Michigan State football is having the best offseason in the country

Michigan State football fans aren’t used to this much good news. The Spartans may be having the nation’s best offseason thus far.

Yes, you read that correctly. Michigan State football so far is having the best offseason in the country (yes, I’m including teams that still have bowls to play). After the tumultuous end to the Mel Tucker era a few weeks ago, things are finally swinging back in the right direction.

The offseason has barely begun, yet Michigan State has made countless moves already to make the team and program much stronger.

Let’s take a look at the three things that have happened to make this offseason the best of any program in the country.

New head coach Jonathan Smith

Michigan State landing Jonathan Smith has been regarded by many reputable analysts and news sites as the best hire this offseason. Smith took over one of the worst Power Five programs in Oregon State and turned it into a top-15 team over the last few years.

Going out and getting a guy like that is always a huge deal.

But to hire a guy like that from his alma mater? That’s even more impressive. Smith was a four-year starting quarterback for the Beavers, so that fact alone shows how impressive this hire was. Smith has already shown the ability to rebuild a program, and I have no doubts that he can do the same at a better program in Michigan State.

No. 1 transfer portal QB Aidan Chiles

Michigan State’s second impressive move this offseason is landing a commitment from the best quarterback in the transfer portal, Aidan Chiles. He spent his freshman year at Oregon State with Smith where he was the backup quarterback, playing in nine games. Chiles was very impressive in those nine games, to say the least. He completed 24-of-35 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran the ball for 79 yards and three more scores. He accumulated all of these stats without throwing an interception. These are very impressive stats for a true freshman quarterback at a Power Five program.

Aidan undoubtedly will be the starting quarterback for Michigan State next season. He also can be someone who can change the program as well. There’s a good chance that many more good recruits will follow Chiles to Michigan State now that he’s committed. So the rebuild of our program could be a lot faster than we originally thought.

New defensive coordinator Joe Rossi

Lastly, Michigan State made another home run hire in new defensive coordinator Joe Rossi. He was the defensive coordinator at Minnesota but decided to jump ship and join Smith in East Lansing.

Rossi is as good as they come for defensive coordinators. He led the Gophers’ defense to a top 10 finish nationally three out of the last five years. If that doesn’t get you excited then I don’t know what will.

It is no secret that our defense has been the weakest part of our team the last few years. This includes the worst passing defense two years ago and a unit that didn’t improve much this past season. That, hopefully, will change quickly with Rossi coming in.

The offseason has only just begun, but these three moves easily give Michigan State the best start in the country. With all the momentum we now have nationally, I’d like to think our great offseason is only just beginning.