After wrapping up a 5-7 first season with Michigan State football and missing out on a bowl game, Jonathan Smith knew he had to get right back to work to ensure that doesn't happen again.
Smith hit the portal hard and landed some veteran talent there and he closed on a slightly underwhelming recruiting class, but you can't expect much better from a program that's in a "prove it" stage for recruits. He has to put a solid product on the field before top prospects can buy back into Michigan State -- that's just how it goes.
Michigan State now heads into the second year of the Smith era with elevated expectations, especially with Aidan Chiles entering his second season as a full-time starting quarterback.
Smith learned a lot from year one and he's confident things will improve in year two.
"Going into year two, we're going to be better in a lot of areas."
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) April 18, 2025
Jonathan Smith reflects on his first year as head coach and his confidence in @MSU_Football's development as they approach the season ahead 👇#B1GToday x #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/zYpJCiVWNY
While Smith isn't the same rah-rah guy that Mel Tucker was nor is he as intense as Mark Dantonio was, he is one of the smartest football minds in the country and there's a reason he was considered the best coaching hire by multiple college football experts last offseason. He knows how to turn a program around and he's doing it his way.
Could it be going faster and could the program have more juice? Sure, but Smith has earned the benefit of the doubt from his successful stint at Oregon State.
If Smith says that Michigan State is going to be better in a lot of areas this season, I believe that. The roster has plenty of talent, it's just about getting these guys to perform at the level of which they are capable. That's the key to success in 2025, and I think Smith has that figured out.