Aidan Chiles Enters Transfer Portal: Michigan State’s Once-Promising QB Looks for a Fresh Start
When Aidan Chiles followed head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State to Michigan State, it wasn’t just a transfer-it was a statement. Chiles arrived in East Lansing as one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the portal, a former blue-chip recruit with the kind of raw talent that had Spartan fans buzzing. For a program desperate for a spark, Chiles looked like the guy who could light the fuse.
Ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the portal by 247Sports at the time, Chiles brought a dual-threat skill set and a natural feel for the position that Michigan State hadn’t seen since the days of Connor Cook. He was supposed to be the centerpiece of a rebuild, a quarterback who could not only stabilize the offense but elevate the entire program.
And for a moment, it looked like that plan might work.
Chiles opened the 2024 and 2025 seasons with flashes of brilliance. He showed off the arm talent, the mobility, the poise-everything that made him such a sought-after player.
But as the season wore on, that early promise faded. Turnovers crept in.
The offense stalled. And eventually, Chiles lost his starting job to Alessio Milivojevic.
Then came the coaching change. When Smith was let go after the win over Maryland, many assumed Chiles would be one of the first names to hit the portal.
But for a while, there was silence. While a dozen other Spartans entered the portal, Chiles stayed put.
That changed on Monday.
Chiles, now a true junior with one year of eligibility remaining, officially entered the NCAA transfer portal. He leaves Michigan State having played in 30 games across three seasons split between Oregon State and MSU. Now, he’ll be looking for a new home-ideally one where he can start, stay healthy, and put himself back on the radar for NFL scouts.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
The end of the Aidan Chiles era in East Lansing is layered. On the one hand, it’s hard not to feel a sense of disappointment.
The expectations were sky-high, and for a while, it felt like he might live up to them. But injuries, inconsistency, and a lack of continuity around him-both in terms of coaching and personnel-kept him from ever fully settling in.
Still, Chiles had his moments. That overtime win against Boston College in 2025?
He was electric-making plays with his arm and legs, showing the kind of command that reminded fans why he was so highly rated in the first place. It felt like the beginning of a redemption arc.
But then came the hit against Nebraska. After that, he just wasn’t the same. The confidence wavered, the mistakes piled up, and eventually, the coaching staff made the switch.
To his credit, Chiles didn’t sulk. He didn’t transfer midseason.
He didn’t check out. Instead, he stuck with his team, supported Milivojevic, and stayed engaged-even as an injury effectively ended his time on the field.
That kind of leadership doesn’t show up on a stat sheet, but it matters.
And that’s what makes his departure bittersweet. Chiles may not have delivered on the lofty expectations that followed him to East Lansing, but he was a respected presence in the locker room. He gave everything he had to the program, even when things didn’t go his way.
What’s Next for Chiles?
Now, the focus shifts to the next chapter. Chiles enters the portal with plenty of experience and still boasts the physical tools that once made him a potential first-round projection. The right system, the right coaching, and a fresh start could still unlock the player many believed he could become.
For Michigan State, it’s another step in what’s shaping up to be a turbulent offseason. With a new head coach on the horizon and a roster in flux, the Spartans are clearly in reset mode. Chiles’ departure marks the end of one era-and the beginning of another.
As for Chiles, the hope is that he finds a landing spot where he can stay healthy, compete, and finally put it all together. The talent is still there. Now it’s about fit, opportunity, and a little bit of luck.
Wherever he ends up, he’ll carry with him the lessons learned in East Lansing-lessons forged in adversity, resilience, and growth. And that’s something every coach in the country should pay attention to.