IOWA CITY, IA — Only one more chance remains for Michigan State football to end a losing streak.
And for Jonathan Smith to repair some of his tarnished image to a frustrated fanbase.
After the Spartans’ latest collapse, a 20-17 loss at Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 22, the second-year head coach is just 3-13 against Big Ten competition. And those three wins, all from 2024, were vacated when MSU accepted an NCAA punishment earlier this month for violations that occurred under ex-coach Mel Tucker.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnother week, another downtrodden locker room, another blown second-half lead – the second in three games – when it looked like a respite was near.
Michigan State Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith talks with an official during the second quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday, Nov. 22.INSIDE THE SPARTANS: Michigan State football's calls that backfired in collapse at Iowa
“That's where I'm back to it's painful. Not just on those guys, but as coaches, how much we work and we see these guys work,” Smith said at Kinnick Stadium after the Spartans blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. “We want them to see a better result at the end."
MSU (3-8, 0-8 Big Ten) now faces the prospect of going winless in Big Ten for just the second time in program history, with the only other time coming when Duffy Daugherty’s 1958 team went 0-5-1 (with a tie against Michigan). The ongoing losing streak ties the second-longest in MSU history, matching eight straight losses – the finale in 1981 and seven straight to start 1982 under Muddy Waters. The program record is 10 straight over the 1916-17 seasons.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIowa coach Kirk Ferentz, now in his 27th season, understands those pains. In his first two seasons, the Hawkeyes lost 13 in a row. They snapped it, eventually, and he finally got his first Big Ten win ... against a ranked MSU squad led by coach Bobby Williams at Kinnick Stadium in 2000.
“These guys had every reason just to kind of pack it up. And believe me, there's a lot of people who don't mind doing that sometimes,” said Ferentz, who is now 211-128 with the Hawkeyes. “But it was clear their players made a decision – I assume it starts with the coaching staff – they made a decision they're going to keep playing and keep playing competitively.
“What they did against Minnesota and a week ago against a really talented Penn State team, it shows they're doing things right. Most importantly, the players are doing things right, which means they're getting good guidance from their coaches.”
Nov 22, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz reacts during the second quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn ImagesThe Spartans have one chance to avoid matching Daugherty's squad with a Big Ten 0-fer, closing their third straight losing season – and fourth in the past five years – with a finale against Maryland at Ford Field in Detroit on Nov. 29 (7 p.m., FS1). MSU has not made a bowl since 2021.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Losing’s tough,” Smith said. “But that’s what we all sign up for – to play this competitive game.”
Ferentz credited the Spartans’ fight and Smith’s teachings.
“It's part of the process. Sometimes you've got to fail to succeed,” he said. “If you're doing it right, you'll learn from your failure. That's what I say across the way. Not that I'm coaching their team, but I've had great respect, and I have great respect for Jonathan as a person. His resume to me speaks to me.”
To the credit of Smith and the players, the Spartans have continued to fight and vow to stick together for one final crack at ending with a win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I’m gonna say this now. … The (negativity) that coach Smith gets, it appalls me,” linebacker Jordan Hall said of Smith. “He’s a great coach, a great man, and he leads well. And I stand by him.”
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith gets support from Kirk Ferentz
AdvertisementAdvertisement
