The NCAA hammer has officially dropped on Michigan State. It’s a tough chapter for Spartan Nation. The Spartans are facing 3 years of probation for violations tied to Mel Tucker’s tenure. Three ineligible players took the field, and now the program must pay the price in the record books. Michigan State will vacate all 14 wins from the past three seasons. That even includes the five victories from Jonathan Smith’s debut campaign, turning a year of new hope into a line of erased history.

Over the next three years, the Spartans will serve probation and pay a $30,000 fine plus 1.5% of their football budget. Recruiting will take a big hit, with fewer official and unofficial visits, and reduced person-days stretching through 2028. Home games in 2025, 2026, and 2027 will feature limited attendance, while communication blackouts and recruiting freezes will challenge the staff’s creativity. It seems like a reminder that every win must be earned the right way.

This is a developing story….