Can Michigan St. Football Go Above Expectations with Their New Coach in 2026?
Michigan State’s football program hasn’t been a serious contender in college football for quite a while. Over the past eight years, the Spartans have managed just one season with more than 10 wins, thanks to Kenneth Walker III and Jayden Reed leading the offense. Since that memorable 2021 season, things have gone downhill for the team in East Lansing. After former head coach Mel Tucker was dismissed following a scandal involving inappropriate conduct toward a staff member, the athletic department brought in Jonathan Smith, hoping he could restore MSU’s reputation. However, that didn’t work out. Even though Smith was known for his recruiting skills, he finished with a 9-15 record in just two years. As a result, Michigan State restarted its coaching search and decided to hire Pat Fitzgerald, who had been Northwestern’s head coach for the longest time.
Fitzgerald’s connection to Northwestern runs deep; he played linebacker for the Wildcats before becoming a key figure in their athletic program as head coach. Things ended badly for him in 2022, though, when he was fired after reports surfaced about hazing and a toxic culture within the team. This controversy is still on people’s minds now that he’s been hired as MSU’s new coach, and many are wondering if he can create a positive, winning environment without those issues. Looking at his record, Fitzgerald went 110-101 over 17 seasons at Northwestern, which is impressive considering the school’s limited athletic reputation. The Spartans did lose wide receiver Nick Marsh, who transferred to the defending National Champions in Bloomington. Still, with new receivers KK Smith and Frederick Moore joining the team, quarterback Alessio Milivojevic should have enough options to work with.
On paper, this team doesn’t look very threatening, but as Indiana showed, sometimes one coach can inspire a team to win. The Spartans have a favorable schedule this year since they don’t play Ohio State, Indiana, or Penn State. Their toughest matchups are against Michigan in Ann Arbor and Oregon at home. Other than that, they’ll mostly face average Big Ten teams, which could help them pick up some wins and maybe give their new coach a fresh start.
