Michigan State athletic director J Batt knew former Spartans football coach Nick Saban from their time together at Alabama.

New athletic director J Batt plans to take a broad overview of Michigan State's sports program when he arrives, but football will be his top priority.

J Batt said Michigan State has a top-10 athletic department in the country. The school's next athletic director made it clear that the football program must lead the way to make his statement ring true.