After FootballScoop first reported the news back on Wednesday, Michigan State announced Jonathan Smith as its 26th head coach on Saturday.
Smith will be introduced in an on-campus press conference "early next week."
"Today is an exciting day for Michigan State as we welcome Jonathan Smith, wife Candice, and children Robert, Bella and Charles to our Spartan family," said Michigan State AD Alan Haller. "Jonathan has a proven track record of success, building the Oregon State program from the ground up by implementing a plan resulting in sustained historic success for the Beavers. He's been a part of championship staffs, coached in the College Football playoff, and understands what's required to be successful at the highest level, learning from some of the game's most successful coaches."
Haller relieved Michigan State's current staff of duties earlier Saturday morning, indicating Smith could bring most or all of his Oregon State staff with him.
An Oregon State graduate, Smith steadily upgraded his alma mater's program in his six seasons at the helm. After going 9-22 over his first three seasons, Smith went 25-13 over the last three. The 2022 campaign saw the Beavers win 10 games, defeat Oregon in the Civil War, rout Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl, and finish No. 17 in both polls. He was named the Pac-12 co-coach of the year for his efforts that season.
Oregon State concluded its regular season at 8-4 on Friday night.
— Jonathan Smith (@Coach_Smith) November 25, 2023
Michigan State also concluded its season on Friday night with a 42-0 loss to No. 11 Penn State.
After going 11-2 with a win over Michigan, a Peach Bowl victory over ACC champion Pitt and a No. 9 finish in 2021, the Spartans slunk back to 5-7 in 2022 and stumbled through a 4-8 transition season this fall.
Michigan State is the first program to complete an external hire in the 2023-24 cycle. Northwestern named interim head coach David Braun to the full-time position on Nov. 15.
Smith's move throws Oregon State even further into a state of turmoil. Oregon State currently does not have a conference to compete in for next season, and now must market itself to prospective head coaches only having a faint idea what tomorrow holds.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.