Pat Fitzgerald Reportedly Set to Take Over at Michigan State, Marking a Bold New Era in East Lansing
Michigan State football may finally be turning the page. After a turbulent stretch marked by instability, underperformance, and off-field issues, the Spartans are reportedly closing in on a new head coach - and it’s a name that’s sure to spark conversation across the Big Ten.
According to reports, Michigan State plans to hire former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, signaling a potential turning point for a program in need of a reset. If finalized, the move would bring Fitzgerald back to the Big Ten sidelines for the first time since 2023, when he was dismissed from Northwestern following a hazing scandal that rocked the program.
The circumstances surrounding Fitzgerald’s exit from Northwestern were complicated. A settlement between Fitzgerald and the university acknowledged that hazing occurred within the football program, but Fitzgerald has consistently maintained he had no knowledge of the incidents.
Speaking on the College Gameday Podcast, Fitzgerald stated, “I feel 100 percent vindicated... Especially for our players and their families.
The facts are the facts.”
Now, with the legal chapter behind him, Fitzgerald appears poised to re-enter the college football world - and he’s walking into a major rebuild.
Michigan State just wrapped up a 4-8 season, managing only one win in Big Ten play - a 38-28 victory over Maryland to close out the year. The program has been dealing with the fallout from NCAA sanctions tied to the use of ineligible players in recent seasons, only adding to the challenges ahead for whoever takes over.
But if there’s a coach who knows how to build - and rebuild - it’s Fitzgerald.
During his tenure at Northwestern, Fitzgerald earned a reputation as a program-stabilizer. He turned a historically underperforming team into a gritty, competitive unit that made multiple Big Ten Championship appearances. His teams were rarely flashy, but they were disciplined, tough, and fundamentally sound - a reflection of Fitzgerald’s own playing days as a linebacker for the Wildcats.
That’s exactly the kind of identity Michigan State has been missing.
The post-Mark Dantonio era has been a rollercoaster in East Lansing, and Jonathan Smith’s brief tenure did little to steady the ship. Now, with the Big Ten expanding and the College Football Playoff format evolving, the stakes have never been higher. The Spartans need a leader who can navigate the chaos, recruit with purpose, and instill a culture that can withstand the pressures of modern college football.
Fitzgerald, for all the controversy that’s followed him, brings a track record of doing just that.
Of course, questions remain. Can Fitzgerald recruit at a high level in the NIL and transfer portal era?
Can he galvanize a locker room that’s seen its fair share of turnover and turmoil? And how will he handle the spotlight that comes with leading a major program trying to claw its way back to national relevance?
What’s clear is that the Big Ten just got a little more intriguing.
With Lane Kiffin reportedly leaving Ole Miss for LSU in a blockbuster move that’s shaken up the SEC, the coaching carousel continues to spin - and Michigan State’s reported hire might be one of the most fascinating developments yet.
If Fitzgerald is indeed the guy, he won’t have much time to settle in. The Spartans need direction, discipline, and a new identity. And they need it fast.
East Lansing is ready for a new chapter. Pat Fitzgerald might just be the one to write it.