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Michigan State Spartans 'On the 5-Yard Line' For Massive Coaching Hire

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Vincent Pensabene | Last updated 11/25/23

The Michigan State Spartans have been looking to lock down a coach after firing Mel Tucker with cause before the season started. The program had interim coach Harlon Barnett lead the way this season and finished with a 4-8 record (2-7 in Big Ten) after their 42-0 home loss against the Penn State Nittany Lions.

However, it is being reported that they are getting close to signing their next coach in Oregon State Beavers‘ Jonathan Smith. This would be a huge hire as he has turned around his alma mater into a top-20 program in the nation since taking over in 2018.

ESPN’s college football writer Adam Rittenberg is reporting that the discussion is nearing the end as there are some meetings later on today that need to be had before a deal of any kind is finalized.

Michigan State and Jonathan Smith are at “the 5-yard line,” a source said, but still some meetings later today before anything is finalized with the Oregon State coach.

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 25, 2023

This would be a massive get for the Michigan State Spartans as they have been underperforming in the Big Ten Conference.

What would Jonathan Smith do for the Michigan State Spartans?

Jonathan Smith would be an excellent coach with the Michigan State Spartans as he has proven to be able to change a program entirely around in a short amount of time. When he was hired in 2018 by Oregon State, he had to change the culture of the program back to what he was used to as a prominent program. He won nine games in the first three seasons but has a record of 25-13 since the beginning of the 2021 season as he got his own players into the program.

With the changes happening to the Big Ten Conference next season as the UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans, Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies, this is going to be interesting. Obviously, Smith has experience coaching against these teams in the Pac-12 Conference the last six years but with the conference having no divisions for the first time in 2024, this is going to be a great test to see what the Michigan State Spartans can really do.

What does the Michigan State Spartans’ 2024 schedule look like?

While we do not have dates for the games, the conference opponents have been announced for the next few years. Below is a list of all the home and road conference games the Spartans will have in their quest for the 2024 Big Ten Conference Championship.