Top Michigan State Players Abruptly Enter Transfer Portal

By Anne EricksonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Tis the season for colleges to make major coaching changes after the 2025 season, and that's been the case with a plethora of school, including LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State and Penn State.

On Monday, Michigan State University officially named Pat Fitzgerald the new head coach of the Spartans' football program. The change came after the university parted ways with head coach Jonathan Smith, who closed out his two-year run 9-15 with a 4-14 record in Big Ten play.

Fitzgerald's overall record is 110-101 from his 17 seasons as head coach at Northwestern University. Those 110 wins rank 14th all-time for a Big Ten football coach, according to research from MSU, and his five bowl game victories rank tied for 12th among conference coaches.

"Pat Fitzgerald is widely recognized as an exceptional football coach, whose teams play with extreme toughness and grit, demonstrate continual improvement and maximize potential," MSU vice president and director of athletics J Batt said in a statement. "Pat is an excellent fit for Michigan State Football, as he understands the Big Ten, has great relationships throughout the Midwest and embodies the values on which our program was built."

More College Football: Lane Kiffin’s Immediate Ole Miss Replacement Revealed

Ben Roberts #55 of the Michigan State Spartans tackles Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

...

More Football: NFL Reaches Punishment Decision After Patrick Mahomes Incident vs Colts

"I am honored to be named the head football coach at Michigan State University," Fitzgerald said in the school's announcement release. "I'd like to thank President Guskiewicz and Athletics Director Batt for this opportunity. This is a program with a deep and storied tradition, a passionate fan base, and a commitment to excellence that extends far beyond the football field."

Not all of MSU's players are sticking around for the Fitzgerald era, however.

Michigan State's leading rusher, Makhi Frazier, and top receiver, Nick Marsh, have both announced that they plan to enter the transfer portal. Smith originally recruited them to join the program.

But four-star quarterback Kayd Coffman has confirmed that he still plans to sign with MSU early on signing day. He has played football at East Kentwood and is the No. 18 QB in the class of 2026, according to research from the Rivals Industry Rankings.

"Thank you, Coach Smith and the staff for believing in me," he announced on X on Monday. "With that being said I will be signing this Wednesday."

Having their star quarterback confirm that he'll stay with the program is huge for the Spartans after Smith's dismissal. Coffman first committed to Michigan State in February, after fielding offers from Ole Miss, Cincinnati, Colorado, Duke, Iowa State and Syracuse.

Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines