Jonathan Smith: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Spartans Get Poor Big Ten Prediction in Preseason Conference Poll

Michigan State football finished 12th in the Big Ten in 2024-25 with a 5-7 overall and 3-6 conference record. Head coach Jonathan Smith is now entering his second season in East Lansing without much hope rallied behind him.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

3 Games That Will Decide Michigan State's Season

Everyone loves to focus on the big-time games. Can Michigan State beat Penn State? What about Michigan? Well, for Jonathan Smith and the Spartans, their success for 2025 does not lie in these powerhouse matchups.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / January 3

An Early Look at MSU's 2025 Schedule

2025 should be an intriguing year for the Michigan State Spartans on the football field. Jonathan Smith’s first year in East Lansing did not produce optimal results.

Michigan State Spartans News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / October 12

One Accomplishment That Would Make This Season a Success for MSU

Michigan State is 3-3 after starting the season 3-0. The Spartans are currently on a three-game losing streak, and their bye week will soon end. Michigan

Miami Hurricanes News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NFL No. 1 overall draft picks' quiz

How many of the No. 1 overall picks from the NFL Draft since 1966 can you name in six minutes?

The 'First round QBs of the NFL Draft' quiz

The 'No. 2 NFL draft picks' quiz

The '2025 NFL quarterback draft class' quiz

Michigan State Spartans News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / October 9

How Far Did MSU Slide After Third Consecutive Loss?

Michigan State has fizzled out after starting the season on a hot streak. Coach Jonathan Smith and the Spartans have lost three games in a row after starting the season on a three-game winning streak.

College Football News / Yardbarker

The 20 worst college football teams for the 2025 season

Most of the bottom 20 teams are from the Group of 5, but we've included a couple of power programs who are in a bad way right now and are scratching and clawing their way back up the ladder.

Michigan State Spartans News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 17

Michigan State Underdogs on the Road Again

Michigan State is off to one of its best starts in the last few years after starting the season 3-0. Coach Jonathan Smith and the Spartans will hit the road again this week as they head east for the second time in three weeks for a game against a formidable opponent.

Michigan State Spartans News / Spartan Shadows / September 14

Michigan State football: Final score predictions vs. Prairie View A&M

Two weeks into the 2024 Michigan State football season, the Spartans have a 2-0 record and are 1-1 against the spread. It’s been an interesting start to the Jonathan Smith era with a shaky performance in the opener against FAU followed by an impressive road win over Mike Locksley and Maryland.

Michigan State Spartans News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 12

Stock Up For Michigan State Entering Week 3

The Michigan State Spartans are aiming to be 3-0 after this Saturday’s game against the Prairie View A&M Panthers. Michigan State did not win its

College Football News / Field Level Media / September 9

Michigan State giving FCS Prairie View A&M 'full attention'

Michigan State will be focusing on improvement Saturday without looking past visiting Prairie View A&M in a non-conference home game. The Spartans (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten) are coming off a come-from-behind 27-24 victory last Saturday at Maryland and are aiming for their first 3-0 start since 2021 when they host the FCS Panthers.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 9

Michigan State Names Players of the Game for Victory Over Maryland

Michigan State entered its first Big Ten game of the season on the road against Maryland, with few people outside the program giving them a realistic chance of beating the Terrapins.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 8

Social Media Explodes After Spartans' Upset Win Over Terrapins

Many were down on the Michigan State Spartans after their poor showing against Florida Atlantic. What was expected to be an exciting display from quarterback Aidan Chiles and the offense was a sloppy struggle that often times set the defense up in unideal situations.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 8

3 Takeaways from the Spartans' Victory over Maryland

The Michigan State Spartans under head coach Jonathan Smith are 2-0 thanks to a road win against a tough Maryland team, 27-24. Resilience might be the word to describe this squad so far.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 8

MSU's Jonathan Smith Talks Aidan Chiles' Performance Against Maryland

After a difficult first start at Michigan State, the Spartans needed quarterback Aidan Chiles to have a more productive outing against Maryland on the road in the team’s first Big Ten game.

College Football News / Spartan Shadows / September 8

Michigan State football: 3 takeaways from thrilling Maryland win

Michigan State football hung on to beat Maryland in College Park, marking Jonathan Smith’s first Big Ten win. What’d we learn? Michigan State football left the friendly confines of Spartan Stadium for the first time this year to play Maryland, and I was able to drive out and cover this thriller.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Most NBA games played' quiz

The 'NBA all-time 50-point game leaders' quiz

The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz

The 'NBA yearly field goals-per-game leader' quiz

College Football News / Spartan Shadows / September 7

Michigan State football got first statement win of the Jonathan Smith era

There’s a different feeling around the Michigan State football program these days. There’s no longer a head coach who loves social media more than he loves winning as Jonathan Smith has truly exuded the “low ego, high output” mentality, and that showed on Saturday in College Park.

College Football News / Spartan Shadows / September 7

Michigan State football at Maryland final score predictions for Week 2

It’s been a week, but it feels like that Michigan State football win over FAU was just yesterday, and, honestly, I’m still having some nightmares about that ugly season opener.

Michigan State Spartans News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 7

REPORT: Where Does Michigan State Football Land in Updated Bowl Projections?

With their win over Florida Atlantic in the first home game of the season, Coach Jonathan Smith and Michigan State are one win closer to being eligible for a bowl game this season.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 7

How Michigan State's Chiles Can Improve vs. Maryland

Michigan State Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles was incredibly frustrated with his performance against the Florida Atlantic Owls, his first-ever collegiate start. Chiles completed just 10-of-24 passes for 114 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 5

Michigan State's Defense Preparing for Explosive Maryland Offense

After winning its first game of the season at home against Florida Atlantic, Coach Jonathan Smith and Michigan State will open up Big Ten play on the road against Maryland.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 5

3 Keys For MSU Football Victory Against Big Ten Rival in Week 2

The Michigan State Spartans are 1-0 to start the season thanks to their home opener win against Florida Atlantic. Head coach Jonathan Smith knows there is plenty to improve on as they face their first Big Ten opponent of the year in the Maryland Terrapins.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 4

Michigan State Coach Jonathan Smith Explains Why He Did Not Lead Team Out of Tunnel

Spartans coach Jonathan Smith accomplished many things in Michigan State’s home opener against Florida Atlantic. Most importantly, Smith and the Spartans won the game.

Michigan State Spartans News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 4

Michigan State's Narrow Win Against Florida Atlantic Reflected in Recent Poll

Michigan State narrowly beat Florida Atlantic this past weekend in East Lansing by a score of 16-10. Coach Jonathan Smith’s first game as the Spartans’ head coach had its high and low points in what was a much closer game than anticipated going into the game. Michigan State’s defense played well, holding Florida Atlantic to under 250 yards.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / September 2

MSU Coach Jonathan Smith Speaks on Season Opener, Injuries, Maryland

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State football is shifting its focus to Maryland now as it prepares to take on the Terrapins in College Park for its second game of the season.

College Football News / Michigan State Spartans on SI / August 31

Michigan State's Victory Over Florida Atlantic Keeps Unique Win Streak Alive

Michigan State got the Jonathan Smith era off to a positive start with a close but satisfying victory in Coach Smith’s first game in East Lansing. The

College Football News / Gridiron Heroics / November 25, 2023

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

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.