Second-year Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith Oregon State a year ago for a more solidified position in the best conference in the country. While it had to be tough to leave his alma mater after building it back up,
When he came to East Lansing, he brought some key players with him via the transfer portal. Guys like Aidan Chiles, Tanner Miller, and Jack Velling followed their head coach to his new job, and they all started in 2024. The Oregon State transfers were key to helping the transition from Mel Tucker to Smith, but the Spartans lost Miller to graduation this offseason.