“Just when I think you couldn’t possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this… and totally redeem yourself!”

Hopefully we’ll be laughing and quoting that line for years to come as Jonathan Smith turns Michigan State into a perennial playoff contender. But for those of us still living on planet Earth, that dream feels pretty far-fetched right now.

At this point, Smith’s seat is as hot as the sun we orbit.

At Oregon State, Smith started off rough — a 9-22 record through his first three seasons. But in Year 4, things started to turn. The Beavers went 7-6 and made a bowl appearance. From there, momentum built: in 2022, Oregon State went 10-3, won their bowl game, and finished 17th in the nation. The following year, another winning season (8-4) and another bowl win capped off Smith’s tenure at 34-35 overall — but with three straight bowl appearances and back-to-back-to-back winning years.

That résumé was the appeal when Michigan State brought him from the West Coast to the Big Ten. But the transition has been anything but smooth. Smith inherited a program in shambles and produced just five wins in his first season — an underwhelming debut that raised eyebrows about whether he was up to the challenge.

In 2025, things looked promising early. The Spartans opened 3-0, including a shootout win over Boston College. But now, after three straight losses, the “Fire Smith” chants have started to echo louder. The latest defeat — a flat, uninspired showing at home against UCLA — was brutal.

Despite being favored, Michigan State looked lifeless after the opening drive. Aidan Chiles’ injury only added salt to the wound, leaving fans wondering what’s happening behind the scenes. Fair or not, those questions always circle back to the head coach.

At Oregon State, Smith needed four full years before reaching a winning season — but Michigan State isn’t Oregon State. Expectations are sky-high. The playoff is now expanded, NIL is leveling the playing field, and MSU has every opportunity to compete. Yet, somehow, this team continues to look as dull as a butter knife against inferior opponents.

I’m not saying Jonathan Smith should be fired. But the question is fair to ask: is a season and a half too soon to pull the trigger on a coach who’s shown he can build a winner — or have we already seen enough?

Only time will tell. In the meantime, Spartan Nation — comment below: Is it time to pull the hook, or let it ride?