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Michigan State football has seen a long line of great coaches, with names like Duffy Daugherty, Mark Dantonio, Clarence "Biggie" Munn, and even Nick Saban. Each left their own impact and legacy, but who stands out as the greatest coach in Michigan State Football history?
Usually, the top choice is Duffy Daughtery, who coached the Spartans from 1954 to 1972. He compiled an impressive record of 109-69-5 and led the team to two national championships in 1955 and 1965. He had an incredible impact on the game of college football by recruiting African American players from the segregated south, and shaped Michigan State into a powerhouse program.
Another strong candidate is Spartan legend Mark Dantonio, who coached from 2007 to 2019. He finished with a school record 114 wins. He led Michigan State to three Big Ten Championships and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2015. Dantonio brought a level of toughness, consistency, and energy that Spartan Nation hadn't seen since Daugherty, and left his mark on the program.
Biggie Munn is also worth mentioning, as he was Daugherty's mentor and set the stage for his dominance. Munn coached from 1947-1953 and had an incredible 54-9-2 record. He led Michigan State to its first national championship in 1952 and played an important role in laying the foundation for success at Michigan State.
Finally, there is Nick Saban, who is known primarily for his reign at Alabama. But prior to that, he coached from 1995 to 1999 for the Spartans. His record of 34-24-1 wasn't legendary, but he left the program much better than he found it, bringing stabilization and consistency to the team.
While all these coaches brought something different to Michigan State, Duffy Daugherty stands out as the rightful holder of the "greatest Michigan State head coach of all time." His championships, cultural impact, and national influence are absolutely unmatched. He literally changed the game of college football forever with his recruiting and opened the door for so many great players to thrive.
The strong line of Michigan State coaches is a testament to the program's commitment to excellence, something coach Jonathan Smith is striving to return to.
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Most of the focus for the Ohio State Buckeyes is on finishing the 2026 class strong before shifting attention to the 2027 cycle. Ohio State already has two key commitments in the 2027 class — five-star wide receiver Jamier Brown and four-star quarterback Brady Edmunds. The Buckeyes also have the benefit of having a talented four-star defensive lineman in their own backyard in Columbus. However, a major SEC program is trying to jump in front of them for his commitment. Tennessee Vols trying to land four-star Ohio recruit over the Buckeyes Columbus Academy (OH) defensive lineman Reinaldo Perez, a four-star prospect in the 2027 class, holds an offer from Ohio State and is a priority target. Perez already has a visit scheduled to Tennessee this fall, and the Volunteers appear ready to make a serious push in his recruitment. “Tennessee is a threat and he does have a visit set to see the Vols in the fall. But it’s pretty hard to imagine anyone beating out Ohio State here,” On3’s Greg Smith reported. Smith predicts the Buckeyes will ultimately land Perez in 2027, but notes that Tennessee is their biggest competition. Perez is also considering Florida, USC, Purdue, and Rutgers. According to the 247Sports Composite, Perez is ranked No. 212 nationally, No. 22 among defensive linemen, and No. 5 in the state of Ohio. Larry Johnson has his work cut out for him, but with Perez playing right in Columbus, it’s hard to envision the Buckeyes letting the 6-foot-4, 245-pound defender slip away if he remains a top priority. Perez will be at Ohio State for their season opener against Texas in a couple of weeks.
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Amon-Ra St. Brown admits Lions offense is in a bad place
The Detroit Lions led the NFL in points per game (33.2), total points (564) and were second in yards per game and total yards last season. Their core offensive players will all be back, but offensive coordinator Ben Johnson won't. Of course, it will take some time to adjust to life without one of the most creative offensive architects in the game. And according to star WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, they're still not quite there yet. "We feel like as an offense maybe this camp there has been some struggles for us as an offense," St. Brown told the team's website. "But I think that's normal. You got new coaches and different moving parts and you're going against a really good defense every day." Then again, with the myriad of offensive weapons they have, the All-Pro wide receiver still thinks they can do something special. "Things can get tough. But for us as an offense, we know the ability that we have, the playmakers we have, the quarterback we have, the O-line, so it's just a matter of time for us. Keep getting better and improving is the name of the game for us right now," St. Brown added. The Lions lost both of their primary assistants to head-coaching positions this offseason. Still, this team should continue to boast the same aggressive, all-in identity that head coach Dan Campbell has instilled. And with weapons like St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta, it shouldn't take long before they pick up things right where they left them last season.
Commanders have major hang-up preventing them from paying Terry McLaurin what he's due
It’s been two weeks since Washington Commanders star wide receiver Terry McLaurin publicly revealed his trade request, and a resolution doesn’t appear to be in sight. Thanks to ESPN’s John Keim, we’re starting to get more insight into how the Commanders are approaching negotiations…and how they run counter to their star wide receiver’s financial desires. As we’ve assumed all along, the Commanders are wary of giving McLaurin a lucrative contract that would extend well into the player’s 30s. As Keim notes, the Commanders “rely heavily on analytics,” and those numbers aren’t particularly kind to receivers on the wrong side of 30. They may be onto something. Per ESPN Research, over the past five years, only three receivers 31 years or older have played at least 10 games and averaged 70-plus receiving yards per game (that number jumps to six players if you adjust for 60-plus receiving yards). Further, the team can simply point to the NFL landscape, as other teams are also clearly wary of paying aging wideouts. Among the 24 active wide receivers who are attached to the most guaranteed money, only Tyreek Hill was older than 30 when the deal was signed. McLaurin has continually pointed to his lack of mileage despite his age; he barely played during his first two years at Ohio State, meaning he may not have the same wear and tear as similar players his age. McLaurin is also naturally pointing to the stat sheet, as the receiver has continually produced despite uncertain QB play, uncertain ownership and a handful of different coaching staffs. Per Keim, the Commanders don’t want to pay McLaurin based on his past performance, with the front office preferring to shape any future contracts based on his projections for age-31-plus seasons. The organization also doesn’t want to set a new precedent by paying McLaurin, as it could convince future veterans to push for lucrative deals in their 30s. While McLaurin has taken the drastic measure of requesting a trade out of Washington, the organization is still convinced they have leverage in this showdown. After all, the player is still under contract for the 2025 campaign, meaning McLaurin will have to forfeit game checks if he sits out games. The team could even choose to slap him with the franchise tag next offseason (which could come in north of $30M), meaning they’re in full control of the player’s fate moving forward. The team is also skeptical that another suitor is going to willingly pay McLaurin the type of money he’s seeking. Per Keim, there are doubts around the league about whether another team would be willing to meet the receiver’s demands. Even if a clear suitor does emerge, Keim makes it clear that Washington’s front office won’t give the star away without receiving a haul. We heard recently that McLaurin wasn’t necessarily seeking a deal that matched fellow 2019 draftee D.K. Metcalf‘s deal with the Steelers. However, Keim says Metcalf’s contract has generally served as a guide for McLaurin, but it’s uncertain whether the Commanders wideout is looking to match the AAV ($33M) or total guarantees ($60M). Ultimately, one source believes the Commanders may agree to pay McLaurin a contract that will pay $28M per year. Of course, it’s uncertain if the player would even accept that offer. If that hypothetical maximum offer doesn’t end in a signing, a divorce may be the logical next step.
Former Oregon WR's career may have new life after transfer decision
Ryan Pellum's career with the Oregon Ducks was over before it even started, but it may have new life. The former four-star wideout from Long Beach, California, was ranked as the No. 26 wide receiver in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. Pellum took a redshirt last season at Oregon before hitting the transfer portal in January. He was then arrested and charged with assault with use of a firearm after he allegedly pistol-whipped someone in his hometown on Christmas Day in 2024. In June, Pellum was sentenced to probation as part of a plea deal, and now he's trying to get his college football hopes back on track. As such, it's being reported that Pellum will transfer to Delaware State for the 2025 season. Notably, he'll be joining up with former NFL star and three-time Pro Bowler DeSean Jackson, who is heading into his first season as the Hornets' head coach. As a senior in high school, Pellum caught 66 passes for 991 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was at one time committed to USC, but he flipped to Dan Lanning and the Ducks on signing day. Delaware State, located in Dover, Delaware, is an FCS program that is a part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The Hornets went 2-21 over the past two seasons under head coach Lee Hull, who was fired less than two years after he took over the program.
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