Michigan State football: Year 1 of Jonathan Smith officially a failure

Before the season, Vegas set the win total for Michigan State football at 4.5 and fans thought that was the freest bet of the year. Jonathan Smith was dubbed the best hire of the offseason by some experts and fans were finally buying back in after two forgettable seasons.

Through the first three weeks, Michigan State looked like it was going to exceed expectations and cruise to bowl eligibility.

Fast forward to the season finale and it was clear that the Spartans regressed in almost every category outside of turnovers. Play-calling got less and less creative, the defense missed more assignments, and the offensive line couldn’t block anyone.

Jack Velling, last season’s touchdown leader at tight end, had zero touchdowns until the fourth quarter of the final game of the season, Aidan Chiles struggled because his offensive line gave him no time all year, the run game suffered because of the line and play-calling, and the defense suffered a slew of injuries that probably hurt any chance they had of improving.

The Spartans held their own against Ohio State and Oregon more than they had in the previous few seasons against top teams and then came out of a bye to beat Iowa. Then they lost to Michigan in a game that was essentially handed away and the wheels fell off against Indiana and Illinois. Michigan State snuck by Purdue after building a 24-3 lead and not scoring in the second half. And then the Spartans had a clunker of a Senior Day against Rutgers, losing 41-14.

With the loss in the finale and 2-7 finish after a 3-0 start to the year, Michigan State football will be staying home during bowl season for a third straight season.

To me, missing a bowl game with this schedule and after a 3-0 start has to be considered a failure, regardless of what Vegas said in the preseason. The Spartans only improved by one win from the worst season since 2016. I can say this year was a failure for the new staff.