Pat Fitzgerald speaks at Big Ten Media Days for Michigan State
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 29, 2026, 9:50 PM
Last updated Jul 29, 2026
Pat Fitzgerald, the new head coach for Michigan State football, spoke at the Big Ten Media Days in Chicago on July 29. After a 4-8 season last year, the Spartans are projected to finish 17th in the 18-team conference. Fitzgerald, a Midlothian native, previously coached Northwestern from 2006 to 2022, achieving a record of 110-101. He aims to improve MSU's recent struggles, which include missing out on bowl games five times in six seasons. The Spartans released their preseason roster before Fitzgerald's appearance.
- •Fitzgerald replaced Jonathan Smith as head coach on December 1.
- •MSU has a 33-38 record since Mark Dantonio's retirement in 2019.
- •The preseason camp roster was released on July 29.
- •Fitzgerald led Northwestern to two West Division titles during his tenure.
- 9:50 PMYahoo Sports — Back in the Big Ten, Pat Fitzgerald says he and Michigan State have ‘a bag of chips on our shoulder’
- 4:00 PMYahoo Sports — Michigan State's Pat Fitzgerald at Big Ten Media Days: Live updates
"Pat Fitzgerald stepped onto the stage at Big Ten football media days for the first time in three years Wednesday, but the Michigan State coach said he felt like he was never really out of the game. Fitzgerald told a ballroom full of reporters at the Hilton Chicago that he hadn’t just been playing golf and sitting on the beach “sipping something strong” since Northwestern fired him in July 2023. ...
"Pat Fitzgerald is back in the Windy City. Only this time, he's wearing green instead of purple.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJul 29, 2026, 9:50 PMBack in the Big Ten, Pat Fitzgerald says he and Michigan State have ‘a bag of chips on our shoulder’
Pat Fitzgerald stepped onto the stage at Big Ten football media days for the first time in three years Wednesday, but the Michigan State coach said he felt like he was never really out of the game. Fitzgerald told a ballroom full of reporters at the Hilton Chicago that he hadn’t just been playing golf and sitting on the beach “sipping something strong” since Northwestern fired him in July 2023. ...
- Yahoo SportsJul 29, 2026, 4:00 PMMichigan State's Pat Fitzgerald at Big Ten Media Days: Live updates
Pat Fitzgerald is back in the Windy City. Only this time, he's wearing green instead of purple.
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