There aren’t many coaches as supportive as Tom Izzo in today’s college athletics.
The Hall of Fame head coach is always going to bat for his fellow coaches, and that includes Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith. While everyone else seems to have turned their back on the struggling second-year head coach, Izzo has been there to support him through the ups and downs.
On Wednesday, Izzo appeared on Smith’s weekly radio show, urging fans to show up to Spartan Stadium on Saturday and provide a legitimate home-field advantage against the Wolverines.
He also had some positive words for Smith, telling him that “we all go through it” and that the process takes time. This message probably won’t sit well with the “fire Smith” crowd.
Tom Izzo on Jonathan Smith’s weekly radio show & urges MSU fans to provide a home field advantage. “I did it in an era that is normal. This era is not normal to try and rebuild a program.” Tells Smith, “We all go through it, it’s part of the process…and the process takes time.”
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) October 22, 2025
Obviously Smith is on the hot seat, and losing to Michigan will only turn up the heat, but a win could legitimately turn the entire tenure around. Beating Michigan to improve to 4-4 and then taking that momentum and using it to make a bowl game would likely save Smith’s job and it could have some long-term effects as well.
Smith needs to show that he can beat Michigan and show that he understands the rivalry, because last year’s post-game quotes left a lot to be desired after losing a heartbreaker to the Wolverines.
Winning on Saturday may not fix everything, but even Izzo knows just how important this game is. It can legitimately make or break a head coach’s career in East Lansing.
Like him or hate him, Smith deserves the opportunity to show that he now understands the intensity of the rivalry and he needs to translate that into a big win. If he beats Michigan, we likely see him in East Lansing for a third season.