Everyone and their brother knows that changes need to be made within Michigan State football.
If Jonathan Smith is able to survive the 2025 season by getting Michigan State a win over Michigan and a bowl berth, he’s going to have to make some changes to his staff.
Does his offense need a fresh look? Probably. Brian Lindgren hasn’t done a remarkable job in his two years in East Lansing, and some feel that he’s holding the offense back. The defense, however, has only gotten worse over the past two seasons, and Joe Rossi finds himself squarely on the hot seat right next to Smith.
Rossi took a defense that was mediocre during the entire Mel Tucker era and made it… bad. The former Minnesota defensive coordinator can be credited with helping the Spartans land Brady Pretzlaff from Minnesota in the 2024 class, but he hasn’t done much positive outside of that.
So far this season, Michigan State has one of the worst defenses not only in the Big Ten, but in the country. The Spartans aren’t stopping anything or anyone.
They’re also not getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks which was the main issue defensively last season. Some things apparently haven’t changed, and it should cost someone their job.
A stat was posted on X by @SpartanRyan over the weekend that proves that some heads need to roll if Smith wants to remain in East Lansing long term. The team’s leader in sacks is a defensive back.
Yes, you read that right, through seven games, the team’s leader in sacks is a defensive back.
our leader in sacks is a defensive back. I’m sorry, but there’s no reason that Rossi and Wilt should have been on the plane back home. pic.twitter.com/DEPOY3Fyvn
— Ryan (@SpartanRyan) October 19, 2025
I don’t know exactly what changes need to be made whether it’s Rossi, Levi Suiaunoa, or Chad Wilt, but someone needs to be held accountable for this mess.
In no world should a defensive back be leading the team in sacks, especially when he has two (!!) through seven games. That’s inexcusable for the entire defensive unit, and especially the defensive line which hasn’t shown a ton of improvement since the new staff got to campus in 2024.
Someone needs to go.