If you’re a Michigan State supporter right now, the situation is less than favorable. The program has been struggling with poor performance season after season since 2015, and no head coach has found a solution to the decline. Over the past ten years, MSU has changed coaches three times, but none have been able to replicate the success that Duffy Daugherty achieved with the team in the 1960s. Despite these challenges, MSU managed to maintain a reputation as a competitive program, and teams still feared them during Mark Dantonio’s tenure. However, since then, the program has experienced a downward spiral, consistently ranking at the bottom of the FBS. Recently, this misery has intensified due to a new revelation.

Alan Haller, the athletic director of Michigan State, joined the program in 2021 with high hopes and ambitious plans. However, over the past three years, the football team has become increasingly disappointing. During his tenure, Haller failed to secure significant NIL funding, which is crucial for every program today. Michigan State required more than $10 million annually to remain competitive, but Haller’s efforts did not yield the necessary results. Consequently, the outcome has been far from positive.

Matt Sheehan of ‘Sheehan_Sports‘ and an MSU insider talked about the steep decline in recruiting this season for MSU. “I’m talking just three guys that are rated four stars that are scheduled to visit. Now there’s plenty of time, of course, to get more guys to schedule their visits. They could add more, they probably will add more. But that is a very low number of guys that are rated four stars, and you’re not even guaranteed to get somewhere in those guys.”

Well, the effects should be apparent since Haller is now reportedly leaving MSU after 12th May, as his contract expires this year in September. The departure was always on the cards after Haller’s subpar performance as AD. The consequence will be far-fetched. Even head coach Jonathan Smith, who was hired by Haller after Mel Tucker’s abrupt dismissal, is facing a dilemma of his own. His buyout is being reduced to 50% ($3 million), and this presents a scenario for Smith to stick or twist.

Sticking isn’t an option for Jonathan Smith after last year’s 5-7 season and 4-8 finish in 2023. Twisting, however, may not be going so well for the man now. “Gregory Patrick, that is a guy that the staff has been on ever since they arrived in East Lansing. He is a legacy kid. He’s from Michigan. And oh, yeah, he’s now a Notre Dame commit.” Sheehan said and then provided another prospect who was poached. “Now we go to Kelvin Obot, who’s also a four-star guy; he visits Michigan State in March or maybe it was April. Nevertheless, it was 10 days later, after an official visit, that he came out with his top five schools. (MSU) didn’t even make the top five. So we’re already on our plan C.”

The scenario with the Spartans right now is quite grim. They are currently ranked 50th nationally in recruitment and 14th in the Big 10. Moreover, their previous classes also weren’t any good, as they finished 43rd in the 2024 class and were ranked at the bottom (12th) in the Big 10. Now, with the departure of their AD, the situation will go more into the realm of fantasy than reality. The 2025 season, too, will be crucial for Jonathan Smith, as underperformance in this one can eventually make MSU show him the door.

Michigan State’s new athletic director decided?

Now, even if the rumblings and after-effects of Haller’s departure were there, the program would still need to find a new AD as soon as possible. This is something that would be paramount: someone who can convince those billionaire alums to donate to the collective. We have seen programs like Missouri standing a whopping 10th in NIL collective money this year. So, if MSU treads meticulously, they can still make a comeback. But who will be the AD then?

Andy Staples of ON3 gave a scenario where Bubba Cunningham could come to MSU from Bill Belichick’s UNC. “The current president of Michigan State, Kevin Guskiewicz, is the former chancellor of North Carolina. He worked very closely with Bubba Cunningham, the athletic director of North Carolina. He did not want to hire Bill Belichick; he was looking for a traditional hire. So, if you’re Bubba Cunningham and Michigan State’s calling, you’re on the first flight.”

Well, the move can certainly happen, considering the tremors that are being felt in Chapel Hill. It started from a recent interview of Bill Belichick, where his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, allegedly took control. The head coach even had to issue a statement after that, but the damage was already done. Many at UNC are uncomfortable with Belichick running the program like an NFL team. So, all in all, all of these reasons could certainly convince Bubba Cunningham to come to MSU.