Just two years ago, Michigan State football was turning the page on a new chapter. The program had just hired Jonathan Smith as its 26th head coach, bringing him in from Oregon State with the hope that his steady hand and offensive mind could help revive a struggling Spartans team. But it wasn’t just the coaching hire that sparked buzz in East Lansing - it was the quarterback who followed him.
Aidan Chiles, a former blue-chip recruit and the No. 1 quarterback in the transfer portal at the time, committed to Michigan State shortly after Smith’s arrival. His decision brought a wave of optimism to a fanbase hungry for a spark.
From the moment he posed in Spartan gear alongside Zeke the Wonder Dog, Chiles was seen as the kind of talent who could change the trajectory of the program. With elite physical tools and a year of experience in Smith’s system already under his belt, expectations were sky-high.
But now, in December 2025, the Chiles era at Michigan State has officially come to a close. The 6-foot-3, 217-pound junior has entered the transfer portal once again, this time with just one year of eligibility left. And while he’ll undoubtedly draw plenty of interest - just as he did the first time around - his time in East Lansing will be remembered as a case of potential that never fully materialized.
Chiles appeared in 21 games over two seasons for the Spartans, completing 60.8% of his passes for 3,807 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He added another 452 yards and nine scores on the ground, showing flashes of the dual-threat ability that made him such a coveted prospect out of high school. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
He was named a captain and carried the weight of a team that struggled to find consistency on either side of the ball. Michigan State’s offense, in particular, never quite found its rhythm, and Chiles - fair or not - became a lightning rod for the team’s underperformance. Despite his talent, the offense often looked out of sync, and the explosive plays many expected never came with regularity.
That disconnect led to growing questions about the fit between Chiles and the offensive system run by Smith and coordinator Brian Lindgren. Their pro-style approach, while methodical and structured, didn’t always seem to maximize Chiles’ strengths - his mobility, improvisational ability, and arm talent. It’s a debate that played out all season long in film rooms and fan forums alike: Was the scheme holding Chiles back, or was he simply not developing into the quarterback many projected?
There were still moments that reminded everyone why the hype existed in the first place. His performance in the overtime win against Boston College was vintage Chiles - clutch throws, timely scrambles, and the kind of command that makes a quarterback look like the guy.
But those moments were too few and far between, and as the 2025 season wore on, Chiles found himself battling injuries and competition from redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic. Eventually, he lost both battles - and now, he’s looking for a new opportunity to finish his college career.
Chiles leaves Michigan State with a complicated legacy. He was a symbol of hope when he arrived, a player whose ceiling seemed limitless. But in the end, he exits as a reminder that talent alone doesn’t always guarantee success - especially when the fit isn’t quite right.
Still, the tools are there. And with one year of eligibility left, Aidan Chiles will get another shot to show what he can do.
Whether it’s in a system that better suits his skill set or simply with a fresh start, he’ll be one of the most intriguing names in this year’s transfer portal cycle. Wherever he lands, there’s no doubt the potential is still in there - waiting for the right opportunity to bring it all together.