ESPN insider weighs in on Chris Jans’ future after 2025-26 season
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After lifting the program to new heights throughout the first three years of his tenure, Chris Jans’ loyalty to Starkville is becoming more and more questionable amidst a trying season for Mississippi State.
Owning a 13-14 overall record and a 5-9 mark in SEC play, the Bulldogs have endured through a rollercoaster ride of a season as the team approaches the SEC Tournament.
With college basketball’s season regular season coming to an end shortly, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello delved into the upcoming coaching carousel and the many movies pieces within it.
Jans was one of the names listed under the ‘High-profile candidates to keep an eye on’ category, with Borzello explaining that Jans could be searching for a lateral move that provides a better personal fit.
After going to the NCAA tournament in each of his first three seasons in Starkville, Jans and the Bulldogs are limping toward a sub-.500 finish this season. Mississippi State is considered one of the worst jobs in the SEC, so it’s conceivable he could look to jump to another high-major program with the right fit.
After initially arriving from New Mexico State, Jans has produced a 76-54 overall record since taking over the Mississippi State program.
He’s led the Bulldogs to 21 wins and NCAA Tournament berths in all three of his campaigns in Starkville, but the 2025-2026 season has left much to be desired. The current squad appeared to manufacture some positive momentum with back-to-back wins over Auburn and Ole Miss in recent weeks, but Saturday’s road loss to South Carolina has again put a damper on things.
Jans’ Bulldogs have a tough game at No. 17 Alabama on Wednesday night. Prediction market Kalshi is taking action on the game.
Parker is currently the sports editor for the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Mississippi. He's a graduate from Mizzou who has experience covering the Tiger football and basketball beats for SB Nation, and he's worked for a variety of sports news outlets in the past.
