Jonathan Smith pushed back on parts of Michigan State’s NCAA punishment but said he wants the program to “get something behind us.”

The professor alleged that two of the university's trustees sought to paint him as a racist because of his use of the word “mob."

Michigan State's Nick Marsh, right, catches a pass as Penn State's Audavion Collins closes in during the third quarter on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. / Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After firing Mel Tucker, Michigan State turned to Jonathan Smith to bring some stability to East Lansing and build the Spartans back into a Big Ten threat.

Penn State hammered Michigan State 28-10 with a strong second-half showing in East Lansing to snap a six-game losing streak.

It took all the way until November 15, but Penn State football finally has its first conference (and Power Four) win of the season. After a demoralizing loss to Indiana, an inspired Nittany Lions group marched into East Lansing with one goal in mind: retaining the Land-Grant Trophy.

The West Michigan Partnership for Children is suing the state because the nonprofit's contract was “abruptly ended” in October.