The 2025 Michigan State football season has gone from bad to worse. After a 3-0 start, the Spartans lost to USC on the road by 14 points before gifting Nebraska a win after holding a second-half lead. Then, Jonathan Smith’s Spartans were dismantled at home by 1-4 UCLA on homecoming after jumping out to a quick 7-0 lead.
UCLA would go on to out-score Michigan State 38-6 from that point on.
The Spartans are in a bad place right now, and it starts at the top. Smith has had some tough questions to answer this week about his future, but he’s remaining focused on the team.
However, the team may slip out of his fingers soon if he doesn’t right the ship — as soon as this weekend, reportedly.
According to Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch, Smith could be gone as early as this Sunday after the Indiana game. On Tuesday’s Spartan Speak, he said that he would be surprised if Smith was the coach for Hate Week if things “go really badly” this week at Indiana.
Graham Couch on Spartan Speak today:
— Moneybagg (@MoneybaggH0E) October 14, 2025
“If things go really badly this week, I would be a little surprised if he’s the coach next week” pic.twitter.com/Vq2gve9Y3Q
That would mean a lifeless blowout loss to the Hoosiers could signal the end of the Smith era which hasn’t even lasted two full years yet. It’s become more common to fire coaches before two full seasons are through, especially if no progress has been made.
It seems like Michigan State is in that spot currently, especially with a new athletic director.
J Batt will have a tough decision to make on Saturday, assuming Michigan State loses to Indiana which looks like the best team in the country this season. If the Spartans show fight and keep it close, however, it sounds like he’ll at least stick around for the Michigan game.
If the Spartans are blown out, we could have an interim coach for the Michigan game for the second time in three years.