Michigan State found yet another way to lose on Saturday afternoon and dropped its eighth straight, meaning it is time to ask “is this finally enough”? Michigan State athletic director J Batt has to decide whether it is the time to pull the plug on this. That’s the question I’m here to answer.
Michigan State took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter against Iowa on Saturday. It was dominating the football game and looked unstoppable. Then the fourth quarter happened. The Spartans faltered, blew that lead and then lost the game on a walk-off 44-yard field goal.
The Spartans are one loss away from going winless in Big Ten play for the first time in program history. In 1958, the Spartans went 0-5-1, but they at least mixed in a tie.
Now, the chips are down, and Batt has to determine whether Smith is the guy to lead this program in 2026. At 3-8 (0-8 Big Ten), the job security questions are more than valid, and it’s time to know what direction the program is going in. Let’s see what I think below…
Thoughts on Saturday’s performance
This Spartans team came to play and dominated for three quarters. A punt return touchdown was the lone bad spot. But as has been seen many times before, fourth quarter coaching decisions cost the team this game.
From continuing to punt the ball to Kaden Wetjen, to questionable offensive play calling, the Spartans almost tried to lose this game. A game they played so well in, all for naught.
The common theme throughout the day, whether it be continuing to punt to Wetjen, or an end of half mind-boggling decision that should have cost the team three points, the staff did not hold up its end of the bargain.
With the exception of Joe Rossi, the defensive unit showed up and showed out on Saturday.
Where things overall stand with Smith
Coming into the day, despite what fans wanted, the sentiment from sources was the decision whether Smith was staying or leaving was still 50-50. Sources indicated a decision should be coming on Sunday, Nov. 23, but that wasn’t totally guaranteed because decision makers were still evaluating the decision.
For a man coaching for his job, Saturday went from inspiring a ton of confidence in his ability to lead, to being a major black eye on what was another blown game.
It seemed as if the decision makers were almost begging for Smith to find a couple wins, so they could get donor investment and push for one last hoorah in 2026. That hasn’t come. With Smith continuing to lose, can the decision makers defend bringing him back?
Predicting Smith’s future at Michigan State
At one point, I thought this was almost certainly going to end with MSU moving on from Smith, that is what the rumblings pointed to. Then, there was a shift in the energy, and with that shift in energy, it made me think, “they are really going to keep him.” Now, it feels in peril.
Prior to writing this, I went back and forth on what I was going to say here, because for a quick time, I thought they were truly positioning themselves to do a Wisconsin or Maryland vote of confidence. Then it looked as if MSU was going to pull it off in Iowa City, and at that point it was almost a certainty “they are bringing him back.”
Since then, MSU has blown another game, and it makes me think: “How could you bring this guy back?” So now, it leaves me with this prediction:
I do not think Smith will be on the sidelines at Ford Field next weekend. I simply do not think Batt can see how this season has unfolded and retain Smith while keeping confidence with the fan base.
There are some complications, whether or not the donor class wants him gone or will even support a new coach over Smith, but that is something that should be hashed out by now.
I truly believe Batt wanted Smith to find a couple of wins, position this team to have a better record going into Ford Field, and retain him for 2026. At this time, though, I do not see a path that you can sell this fan base, the former players or the future recruits of this program that Smith is the right man to lead this program into 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Will Michigan State fire Jonathan Smith on Sunday after Iowa collapse?
Reporting by Cory Linsner, Spartans Wire / Spartans Wire
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