As Michigan State kicks off its Week 1 against the Toledo Rockets, this showdown also marks the return of new Spartans head coach Pat Fitzgerald to the college football world.
After being fired in 2023 following a hazing situation at Northwestern, the former coach sued the university for wrongful termination, and the two sides would not settle until 2025 on undisclosed terms.
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Fitzgerald was away from coaching for a few years while settling his lawsuit with Northwestern, but was hired in December of 2025 to coach Michigan State. Now back in the saddle of a Big Ten program, Fitzgerald was welcomed back by media members and fans all over the college world as he and his Spartans kicked off Week 1 at home.
College Football World Shows Love to Pat Fitzgerald's Return
"The first offensive drive in the Pat Fitzgerald era: 13 plays. 11 GRAHND AND PAHNDS. Touchdown. Love it," stated Pat McAfee Show's Evan Fox
.
"The Pat Fitzgerald era begins at Michigan State tonight 🗡️" posted Fox College Football
.
"When you realize Pat Fitzgerald was ripping off Top-20 seasons with a bunch of pre-med nerds and now can have actual football players," remarked another
.
"The Pat Fitzgerald Era, already better." wrote a college football fan
after Michigan State's first drive.
Sports Broadcaster Kate Constable
also took to her X account to praise the new Spartan coach, writing, "I love seeing Pat Fitzgerald back on the sidelines. Give him a few years and Michigan State will be competitive in the Big Ten again."
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Not Everyone Enjoyed Pat Fitzgerald's Comeback
Not everyone was a fan of Fitzgerald's return to coaching, especially those who remember why he was removed from his position in the first place.
One user on X
said, "Something about Pat Fitzgerald still doesn't sit well with me, idk."
"He has a disturbing presence," wrote another X user
.
"He's like Dennis Rodman…you hate him, unless he's on your team," stated a Nebraska Cornhusker fan
.
Fitzgerald has total control over the program at Michigan State, but it's clear that he has some work to do before the college football world has his back. A Week 1 win over Toledo will certainly go some way toward achieving that goal.
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This article originally appeared on
Pro Football Network
.
