Michigan State had enough competition from Power Five college football teams also hoping to hire Jonathan Smith that it added a seventh year to his contract, helping a shaken program land the former Oregon State coach.
Michigan State hired coach Jonathan Smith away from No. 15 Oregon State. The former Beaver QB was 34-35 over six seasons at Oregon State, including an 8-4 mark this year as the program earned at least eight wins in consecutive seasons.
Oregon State, which brings the No. 14 team in the country into that setting on Saturday to face the 21st-ranked Cougars. And right now, there’s no animosity from the Cougars toward the Beavers in any way.
Oregon State went 10-3 last season and returns its most talented team since coach Jonathan Smith arrived in 2018 to take over a program that had been 1-11 the previous season amid coaching turmoil.
USC, Washington State and Washington have all dismissed coaches before the end of the season. But it's likely that there are more coaching changes afoot in the Pac-12.