Pat Fitzgerald is walking into a situation at Michigan State where the margin for error is basically gone.
The Spartans are stuck in a rough run that has dragged on for four straight years without bowl eligibility, the longest drought in the Big Ten. They also haven’t put together four straight losing seasons since the five-year stretch from 1979-83. That’s the backdrop for Fitzgerald’s first year, and it’s why the pressure to change the direction of the program starts immediately.
The financial piece makes that even more true. At the very least, Fitzgerald should have three years to get this right, and a big reason is the buyout Michigan State is still paying Jonathan Smith.
MSU is on the hook for about $30 million over the next five years, through the 2030 season, though that total will be reduced by whatever salary Smith earns in his next job. He hasn’t landed anywhere yet.
That kind of money changes the timeline. Michigan State is not likely to move off Fitzgerald nearly as fast as it did from Smith, even if Fitzgerald’s deal is shorter and more university-friendly. With that buyout sitting on the books for five seasons, the Spartans need this hire to stick.
The schedule only sharpens that urgency. A good start in 2026 matters because 2027 looks brutal. ESPN’s College Football Power Index currently ranks MSU’s 2027 schedule 25th nationally, but that number feels like it could climb into the top 10.
The reason is obvious: Notre Dame is still on the slate, and Michigan State will host the Fighting Irish next season. That alone is a heavyweight nonconference matchup.
Then comes a road gauntlet that includes Ohio State, Penn State, and Washington. The best home dates in the Big Ten figure to be Indiana and Michigan.
Altogether, there are six games on that schedule that could feature top-25 opponents, and it wouldn’t be shocking if Notre Dame and Ohio State were both No. 1.
By comparison, this season offers a softer landing. Michigan State has four preseason AP Top 25 teams on the schedule, but the only games that look truly daunting are Notre Dame and Oregon.
After Notre Dame, the Spartans run into Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, and UCLA, a stretch that looks far more manageable and may end up defining the season. FPI ranks it as the seventh-toughest schedule in the Big Ten.
In Other News...
Michigan States New Era Already Comes With An Uncomfortable Opener
Pat Fitzgeralds first game-week press conference as Michigan States head coach had the expected tone of a coach trying to set the table for a long season, but it also served as an early reminder of how little room there is for patience in a new era. Fitzgerald called Toledo a strong program and made clear the opener will not be a walk-through, a familiar warning for any Spartans fan who has watched the school navigate a string of season debuts under previous coaches.
The timing matters because the betting line has already drifted slightly in Toledos favor, a small move that has not gone unnoticed in East Lansing. It is only one game, and the opener has a way of exposing every fresh start for what it really is, but Michigan States first chance to show signs of life under Fitzgerald now carries a little more edge than anyone probably wanted this early. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Samac Just Landed A Fresh NFL Chance For Michigan State Fans
Nick Samacs NFL path has already taken a few turns, and the former Michigan State center has now found another landing spot. Minnesota claimed him off waivers after Carolina moved on from him, giving the Spartans product a fresh chance to stick in a new locker room as he keeps working to carve out a place in the league.
Samac spent last season with the Panthers, appearing in 11 games and working mostly on special teams, a role that can matter just as much as depth on the offensive line for teams trying to survive a long season. It is another opportunity for a player who never got to suit up for Baltimore after the Ravens drafted him in 2024 because of injury, and now the next step will be seeing how Minnesota chooses to use him. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Defensive Hype Comes Down To A Few Huge Bets
Michigan States defensive reset for 2026 is starting to take shape around a handful of familiar names and a few calculated moves. Jordan Hall is back for a fourth year, giving the Spartans a proven presence at linebacker after he emerged as one of the units most reliable playmakers last season. Around him, the roster picture is getting clearer with key returnees such as free safety Nikai Martinez and defensive back Charles Brantley, both of whom missed meaningful time because of injuries but are expected to be part of the mix next fall.
Kenny Soares Jr. is one of the more interesting additions to watch after arriving from NC State and moving from linebacker to rush end, a shift that could help define how Michigan State wants to attack opposing quarterbacks. The fact that teammates also honored him with the No. 1 jersey says something about the early impression he has made inside the program. For a defense trying to turn hype into production, these are the kinds of bets that could matter most when 2026 arrives. [Read more 🡒]