Although many different college sports programs thrive in the state of Michigan, very few compare to the football rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans. Throughout history, these two powerhouse programs have traded wins season after season. However, as of recently, the Michigan Wolverines have surged ahead under head coach Sherrone Moore, winning the 2023 National Championship and consecutive bowl game appearances. On the other hand, the Spartans, led by head coach Jonathan Smith, have been struggling over the recent years, with four consecutive losing seasons, failing to reach a bowl game last year.
With the lack of success from one team and the overwhelming success of another, many people are wondering what’s the next step for the coaches. David Smith, South’s Latin teacher and proud Michigan fan, thinks Moore is due for a huge contract extension.
“Although Michigan has failed to win some of the major games over the last few years, they still have accomplished a lot,” Smith said. “With such a young roster and [quarterback], it’s tough to put all the blame on the coach.”
However, opinions might be different for MSU fans. Luke Parent ’26, an MSU season ticket holder, is calling for Smith to be cut. With the lack of offense despite spending millions of dollars of NIL money, and with multiple four and five-star recruits, including a top-recruited quarterback and wide receiver, Smith’s accomplishments have been underwhelming.
“Personally, I think Smith isn’t a good fit for MSU,” Parent said. “There are a ton of head coaches on the market without a team that I know would do better than Smith and help rebuild the team.”
Heading into this week’s rivalry game between Michigan and Michigan State, fans’ excitement has been down due to the lack of competitiveness between an aging MSU team and a great Michigan team. Nate Yeamans ’27, a Michigan season ticket holder,is looking forward to seeing the hopeful annihilation of the Spartans.
“I’m kind of happy Michigan is going to be playing MSU this week,” Yeamans said. “Not only is Michigan going to kill State by multiple scores, but it also allows us to try new plays and concepts before the big game against Ohio State at the end of the year.”
