Michigan State is seeking stability after years of ups and downs. Under Jonathan Smith, the Spartans lost eight of their last nine games and ended the regular season with a 4-8 run with just a single conference win against Maryland. Now, to bring Mark Dantonio’s 13-year success into the program, MSU eyes a former Northwestern head coach, who sued a university for $130 million.

“Pat Fitzgerald has emerged as the target of Michigan State’s coaching search, sources confirm to ESPN. The sides are working toward a deal, which is expected to be finalized in the near future. @freep first reported Fitzgerald as the planned hire,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel said on X.

This move comes on the heels of the firing of former head coach Jonathan Smith. Smith ended his MSU tenure with a 9-15 overall record and a 4-14 mark in the Big Ten, despite coming in with Oregon State’s momentum.

“The 2025 football season has not lived up to our shared standards for Michigan State Football,” AD J Batt said after Smith’s firing. “While that does not fall solely on Jonathan Smith, it’s become necessary to make a coaching change in order to chart a new direction for the program.”

With Smith’s move, Pat Fitzgerald enters the picture. And getting him in makes sense, as he has spent 17 seasons leading the Wildcats, with a 110-101 record. Fans expect Fitzgerald to land a job two years after Northwestern dismissed him amid allegations of widespread hazing within the program. Later, he sued the university for $130 million, alleging wrongful termination and reputational damage.

After consistently denying the allegations, the two sides finally reached an undisclosed settlement in August. It automatically makes it a high-profile hire for Michigan State. This points to the factors that led them to hire Fitzgerald.

Michigan State sees Fitzgerald’s track record as both proven and challenging. His final two seasons at Northwestern ended on a tough note, with a 4-20 record, as the NIL era reshaped college football.

Still, his legacy is hard to ignore.

As a player, he was a high-end linebacker who won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year twice. Despite controversies and a shaky tenure, Fitzgerald has achieved two Big Ten West titles, 10 bowl game appearances, and five appearances in the AP Top 25.

‘But the main appeal is his track record of long-term consistency and a strong Big Ten resume.

Fitzgerald will also face immediate pressure to build a complete coaching staff and team from scratch. Jonathan Smith had the advantage of bringing his entire group with him, but that’s not an option for him. The new team will need to aggressively seek transfers through the portal to stay competitive in the Big Ten conference.

But it could derail as well. Remember when Tennessee got Lane Kiffin in 2009? After Phillip Fulmer’s exit, Kiffin came in to steady the ship. However, his move backfired, and what followed was player unrest, decommitments, and another coaching search to find a new person.

There is a risk, and the Spartans received concerning news.

Jonathan Smith’s move sparks concern

With Fitzgerald’s hiring, Michigan State is also monitoring its situation with Ohio safety Brayden Thomas after they fired their head coach, Jonathan Smith. The 6’1, 175 lb recruit from St. Edward’s High School is now keeping his options open. After committing to Iowa State, he made the move to the Spartans; however, with National Signing Day approaching, he is also in talks with other teams.

Coaching changes primarily influenced Thomas’s decision. With Smith’s departure, uncertainty surrounded the program, and Thomas doesn’t want to step into something like that.

Currently, Thomas holds offers from the University of Akron, Bowling Green State University, the University at Buffalo, and Colorado State University. If Thomas makes a move, Michigan State will still be left with two safety players, Jordan Vann and Eliyjah Caldwell-Hardy.

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Therefore, let’s wait and see if Pat Fitzgerald’s hiring can give Thomas any hope and keep him on the team.