Pat Fitzgerald is back in the Big Ten after a three-year absence, stepping into a rebuilding challenge at Michigan State for the 2026 season. Hired on Dec. 1 to replace Jonathan Smith, the veteran coach returns to the sideline vowing to restore a winning culture.
Return to the Sideline and Big Ten Media Days
Pat Fitzgerald stepped onto the stage at Big Ten football media days at the Hilton Chicago, signaling his return to college football coaching after a tumultuous exit from Northwestern in July 2023. During his time away, Fitzgerald spent periods as a volunteer assistant at Loyola Academy and connected with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, while his son Ryan plays for the Hawkeyes. Rather than viewing his hiatus as a permanent departure, Fitzgerald embraced the perspective of a spectator and a teacher before jumping back into the competitive fire.
Michigan State athletic leadership moved quickly to secure Fitzgerald on Dec. 1 following the departure of Jonathan Smith, whose tenure lasted just two seasons. Fitzgerald arrives in East Lansing with a clear mandate to lift a program that has endured four straight losing seasons, the longest such stretch of futility for the Spartans since 1980–83.
Resolving the Northwestern Exit and Legal Fallout
Fitzgerald’s departure from Northwestern in the summer of 2023 followed allegations of hazing within the Wildcats program. While university investigations found severe misconduct, it was determined that Fitzgerald did not direct or condone the hazing. He subsequently filed a wrongful termination lawsuit, which concluded when he settled a $130 million lawsuit against Northwestern in August 2025. In a statement following that settlement, Northwestern confirmed that its investigation found no evidence that Fitzgerald directed or condoned the hazing activities.
Reflecting on his 17 years and 110-101 record in Evanston, Fitzgerald expressed lingering fondness for his time as both a player and a coach for the Wildcats. He noted the bold leadership decisions made when Randy Walker’s death thrust him into the head coaching role at age 31 in June 2006. When Michigan State hosts Northwestern on Oct. 17 in East Lansing, Fitzgerald acknowledged that the matchup will draw heavy media attention.
Projected Outlook and Conference Realities
National prognosticators expect a steep climb for Michigan State in Fitzgerald’s debut campaign. Projections from CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford slate the Spartans for a difficult 3-9 overall record and a 1-8 mark in conference play, citing the severe penalty traditionally exacted on coaching transitions within the expanded 18-team Big Ten.
Non-conference matchups against Toledo and Eastern Michigan offer early opportunities for victories, but the schedule sharpens quickly with a road trip to Notre Dame. Conference projections anticipate tough contests against upper-tier league opponents alongside a roster transition period. Unfazed by outside forecasts, Fitzgerald emphasized the collective attitude required to navigate the grueling conference slate.
“I wouldn’t say I have a chip on my shoulder. I wouldn’t say our program has a chip on our shoulder. I’d say we have a bag of chips on our shoulder. I’ll leave it at that.”
Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan State coach
