Biggest Questions Surrounding MSU Football in 2026

Michigan State enters the 2026 season with another coaching change after a 4–8 record in 2025. Jonathan Smith was dismissed the day after the season ended, and Pat Fitzgerald was reported to be in the job about two hours later. The article frames five key questions for Fitzgerald and the Spartans. The first centers on whether Fitzgerald’s style can work quickly in today’s era, referencing his 17-year tenure at Northwestern, including his earlier departure tied to a hazing scandal and a wrongful termination settlement in August 2025. Other questions include Milivojevic’s ceiling as QB1 after starting the final four games of 2025, and which receivers will emerge among a largely unproven group.