By Rowan Fisher-ShottonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberMichigan State fired head coach Jonathan Smith on Sunday after a disappointing 2025 season in which the Spartans finished 4-8 and 1-8 in Big Ten play.
"While that does not fall solely on Jonathan Smith, it’s become necessary to make a coaching change in order to chart a new direction for the program," athletic director J Batt said in a statement.
After six years leading Oregon State (34-35 overall record), Smith took over at Michigan State in 2024 and now ends his two-year run in East Lansing with a 9-15 overall ledger.
Reports indicate that Smith is owed over $30 million as part of his seven-year contract signed last year, which doesn't even include what the school will need to spend to find his replacement.
Hours after Michigan State announced the dismissal, running back Makhi Frazier, the Spartans' leading rusher this season, has indicated he will put his name in the NCAA transfer portal.
Loading twitter content...
Read More: Ole Miss Issues Major Demand to Coaching Staff Amid Lane Kiffin Standoff
A physical, downhill runner listed at 5'10", 218 pounds, Frazier totaled 116 carries for 520 yards and two rushing touchdowns this season, averaging about 4.5 yards per carry across nine games.
With RB Elijah Tau‑Tolliver, the team’s second‑leading rusher (428 yards, two TDs on 72 carries), being a senior, the Spartans will now likely need to replace nearly 1,000 rushing yards.
Frazier arrived at Michigan State as a three-star recruit from McKinney, Texas, and also drew offers from Arkansas, Boise State, Oregon State, Missouri, and Minnesota coming out of high school.
With two years of eligibility remaining, he immediately becomes an attractive prospect in the portal.
...Read More: Texas’ Steve Sarkisian Sends Message to CFP Committee After Texas A&M Win
The Spartans closed the year on a high note, securing a 38-28 win over Maryland on Saturday that snapped an eight-game skid.
Yet, the win did not affect bowl eligibility, leaving Michigan State out of the college football postseason.
With both their head coach and leading rusher on the way out, the next era must move fast to win back Spartan Nation.
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
NCAAMajor SEC Program Comes to Final Decision on Next Head Coach: Report2 min read
NCAA$15.3 Million Head Coach Spurns Arkansas for SEC Rival2 min read
NCAAOle Miss Has Been Linked to Potential Deion Sanders Move3 min read
NCAAOle Miss Players Turn on Lane Kiffin: Report3 min read
NCAALane Kiffin Replacements Emerge for Ole Miss After LSU News3 min read
NCAA‘College GameDay’ Makes Major Announcement Ahead of SEC Championship Game2 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
PoliticsKristi Noem Says National Guard Shooter Was ‘Radicalized’ in the US5 min read
WorldVenezuela Hits Back After Donald Trump Announces Airspace Closure4 min read
PoliticsTrump ‘Wouldn’t Have Wanted’ Second Strike on Venezuela Boat4 min read
NewsThousands of Flights Delayed, Hundreds Canceled as Winter Storm Lashes US3 min read
NewsDonald Trump Has Taken Prince Harry’s Crown8 min read
NewsTrump Administration Launches ‘Media Offender of the Week’ Tracker4 min readTrending
WeatherWinter Storm Warning As 13 Inches of Snow To Strike: ‘Extreme Caution’3 min read
Donald TrumpMap Shows Donald Trump’s Approval Rating in Each State After 10 Months4 min read
NcaaNick Saban Has Harsh Message for Ole Miss Amid Lane Kiffin Decision3 min read
AldiAldi Recall Update: Customers Told Discard Christmas Products ‘Immediately’3 min read
NWSWinter Storm Warning as 8 Inches of Snow to Hit North and Midwest3 min readOpinion
OpinionRedefining Professional Degrees Will Hurt Everyday Americans | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAI Is Coming for Our Most Intimate Communications. Congress Must Act | Opinion5 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Thanksgiving Tragedies Edition3 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Anti-Thanksgiving Edition3 min read
OpinionHow to Remain Grounded and Thankful Amid the Chaos5 min read
