going at it and trying to get better each week. That type of coachspeak gets exhausting, especially when a team is on an eight-game losing streak.
Fans want to hear more fire — more passion.
They also want to hear hints of change. If Smith does come back, fans will want a coaching staff overhaul with the exception of a couple guys. However, most fans want him gone.
For those who want J Batt to move on from the second-year coach following an 8-15 start to his Michigan State tenure, good news might be on the horizon. Smith provided an interesting nugget in his weekly presser, stating that he has not gotten any assurance that he’ll be back next season at Michigan State. That’s music to fans’ ears.
Jonathan Smith: "In this landscape of college football, it is a solid question" if he will be back next year. "I am still really confident in the people in the room."
— Emmett Matasovsky (@E_Matasovsky57) November 24, 2025
When asked if he was privately, yes or no, backed and assured of his job next year, he said "no."
Obviously Smith can’t make that decision on whether or not he’ll be back. That’s totally out of his hands and in Batt’s. He could technically leave for another job (Oregon State), but all signs are pointing to him sticking around as long as Batt and the Spartan athletic department will allow it.
However, the fact that he talks to Batt regularly and he has yet to give him any word that Smith is backed and assured of his job next season. That could mean something, but it could also be a nothing-burger. It could just mean that he hasn’t been told if he’s back, but he feels good about where he stands with Batt because he “deeply believes” in the guys in his locker room still.
I’m going to look at this as a positive, if you’re in the “fire Smith” crowd. He has not been told that he’ll be back, and with several underachieving programs making the decision to retain their head coaches for one more season, it feels like he would’ve been told by now.
I guess we’ll all be in the dark for another week.