It’s a big week for Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith and the Spartans.
Michigan State has lost four straight games, but that could be forgiven if he can secure a win over No. 25 Michigan. It’s not going to be a simple task, however, as the Spartans open as two-touchdown underdogs and Michigan is coming off a big win over Washington at home.
The Wolverines bounced back from a tough loss to USC while Michigan State hasn’t won a game since losing by two touchdowns in Los Angeles.
In the pre-Mark Dantonio era, Michigan State fans would have said that they could go 1-11 as long as that win was against Michigan. Dantonio changed the expectations and now beating Michigan is a must. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened since 2021 under Mel Tucker, and the Spartans probably should have won in 2024, but they fumbled away chances to pick up the rivalry victory.
While a win over Michigan wouldn’t automatically qualify the season as a success, it would work wonders for the team’s confidence, and it could potentially push the Spartans toward a bow berth.
Smith agrees. He admitted that a win over Michigan can change the season.
Jonathan Smith: "I know it can change our season, winning that game. That is why it is the most meaningful game of the year."
— Emmett Matasovsky (@E_Matasovsky57) October 20, 2025
While it’s not going to magically fix everything wrong with the program, it could catapult this team to the postseason. A 4-4 record with nothing but winnable games remaining could spell the first bowl berth since 2021 which would be huge for the program.
The Spartans do need to win this weekend in order to keep the program from completely crumbling under Smith, and he knows that. The pressure is on.