What’s in store for the Spartans for their first year under new leadership?
The Michigan State Spartans had an impressive 11-2 season in 2021, which included a win over Michigan and a Peach Bowl victory. It really appeared the Spartans were on the verge of a bright future and that 2021 was just a taste of what Mel Tucker and company could do.
But the Spartans crashed back down to earth the past two seasons, going just 5-7 in 2022 and following it up with a 4-8 campaign in 2023. If that wasn’t bad enough, head coach Mel Tucker was also fired in the wake of an off-field scandal not even two years after signing a massive 10-year contract.
Now it’s back to the drawing board for Michigan State , with former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith taking over. Let’s take a look at what the Spartans have been up to this offseason and what could be in store this season.
The Basics
Game info: October 26, Spartan Stadium
Head coach: Jonathan Smith (1st season)
2023 record: 4-8
2024 win projection: 4.5 per FanDuel
Roster Moves
Draft losses: IOL Nick Samac
Transfer portal losses: QB Kaitin Houser, QB Noah Kim, WR Christian Fitzpatrick, TE Maliq Carr, OT Spencer Brown, OT Keyshawn Blackstock, S Jaden Mangham
Transfer portal additions: QB Aidan Chiles, RB Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams TE Jack Velling, IOL Tanner Miller, DE Quindarius Dunnigan, LB Jordan Turner, LB Wayne Matthews, CB Ed Woods
For more on Michigan State’s transfer portal movement this offseason, click here.
State of the program
Just three years after a breakout 2021 season, 2024 represents a hard reset many Spartan fans probably didn’t see coming. After reaching a New Year’s Six bowl game and competing with the top teams in the Big Ten, Michigan State has looked like one of the most overmatched teams in the conference the past two seasons.
Back-to-back losing seasons were enough to get fans grumbling about the direction that Tucker was taking the program. However, it was his actions off the field that generated the biggest headlines for Michigan State last year, as he was suspended and subsequently fired by the university amid a sexual harassment investigation.
Tucker’s firing and Michigan State’s subpar play on the field brought the program to rock bottom, but things started to shift in a new direction this offseason.
Michigan State’s athletic department scored big by landing Smith, who was arguably the hottest name on the coaching carousel after assembling respectable squads in Corvallis that were competing with the top teams in the Pac-12, including a combined record of 18-7 over the last two years.
Smith got to work in the transfer portal right away, helping the Spartans make their biggest transfer portal addition of the offseason in quarterback Aidan Chiles. Chiles was a four-star recruit that served as Oregon State ’s backup in 2023, but figures to be Michigan State’s starter this fall.
Chiles is an exciting player to watch and a threat to any defense, as he is capable of making big plays with his arm and his legs. He will look to reach levels of production and playmaking that we haven’t seen from a Michigan State quarterback in quite some time.
In addition to Chiles, Smith was also able to bring over tight end Jack Velling and offensive lineman Tanner Miller from Oregon State.
A projected win total of 4.5 might seem disrespectful, but there should be some hope for Spartan fans about Smith’s hire and the new regime in East Lansing. This season might not be a major success in terms of winning, thanks in part to games against Ohio State , Oregon , Michigan and Iowa , but being a fringe bowl team is certainly in the cards.
Regardless, Spartan fans should expect to see a more respectable product than what they saw in 2023, and there should be optimism for the future.