Bowl history / MSU coaches / Future schedules

2024 Coached by Jonathan Smith (his 1st year at MSU) 5-7 (41.7%) overall, 3-6 (50%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. MSU does not qualify for a bowl game.
Aug 30	FLORIDA ATLANTIC	WON 16-10; Fri 7:00pm kickoff; ugly win filled with major penalties by MSU
Sept 7	at Maryland	WON 27-24; MD favored by 8 pts. An authentic road win!
Sept 14	PRAIRIE VIEW A&M	WON 40-0; MSU favored by 21 pts. MSU's Charles Brantley sets school record for longest touchdown by interception ("Pick 6")--- intercepts in end zone and runs it back 100+ yards.
Sept 21	at Boston College	LOST 23-19; 8:00pm kickoff in light rain; BC favored by 6.5 pts. MSU can't hold on to 4th Qtr lead.
Sept 28	OHIO STATE	LOST 38-7; 7:30pm kickoff; OSU lives up to its #3 ranking
Oct 4	at Oregon	LOST 31-10; Fri 9:00pm ET kickoff; Oregon favored by 23
Oct 19	IOWA	WON 32-20; Homecoming; 7:30pm kickoff; Iowa favored by 6.5 pts; MSU's Jonathan Kim sets MSU record for most fieldgoals in a game (6), previously held by John Langelow and Paul Edinger.
Oct 26	at Michigan	LOST 24-17; 7:30pm kickoff
Nov 2	INDIANA	LOST 47-10; MSU scores first 10 pts, then Indiana scores 47; with this win, Indiana moves to 9-0 (first time in Indiana history)
Nov 16	at Illinois	LOST 38-16
Nov 22	PURDUE	WON 24-17; game moved to Friday 8:00pm
Nov 30	RUTGERS	LOST 41-14; a nippy 11° Wind Chill at kickoff

2023 Coached by Mel Tucker (his 4th year at MSU); fired by MSU early in season. Assistant Coach Harlon Barnett appointed interim head coach. 4-8 (33.3%) overall, 2-7 (22.2%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. MSU does not qualify for a bowl game.
Sept 1	CENTRAL MICH	WON 31-7; sunny and 75° at 7:00pm kickoff; MSU wakes up in second half
Sept 9	RICHMOND	WON 45-14; another slow start for MSU. Sept 10: Mel Tucker suspended (later fired) for misconduct, thus releasing MSU from having to pay him the estimated $77 million remaining on his 10-year contract; Assistant Coach Harlon Barnett appointed interim head coach; former Head Coach Mark Dantonio appointed associate head coach.
Sept 16	WASHINGTON	LOST 41-7; Wash enters game ranked #8; Wash sets MSU record for most yards gained by an opponent (713); Harlon Barnett's first game as MSU interim head coach. Note: Wash would go on to finish runner-up to Michigan for the National Championship.
Sept 23	MARYLAND	LOST 31-9
Sept 30	at Iowa	LOST 26-16; 83° at 6:30pm CT kickoff; MSU's Jonathan Kim sets Kinnick Stadium record with 58-yd field goal.
Oct 14	at Rutgers	LOST 27-24; MSU squanders 18-point lead.
Oct 21	MICHIGAN	LOST 49-0; Mich ranked #2 in the nation; worst loss to UM since 1947. Note: UM would go on to win the National Championship.
Oct 28	at Minnesota	LOST 27-12; new MSU record for consecutive B1G losses (7)
Nov 4	NEBRASKA	WON 20-17; first win for Interim Head Coach Harlon Barnett; terrible officiating
Nov 11	at Ohio State	LOST 38-3; OSU ranked #1 in the nation
Nov 18	at Indiana	WON 24-21
Nov 25	PENN STATE	LOST 42-0; played indoors at Detroit's Ford Field

2022 Coached by Mel Tucker (his 3rd year at MSU). 5-7 (41.7%) overall, 3-6 (33.3%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. MSU does not qualify for a bowl game.
Sept 2 -	WESTERN MICH	WON 35-13; night game; MSU begins season ranked #15 nationally; score not indicative of MSU's dull performance
Sept 10	AKRON	WON 52-0; MSU enters game ranked #15 nationally; largest MSU shutout victory since Sept 28, 1957 (54-0 vs Indiana); largest margin of victory since beating Eastern Mich by 59 points in 2014
Sept 17	at Washington	LOST 39-28; MSU enters game ranked #11 nationally
Sept 24	MINNESOTA	LOST 34-7; MSU enters game unranked nationally; MSU avoids being shutout by finally scoring in the last 17 seconds of the game
Oct 1	at Maryland	LOST 27-13
Oct 8	OHIO STATE	LOST 49-20; OSU enters game ranked #3 nationally
Oct 15	WISCONSIN Homecoming	WON 34-28 (2OT); MSU finally wakes up in 4th quarter
Oct 29	at Michigan	LOST 29-7; UM enters game ranked #4 nationally; for just second time in MSU-UM series, game is a night game (7:30pm kickoff); after game, players from both teams fight in tunnel resulting in several player suspensions
Nov 5	at Illinois	WON 23-15; Illinois enters game ranked #16 nationally; after this upset win, Tucker leads FBS coaches for most road wins (4) over ranked teams in last four years
Nov 12	RUTGERS	WON 27-21
Nov 19	INDIANA	LOST 39-31 (2OT); game played in 11° Wind Chill and strong winds; MSU squanders 17-point second half lead
Nov 26	at Penn State	LOST 35-16; MSU does not qualify for a bowl game.

2021 Coached by Mel Tucker (his 2nd year at MSU). 11-2 (84.6%) overall, 7-2 (77.8%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. MSU ranked #9 in final AP poll.
Sept 4 9:00pm ET on ESPN	at Northwestern	WON 38-21; NW favored by 3 points; Kenneth Walker runs for 264 yards and 4 touchdowns (first MSU player to score 4 TDs since 2010).
Sept 11	Youngstown State	WON 42-14; MSU requires masks everywhere inside Spartan Stadium except when fans are sitting in their seats to watch the game. Many comply; many do not.
Sept 18	at #24 Miami (FL)	WON 38-17; Miami favored by 7 pts; MSU forces 4 Miami turnovers.
Sept 25	Nebraska	WON 23-20 OT; #20 MSU nationally ranked for first time since 10-5-2019; MSU favored by 4. Despite lackluster play in 2nd Half, MSU somehow finds a way to kick winning field goal in OT.
Oct 2	Western Kentucky Homecoming	WON 48-31; #17 MSU up 3 spots and favored by 5; MSU 5-0 for first time since 2015
Oct 9	at Rutgers	WON 31-13; #14 MSU up 3 spots and favored by 5; Kenneth Walker scores 94-yard touchdown, longest play from scrimmage in MSU history; Matt Coghlin sets MSU record for career field goals (72), previously held by Brett Swenson
Oct 16	at Indiana	WON 20-15; #10 MSU up 4 spots and favored by 3; MSU struggles but prevails.
Oct 30	#6 Michigan	WON 37-33; UM favored by 4; #8 MSU up 2 spots; both teams 7-0 (two of just nine FBS teams still undefeated); UM touts second best Defense in the nation; MSU's Kenneth Walker scores five touchdowns, first player ever to rush for 5 TDs against UM; MSU overcomes 16-point deficit; Tucker becomes first MSU coach to be 2-0 against UM; first time ESPN College GameDay and Fox Big Noon Saturday programs are at same game; MSU and Georgia would be the only two teams to beat UM this season, and Georgia would go on to win the national championship.
Nov 6	at Purdue	LOST 40-29; MSU #3 in College Football Playoff poll (first CFP of the season, and up 5 spots from last week's Associated Press poll); MSU one of just seven FBS teams still undefeated; MSU favored by 3; Mel Tucker signs 10-year $95 million contract with MSU (also see 9-9-2023 entry).
Nov 13	Maryland	WON 40-21; #7 MSU (down 4 spots in CFP) favored by 13
Nov 20	at #4 Ohio State	LOST 56-7; #7 MSU (same as last week) 19-point underdogs; ESPN College GameDay is there, second time this season they have been at an MSU game
Nov 27	Penn State	WON 30-27; #12 MSU (down 5 spots in CFP) favored by 1.5 pts (odds later change to favor Penn State by 5.5 when many Spartans come down with the flu); heavy, heavy snowfall throughout the game; Note of interest: Cincinnati climbs to #4, first time in the seven years of the CFP system a team outside the Power Five conferences has been ranked in Top 4.
Dec 30	Peach Bowl (Atlanta GA) vs Pittsburgh	WON 31-21; QB Payton Thorne sets MSU single-season record for throwing 26 touchdown passes; Matt Coghlin becomes leading scorer in MSU football history; MSU scores 3 touchdowns in last 8 minutes of game; with this win, MSU is 8-0 all time against Pitt.

2020 2-5 (28.6%) in Big Ten Conference regular season (no non-conference games played due to Covid19 restrictions). Coached by Mel Tucker (1st season at MSU).
July 9	B1G cancels all non-conference games due to Covid19 pandemic.
Aug 12	B1G cancels Fall 2020 football (and soccer, volleyball, cross country and field hockey).
Sept 20	B1G reinstates 2020-21 football. Teams will play eight-game conference-only schedule, followed by first-ever Champions Week. During Champions Week, each school from each division will match up with the school that finished with same standing in the opposite conference (first-place teams in each division play in the conference championship, second-place teams play each other, etc). Schedule begins Sat, Oct 24.
Oct 24	Rutgers	LOST 38-27; MSU favored by 13.5 points; Rutgers enters game with a 30-game losing streak; MSU commits seven turnovers. A pathetic first game for Mel Tucker's Spartans.
Oct 31	at #13 Michigan	WON 27-24; UM favored by 25 points; MSU scores first and never trails; Mel Tucker joins Nick Saban as only two MSU coaches ever to beat UM in their first meeting.
Nov 7	at Iowa	LOST 49-7; Iowa favored by 7 points; how MSU could lose so badly after beating #13 UM last week in Ann Arbor baffles Spartan fans.
Nov 14	#10 Indiana/td>	LOST 24-0; Indiana favored by 7 points; another pathetic Spartan performance.
Nov 21	at Maryland	Maryland favored by 6 points, but game is canceled by Maryland when too many Maryland players test positive for Covid19.
Nov 28	#8 Northwestern	WON 29-20; NW favored by 13 points; first NW loss of the season.
Dec 5	#4 Ohio State	LOST 52-12; OSU favored by 28 points
Dec 12	at Penn State	LOST 39-24
Dec 19	Maryland (Champions Week)	B1G changes format of Champions Week opponents; MSU plays fellow East Division team Maryland. Game is later canceled by Maryland when too many Maryland players continue to test positive for Covid19. Prior to game being canceled, Maryland was favored by 6 points. MSU announces they will not accept a bowl invitation. Despite a dismal 2-5 record, it was possible for MSU to receive a bowl invitation due to Covid19 affecting so many teams nationally. But Coach Tucker says his team lost interest in a bowl game after the Champions Week game with Maryland was canceled by Maryland.

2019 7-6 (53.8%) overall, 4-5 (44.4%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. Coached by Mark Dantonio (13th season at MSU). Dantonio becomes winningest coach in MSU football history by number of games. Dantonio resigns after 2019 season; replaced by Mel Tucker in Feb 2020.
Aug 30	TULSA 7:00pm on Fox	WON 28-7; MSU sets school record for least rushing yards by an opponent (-73)
Sept 7	WESTERN MICHIGAN 7:30pm on BTN	WON 51-17; MSU ranked #19, and favored by 16 points.
Sept 14	ARIZONA STATE 4:00pm on Fox	LOST 10-7; MSU ranked #18 (up one spot from last week), and favored by 12 points.
Sept 21	at Northwestern Noon ET on ABC	WON 31-10; MSU favored by 7 points. Mark Dantonio becomes winningest coach in MSU football history by number of games (110). Would go on to 114 total wins as MSU coach.
Sept 28	INDIANA Hoecoming	WON 40-31; MSU ranked #25, and favored by 14 points; score tied at 31 with just 5 seconds remaining when MSU scores field goal, then recovers IU fumble in the end zone as time expires (9 points in 5 seconds).
Oct 5	at #4 Ohio State 7:30pm ET on ABC/ESPN	LOST 34-10; OSU favored by 20 points; MSU ranked #25 (same as last week).
Oct 12	at #8 Wisconsin 3:30pm ET	LOST 38-0; Wisconsin favored by 10 points; MSU unranked.
Oct 26	#6 PENN STATE 3:30pm ET on ABC	LOST 28-7; Penn State favored by 6 points; MSU unranked.
Nov 9	ILLINOIS 3:30pm on Fox	LOST 37-34; MSU favored by 14 points; neither team ranked. MSU surrenders 25-point lead; largest comeback in Illinois school history. Brian Lewerke becomes first QB in MSU history to pass for 7,000+ yards and rush for 1,000+.
Nov 16	at #14 Michigan Noon on Fox	LOST 44-10; UM favored by 13 points.
Nov 23	at Rutgers Noon on Fox	WON 27-0; MSU favored by 20 points; neither team ranked. MSU's first road shut-out in 20 years. First time in Dantonio's 13 seasons at MSU that he starts three true freshmen on offensive line.
Nov 30	MARYLAND 3:30pm on Fox	WON 19-16; MSU favored by 21 points; neither team ranked. MSU becomes bowl-eligible.
Dec 27	New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs WAKE FOREST 3:20pm ET on ESPN	WON 27-17; MSU favored by 3 points; neither team ranked. Wake Forest enters game with 8-4 season record; MSU is 6-6. MSU QB Brian Lewerke sets school record for total career yardage (9,547). Note: In Feb 2020, Mark Dantonio resigns; is replaced by Mel Tucker from Univ of Colorado.

2018 7-6 (53.8%) overall, 5-4 (55.6%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. Coached by Mark Dantonio (12th season at MSU).
Aug 31	UTAH STATE 7:00pm on BTN	WON 38-31; First time MSU has ever played Utah State; MSU ranked #11 in AP Pre-Season Poll and favored by 24 points; Joe Bachie deflects then intercepts Utah State pass with less than two minutes remaining to preserve hard-fought win.
Sept 8	at Arizona State 10:45pm ET on ESPN	LOST 16-13; MSU ranked #15 (down 4 spots from last game) and favored by 7 points; 101° at kickoff; MSU surrenders a 10-point 4th quarter lead; ASU kicks game-winning field goal with no time remaining on clock.
Sept 22	at Indiana 7:30pm on BTN	WON 35-21; MSU ranked #24 (down 9 spots from last game) and favored by 4 points.
Sept 29	CENTRAL MICHIGAN Noon on Fox	WON 31-20; MSU ranked #21 (up 3 spots from last game) and favored by 27 points; MSU struggles after posting a 31-3 second-half lead.
Oct 6	NORTHWESTERN Homecoming	LOST 29-19; MSU ranked #20 (up 1 spot from last game) and favored by 12 points; Matt Coghlin sets MSU record for consecutive field goals (16).
Oct 13	at #8 Penn State 3:30pm on BTN	WON 21-17; Penn State favored by 14 points (MSU unranked); MSU never leads until last 19 seconds of the game, then spoils PSU's Homecoming with huge road win.
Oct 20	#6 MICHIGAN Noon on Fox	LOST 21-7; MSU ranked #24; UM favored by 7 points.
Oct 27	PURDUE Noon on ESPN	WON 23-13; MSU favored by 2 points; neither team nationally ranked; red-shirted freshman Rocky Lombardi makes his first start as MSU quarterback; MSU brings back down to earth a Purdue team that manhandled #2 Ohio State the previous week 49-20.
Nov 3	at Maryland Noon ET on ESPN2	WON 24-3; MSU favored by 2.5 points; neither team nationally ranked; with this win, MSU becomes bowl-eligible
Nov 10	#8 OHIO STATE Noon on Fox	LOST 26-6; OSU favored by 3.5 points, MSU ranked #24. Note: On 12-4-2018, 54-year-old OSU Coach Urban Meyer announced he would retire after 2019 Rose Bowl, citing health issues. Buckeyes went 82-9 under Meyer, winning one national championship. He was 7-0 against archrival Michigan. With 85.4 win percentage, he is the third-winningest coach in college football history (with a minimum 10 years at an FBS school), behind Notre Dame's Knute Rockne and Notre Dame's Frank Leahy.
Nov 17	at Nebraska Noon ET on Fox	LOST 9-6; MSU favored by 1.5 points; neither team nationally ranked; cold blustery "wintery" weather
Nov 24	RUTGERS 4:00pm on Fox	WON 14-10; MSU favored by 27 points; neither team nationally ranked
Dec 31	Redbox Bowl vs OREGON 3:00pm ET on Fox	LOST 7-6; Oregon favored by 3 points; neither team nationally ranked; MSU ranked #1 in nation in defense against the run, but struggles on offense; can only manage two field goals.

2017 10-3 (76.9%) overall, 7-2 (77.8%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. Coached by Mark Dantonio (11th season at MSU). First time MSU has ever beaten Michigan 8 times in 10 games; Bowl win is Mark Dantonio's 100th win as MSU head coach
Sept 2	BOWLING GREEN Noon on ESPNU	WON 35-10; Beautiful blue skies, 73°; MSU favored by 17.5 points; MSU overcomes sloppy start; Permanent lights for future night games at Spartan Stadium unveiled.
Sept 9	WESTERN MICHIGAN 3:30pm on BTN	WON 28-14; Beautiful blue skies, 65°; WMU enters game after giving #4 USC all they could handle the previous Saturday; MSU favored by 7 points; MSU QB Brian Lewerke scores TD on a 61-yard run; MSU defense prevents WMU from scoring any points from offense (WMU's two TDs come from a fumble return and from a 100-yard kickoff return); MSU wears all white uniforms; fans asked to wear White.
Sept 23	NOTRE DAME 8:00pm on Fox	LOST 38-18; 87° and clear skies at 8:00pm kickoff; Notre Dame favored by 3.5 points; MSU's three turn-overs and eight penalties are among many problems to solve.
Sept 30	IOWA 4:00pm on Fox	WON 17-10; MSU favored by 4 points.
Oct 7	at #7 Michigan 7:30pm on ABC	WON 14-10; First time MSU and UM have ever played each other at night; UM favored by 10 points (after this game, UM falls to #17); UM commits 5 turnovers, most of any Jim Harbaugh-coached UM team; Warm, torrential rain in second half; First time MSU has ever beaten UM 8 times in 10 games.
Oct 14	at Minnesota 8:00pm ET on BTN	WON 30-27; MSU ranked #21 (first time nationally ranked this season) and favored by 4 points; Lightning delays start of game by 34 minutes; First time MSU faces P J Fleck as Minn coach; Fleck was former coach at Western Mich where he led his 2016 Broncos to a 13-1 season, losing only to Wisconsin in bowl game.
Oct 21	INDIANA Homecoming	WON 17-9; Perfect weather, 73° and sunny at game time; MSU ranked #18 (up three spots from last week) and favored by 7.5 points; MSU never leads until 6 minutes remaining in 4th Quarter; In a rarely-seen defensive move, Indiana intentionally allows MSU to score with 1:49 remaining in 4th Quarter, hoping to give Indiana enough time to score and send game into overtime--- but Indiana fails to score; With this win, MSU becomes bowl-eligible.
Oct 28	at Northwestern 3:30pm ET on ESPN	LOST 39-31 (3OT); MSU ranked #16 (up two spots from last week) and favored by 1.5 points; MSU struggles entire game; scores touchdown with less than a minute remaining in regulation to send game into Overtime.
Nov 4	#7 PENN STATE Noon on Fox	WON 27-24; MSU ranked #24 (down eight spots from last week); Penn State favored by 7.5 points; Game suspended nearly 3½ hours in 2nd Quarter due to lightning (12:05pm game does not end until 7:03pm); MSU kicks winning Field Goal with no time remaining.
Nov 11	at #11 Ohio State Noon ET on Fox	LOST 48-3; MSU ranked #13 (up 11 spots from last week); OSU favored by 14.5 points; OSU bounces back from previous week's humiliation at Iowa (a 55-24 Buckeye loss); Most lopsided score ever in the OSU-MSU series.
Nov 18	MARYLAND 4:00 PM on Fox	WON 17-7; MSU ranked #22 (down nine spots from last week) and favored by 16.5 points; Miserable day for spectators--- cold, windy, rain, sleet, snow.
Nov 25	at Rutgers 4:00 PM ET on Fox	WON 40-7; MSU ranked #21 (up one spot from last week) and favored by 13 points; With this win, MSU "flips" its season (was 3-9 last year; 9-3 this year).
Dec 28	San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl WASHINGTON STATE 9:00pm ET on Fox	WON 42-17; MSU's 27th bowl game; MSU ranked #16 in College Football Playoffs poll (#18 in AP poll), Wash State ranked #18 in CFP (#21 in AP) and favored by 3 points; Largest margin of victory of any MSU bowl win; Mark Dantonio's 100th win as MSU head coach; Eight Big Ten teams participate in post-season bowl games; all win their games except Michigan; MSU ranked #15 in final AP poll of 2017 season; WSU drops out of Top 25.

2016 3-9 (25%) overall, 1-8 (11.1%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. Coached by Mark Dantonio (10th season at MSU). MSU has worst record since 1991; fails to qualify for a bowl game for first time since Dantonio became head coach at MSU.
Sept 2	FURMAN 7:00 PM on BTN	WON 28-13; MSU ranked #15; Furman unranked; Furman proves to be more of a challenge than many expected; MSU now has two weeks to prepare for big road game.
Sept 17	at #18 NOTRE DAME 7:30 PM ET on NBC	WON 36-28; MSU ranked #12; Notre Dame fails to recover from a 36-7 deficit.
Sept 24	#11 WISCONSIN Noon on BTN	LOST 30-6; MSU ranked #8; MSU fails to score even one touchdown.
Oct 1	at INDIANA 8:00 PM ET on BTN	LOST 24-21 OT; MSU ranked #17; Indiana unranked; MSU fails to score in Overtime; Indiana then kicks a Field Goal for the win; First time Coach Dantonio has ever lost to Indiana while at MSU; First time since Mark Dantonio started coaching at MSU (2007) that MSU has started 0-2 in the Big Ten.
Oct 8	BRIGHAM YOUNG 3:30 PM on ABC/ESPN	LOST 31-14; During pre-game, BYU surprises everyone by placing bouquets of roses at 3-yard-line (for #3 Mike Sadler) and 6-yard-line (for #6 Mylan Hicks); the former MSU football players were killed in separate tragic events in Summer 2016; MSU had not lost three consecutive games since 2009.
Oct 15	NORTHWESTERN 3:30 PM	LOST 54-40; First time since Mark Dantonio started coaching at MSU (2007) that MSU has lost four consecutive games; First time since Sept 1995 that MSU has given up 50 points or more.
Oct 22	at MARYLAND 7:30 PM ET on BTN	LOST 28-17
Oct 29	#2 MICHIGAN Noon on ESPN	LOST 32-23; UM favored by 24 points; First time since 1982 that MSU has lost six consecutive games; UM falls from #2 to #3 after this game, due to their inability to dominate MSU.
Nov 5	at ILLINOIS Noon ET on ESPN	LOST 31-27; MSU falls to 2-7, worst record in 25 years (1991).
Nov 12	RUTGERS Noon on BTN	WON 49-0; MSU ends longest losing streak in Coach Dantonio's college coaching career; MSU scores 35 points before halftime on a picture-perfect fall afternoon
Nov 19	#2 OHIO STATE Noon on ESPN	LOST 17-16; OSU favored by 22 points; After scoring a touchdown late in the 4th Quarter, MSU goes for a 2-point conversion for the win, but fails.
Nov 26	at #7 PENN STATE 3:30 PM on ESPN	LOST 45-12; Penn State favored by 11, and playing for the B1G East Division championship; MSU finishes season 3-9, worst since 1991.

2015 Big Ten Champions 12-2 (85.7%) overall, 7-1 (87.5%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. Coached by Mark Dantonio (9th season at MSU). First time MSU has ever played in new College Football Playoffs (CFP). First time MSU has finished in Top 10 three consecutive years. Class of 2015 was winningest senior class in MSU history with 43 wins (previous record: 42 wins in 2013 and 42 in 2014); part of three bowl wins (2012 Buffalo Wild Wings, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton), two Big Ten division titles (2013, 2015), and two Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015).
Sept 4	at WESTERN MICHIGAN 7:00 PM ET on ESPNU	WON 37-24; MSU opens season ranked #5 in Preseason Associated Press Poll, highest preseason ranking in this poll since 1967 (then #3); MSU also ranked #6 in Amway Preseason Coaches Poll, highest MSU has ever been ranked in this poll since the poll began in 1991; Western Michigan proves to be a tougher opponent than many thought; mounts serious threat late in game.
Sept 12	#7 OREGON 8:00 PM on ESPN	WON 31-28; For second consecutive year, ESPN's "College GameDay" 3-hour football preview program broadcasts live from MSU campus; MSU ranked #5 (behind #1 Ohio State, #2 Alabama, #3 TCU, #4 Baylor) and favored by 4 points; First time since 1966 Spartan Stadium has hosted a game with two top-10 ranked teams (#1 Notre Dame vs #2 MSU in 1966); Goodyear blimp provides aerial coverage.
Sept 19	AIR FORCE Noon on ABC	WON 35-21; MSU ranked #4 (behind #1 Ohio State, #2 Alabama, #3 TCU) and favored by 26 points.
Sept 26	CENTRAL MICHIGAN Noon on BTN	WON 30-10; MSU favored by 26 points and ranked #2 (behind Ohio State), highest ranking for MSU since 1966 when Notre Dame was #1; MSU scores 30+ points for school-best 12th-straight game.
Oct 3	PURDUE Noon on ESPN2	WON 24-21; 100th MSU Homecoming Game; MSU favored by 21 points, and still ranked #2 (behind Ohio State); Connor Cook becomes winningest quarterback in MSU history.
Oct 10	at RUTGERS 8:00 PM ET	WON 31-24; MSU ranked #4 (behind #1 Ohio State, #2 TCU, and #3 Baylor), and favored by 13 points; MSU scores go-ahead touchdown with just 43-seconds left in game.
Oct 17	at #12 MICHIGAN 3:30 PM on ESPN	WON 27-23; MSU ranked #7; UM favored by 7 points; With just 10-seconds remaining and a 2-point lead, UM punter mishandles snap; MSU recovers fumble and runs it back 38 yards for game-winning touchdown with no time remaining; MSU never leads in game until game clock reads 0:00; Game is Mark Dantonio's 100th career win; Jim Harbaugh becomes 7th consecutive UM coach to lose their first MSU-UM game (last UM coach to win his first game against MSU was in 1948 when MSU was still MSC).
Oct 24	INDIANA 3:30 PM on ABC	WON 52-26; MSU still ranked #7 , and favored by 16 points; Connor Cook passes for career high 398 yards.
Nov 7	at NEBRASKA 7:00 PM ET on ESPN	LOST 39-38; MSU ranked #7 in first College Football Playoff (CFP) poll of the season (top four CFP teams play in national college playoffs); MSU's 12-point lead evaporates in last 2 minutes of the game.
Nov 14	MARYLAND Noon on ESPN2	WON 24-7; MSU ranked #13 in CFP poll, and favored by 15 points; First time Maryland plays at MSU as a member of the Big Ten Conference.
Nov 21	at #3 OHIO STATE 3:30 PM on ABC	WON 17-14; Ohio State enters game as defending national champions, one of only two teams to beat MSU last season (national runner-up Oregon is the other team); OSU favored by 13 points; MSU ranked #9; MSU's Michael Geiger kicks 41-yard game-winning field goal as time expires; Just like Oct 17 game against Michigan, MSU never leads in game until game clock reads 0:00; MSU limits OSU to just 132 total offensive yards, lowest by any Urban Meyer team since he started coaching college football in 2001; MSU gives Urban Meyer his first Big Ten regular-season loss since he started coaching at OSU four years ago; MSU limits OSU's star running back Ezekiel Elliott to just 33 yards rushing, ending his nation-leading streak of 15 consecutive 100+ yard games; MSU limits OSU to just 5 First Downs the entire game; MSU ends OSU's 30-game Big Ten winning streak and 23-game winning streak.
Nov 28	PENN STATE 3:30 PM on ESPN	WON 55-16; MSU ranked #5 in CFP poll, and favored by 11 points; Late in 4th Quarter, senior Jack Allen (296-pound Center) takes hand-off from QB Connor Cook and "scampers" 9 yards for touchdown--- his first career carry and first career touchdown.
Dec 5	Big Ten Championship vs IOWA 8:17 PM ET on Fox	BIG TEN CHAMPIONS - WON 16-13; MSU ranked #5 in CFP poll and favored by 3.5 points; Iowa (12-0) ranked #4 in CFP; MSU uses 9-minute, 22-play drive; scores game-winning touchdown with just 27-seconds remaining; MSU plays for third time in Big Ten Championship Game (game's fifth year); MSU has 2 wins (2013 vs Ohio State, and 2015 vs Iowa) and 1 loss (2011 vs Wisconsin).
Dec 31	Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic vs ALABAMA 8:00 PM ET on ESPN	LOST 38-0; First time MSU is selected for College Football Playoffs (CFP); This game serves as a national semifinal game, part of CFP; MSU ranked #3 in CFP poll; Alabama ranked #2, and favored by 9.5 points; Alabama advances to beat #1 Clemson in Jan 2016 for its 16th national championship; Final Associated Press poll has MSU ranked #6, first time MSU has finished in Top 10 three consecutive years.

2014 Bowl Champions 11-2 (84.6%) overall, 7-1 (87.5%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. Coached by Mark Dantonio (8th season at MSU). First time MSU has ever played five regular-season night games. The only two teams to beat MSU this season (Oregon and Ohio State) would go on to play for the NCAA national championship in January 2015. First year 4-team College Football Playoff system is used to determine national champion.
Aug. 29	JACKSONVILLE STATE 7:30 PM	WON 45-7; MSU leads 38-0 at halftime
Sept. 6	at OREGON 6:30 PM ET	LOST 46-27; 90° at kickoff; MSU's 9-point lead evaporates in second half NOTE: Oregon QB Marcus Mariota goes on to win 2014 Heisman Trophy as the nation's best college football player. Oregon goes on to lose to Ohio State in the national championship game. Final Associated Press poll has Oregon ranked #2 behind Ohio State.
Sept. 20	EASTERN MICHIGAN Noon	WON 73-14; Most points ever scored by an MSU team under Coach Dantonio
Sept. 27	WYOMING Noon	WON 56-14
Oct. 4	NEBRASKA 8:00 PM	WON 27-22; Nebraska held scoreless until 3rd Quarter (17-0 at halftime); MSU's 27-3 lead in 4th Quarter shrinks as Nebraska scores 19 unanswered points; MSU intercepts Nebraska pass with just 30-seconds remaining in game.
Oct. 11	at PURDUE 3:30 PM ET	WON 45-31
Oct. 18	at INDIANA 3:30 PM ET	WON 56-17; Dantonio's 100th game as MSU's head coach; Dantonio becomes first MSU coach to ever have 70 wins in his first 100 games; Indiana's starting quarterback suffers season-ending injury just five days before this game so Hoosiers start third-string true freshman at quarterback; With this win, MSU becomes bowl-eligible for 8th consecutive season; prior to Coach Dantonio, MSU had only attended four consecutive bowl games (Coach George Perles).
Oct. 25	MICHIGAN 3:30 PM	WON 35-11; Largest margin of victory by MSU over UM since 1967; After this game, first-ever College Football Playoff (CFP) poll is released; MSU ranked #8 (top four CFP teams play in first-ever national college playoffs).
Nov. 8	OHIO STATE 8:00 PM	LOST 49-37; ESPN's "College GameDay" 3-hour football preview program broadcasts live from MSU campus at 9:00 AM; First November night game ever played at Spartan Stadium; After this loss, MSU essentially eliminated from consideration for first ever College Football Playoffs. NOTE: Ohio State goes on to beat Oregon for the national championship, amazingly with a third-string quarterback (Cardale Jones). Final Associated Press poll has Ohio State ranked #1.
Nov. 15	at MARYLAND 8:00 PM ET	WON 37-15; First time Maryland plays MSU as member of Big Ten Conference; Maryland rushes for just 6 yards
Nov. 22	RUTGERS Noon	WON 45-3; First time Rutgers plays MSU as member of Big Ten Conference; MSU leads 35-0 at halftime
Nov. 29	at PENN STATE 3:30 PM ET	WON 34-10; MSU WR R.J. Shelton returns opening kickoff 90 yards for touchdown; MSU RB Jeremy Langford sets school record for 16th straight game of 100+ yards rushing against Big Ten opponents; MSU earns fourth 10-win season in last five years.
Jan. 1, 2015	Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic BAYLOR 12:30 PM ET	WON 42-41; Trailing 41-21, MSU scores 21 unanswered 4th Quarter points to win, the last coming with just 17 seconds remaining in game; With just 2 seconds remaining in game, MSU intercepts Baylor pass; MSU RB Jeremy Langford sets school record for 10th straight game of 100+ yards rushing; MSU holds Baylor to Minus 20 yards rushing; Most combined points scored (83) in Cotton Bowl history; Eighth consecutive bowl game for MSU, all under Coach Dantonio; MSU wins fourth consecutive bowl game, first time in school history.
	College Football Playoffs (CFP)	Ohio State beats Oregon for national championship; First year 4-team College Football Playoff system is used to determine national champion; Final Associated Press poll: Ohio State* Oregon* Texas Christian Alabama MSU/Florida State (tie) * Only Ohio State (eventual #1) and Oregon (eventual #2) beat MSU this season

2013 Big Ten & Bowl Champions 13-1 (92.9%) overall, 8-0 (100%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. Coached by Mark Dantonio (7th season at MSU). NOTE: On 2-13-2018, NCAA vacates the 2013 Notre Dame win over MSU after ruling that some ND players had participated while ineligible. Had this loss not occurred, MSU would have had a perfect season--- National Champions perhaps?
Aug 30	WESTERN MICHIGAN	WON 26-13
Sept 7	SOUTH FLORIDA	WON 21-6
Sept 14	YOUNGSTOWN STATE	WON 55-17
Sept 21	NOTRE DAME	LOST 13-17; On 2-13-2018, NCAA vacates this win over MSU after ruling that some ND players had participated while ineligible. Had this loss not occurred, MSU would have had a perfect season--- National Champions perhaps?
Oct 5	IOWA	WON 26-14
Oct 12	INDIANA	WON 42-28
Oct 19	PURDUE	WON 14-0
Oct 26	ILLINOIS	WON 42-3
Nov 2	MICHIGAN	WON 29-6
Nov 16	NEBRASKA	WON 41-28; First time MSU has ever beaten Nebraska.
Nov 23	NORTHWESTERN	WON 30-6
Nov 30	MINNESOTA	WON 14-3
Dec 7	Big Ten Championship Game vs OHIO STATE	WON 34-24; MSU plays in its second Big Ten Championship Game (lost to Wisconsin in 2011).
Jan. 1, 2014	STANFORD Rose Bowl Pasadena CA	WON 24-20; 100th Rose Bowl game played; Seventh consecutive bowl game for MSU, all under Coach Dantonio; With under two minutes remaining in the game, MSU's Kyler Elsworth stops Stanford's ball carrier on 4th Down and 1; MSU wins third consecutive bowl game, first time in school history; Final Associated Press poll has MSU ranked #3.

2012 Bowl Champions 7-6 (53.8%) overall, 3-5 (37.5%) in Big Ten Conference regular season. Coached by Mark Dantonio (6th season at MSU). First time MSU has gone to six consecutive bowl games (all under Coach Dantonio).
Aug. 31	#24 BOISE STATE 8:00 PM, ESPN	WON (17-13); MSU ranked #13 and favored by 6 points; Only second time MSU plays on a Friday night at Spartan Stadium (first was 9-2-2011); Goodyear Blimp in town to cover game; 82° at kickoff; Played under a Blue Moon (second full moon of the month)
Sept. 8	at Central Michigan 3:30 PM ET, ESPNU	WON (41-7); MSU ranked #11 and favored by 20 points; First time MSU has ever played at Central Michigan (CMU sets record for home game attendance of 35,127).
Sept. 15	#20 NOTRE DAME 8:00 PM, ABC	LOST (20-3); MSU ranked #10 and favored by 5 points; Goodyear Blimp in town to cover game.
Sept. 22	EASTERN MICHIGAN 3:30 PM, Big Ten Network	WON (23-7); MSU ranked #21 and favored by 33 points; EMU's assistant coach is Mike Hart who in 2007 as a Michigan player, described MSU as being UM's "little brother."
Sept. 29	OHIO STATE 3:30 PM, ABC	LOST (17-16); Despite Ohio State's higher ranking (#14), MSU (ranked #20) favored by 3 points; ESPN College GameDay pre-game show visits campus near Beaumont Tower
Oct. 6	at Indiana Noon ET, Big Ten Network	WON (31-27); MSU unranked; favored by 16 points; Third time under Mark Dantonio that MSU has come back from a 17-point deficit to win a game
Oct. 13	IOWA Homecoming, Noon, ESPN or ESPN2	LOST (19-16, 2OT); MSU unranked; favored by 9 points
Oct. 20	at #23 Michigan 3:30 PM, Big Ten Network	LOST (12-10); UM favored by 10 points (MSU unranked)
Oct. 27	at Wisconsin 3:30 PM ET, ABC	WON (16-13, OT); Neither team ranked; Wisconsin favored by 7 points; MSU snaps Wisconsin's 21-home game winning streak (second longest in nation, behind LSU); MSU had not won at Wisconsin since 2001
Nov. 3	#21 NEBRASKA 3:30 PM, ABC	LOST (28-24); Nebraska favored by 2 points (MSU unranked); With this loss, MSU falls to 0-6 all time against Nebraska; First time Nebraska visits MSU as member of Big Ten Conference
Nov. 17	NORTHWESTERN Noon, ESPN or ESPN2	LOST (23-20); Neither team ranked; MSU favored by 7 points
Nov. 24	at Minnesota 3:30 PM ET, Big Ten Network	WON (26-10); Neither team ranked; MSU favored by 9 points; With this win, MSU becomes bowl-eligible
Dec. 29	TEXAS CHRISTIAN Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl 10:15 PM ET, ESPN	WON (17-16); First time MSU has ever gone to six consecutive bowl games (all under Coach Dantonio); MSU has longest drive in its bowl history (90 yards); MSU overcomes 13-point halftime deficit

2011 Bowl Champions 11-3 (78.6%) overall, 7-1 in Big Ten Conference regular season, inaugural Legends Division Champions. Coached by Mark Dantonio (5th season at MSU). First year Nebraska is in Big Ten Conference; first Friday night game ever played in Spartan Stadium; first year Big Ten Conference is divided into two divisions; MSU becomes first Legends Division champion and plays in first Big Ten Championship Game; first time MSU has gone to five consecutive bowl games (all under Coach Dantonio); first MSU bowl win for Dantonio
Sept. 2	YOUNGSTOWN STATE 7:30 PM, Big Ten Network	WON (28-6); MSU starts season ranked #17; First Friday night game ever played in Spartan Stadium; 84° at kickoff; MSU begins "No Bag Policy" in Spartan Stadium.
Sept. 10	FLORIDA-ATLANTIC Noon, ESPN2	WON (44-0); B.J. Cunningham becomes MSU's all-time career pass receiver; MSU's defense allows only one first-down.
Sept. 17	at Notre Dame 3:30 PM ET, NBC	LOST (31-13); MSU ranked #15.
Sept. 24	CENTRAL MICHIGAN Noon, ESPNU	WON (45-7); MSU unranked.
Oct. 1	at Ohio State 3:30 PM, ABC	WON (10-7); MSU unranked; First MSU victory in Columbus since 1998.
Oct. 15	#11 MICHIGAN Noon, ESPN	WON (28-14); MSU ranked #23; First time in 49 years MSU has beaten UM four consecutive years (1959-62); MSU wears special "Pro-Combat" uniform, designed for one-time use by just nine NCAA schools in 2011 season.
Oct. 22	#4 WISCONSIN Homecoming, 8:00 PM, ESPN	WON (37-31); MSU ranked #15 (#16 in first BCS rankings of the season); ESPN College GameDay pre-game show visits campus at parking lot south of Munn Ice Arena; Keith Nichol catches Kirk Cousins' "Hail Mary" pass as time expires; Video Replay overturns ruling on field and confirms Nichol's winning touchdown; First time under Mark Dantonio that an MSU team plays without committing a single penalty the entire game.
Oct. 29	at Nebraska Noon ET, ESPN	LOST (24-3); MSU ranked #9 (#11 in BCS)
Nov. 5	MINNESOTA Noon, Big Ten Network	WON (31-24); MSU ranked #15 (#17 in BCS)
Nov. 12	at Iowa Noon ET, ESPN2	WON (37-21); MSU ranked #13 (#17 in BCS); Seniors become winningest class in MSU history (34 wins)
Nov. 19	INDIANA Noon, Big Ten Network	WON (55-3); MSU ranked #12, highest two-loss team in current AP rankings (#15 in BCS); MSU earns share of Big Ten's Legends Division title; will play Leaders Division champions in inaugural Big Ten Championship Game on December 3.
Nov. 26	at Northwestern Noon ET, Big Ten Network	WON (31-17); MSU ranked #11 (#14 in BCS); Kirk Cousins throws 62nd touchdown pass, surpassing Jeff Smoker for throwing most touchdown passes in MSU history; MSU secures sole possession of Big Ten's Legends Division.
Dec. 3	WISCONSIN Big Ten Championship Game 8:00 PM ET, Fox TV Network	LOST (42-39); MSU ranked #11 (#13 in BCS); First year for Big Ten Conference to have two divisions and host a Championship Game between the two.
Jan. 2, 2012	GEORGIA Outback Bowl	WON (33-30, 3OT); MSU ranked #12 (#17 in BCS); MSU overcomes 16-point deficit to win in triple overtime by blocking Georgia's field goal attempt; First time MSU has ever gone to five consecutive bowl games (all under Coach Dantonio); First MSU bowl win for Dantonio.

2010 Big Ten Co-Champions 11-2 (85%) overall, 7-1 in Big Ten Conference (Big Ten Co-champions with Ohio State and Wisconsin). Coached by Mark Dantonio (4th season at MSU). First time MSU has ever been 7-0 at home; Dantonio named "Coach of the Year" by Big Ten Conference media; named "Region 3 Coach of the Year" by American Football Coaches Association; MSU finishes season ranked #14 nationally.
Sept. 4	WESTERN MICHIGAN Noon ET, ESPN2	WON (38-14)
Sept. 11	at Florida-Atlantic Played at Detroit's Ford Field, Noon ET, ESPNU	WON (30-17)
Sept. 18	NOTRE DAME 8:00 PM ET, ABC	WON (34-31 OT); MSU scores game-winning touchdown on fake field goal (play nicknamed "Little Giants"). Soon after game, Coach Dantonio suffers heart attack; is admitted to hospital.
Sept. 25	NORTHERN COLORADO Noon ET, Big Ten Network	WON (45-7); Dantonio recuperates at home; Offensive Coordinator Don Treadwell coaches in interim.
Oct. 2	WISCONSIN 3:30 PM ET, ABC	WON (34-24); Dantonio watches game on hospital TV after being re-admitted, this time for blood clot in leg; Treadwell coaches; First time Dantonio is 5-0 at MSU.
Oct. 9	at Michigan 3:30 PM ET, ABC	WON (34-17); Dantonio coaches from Press Box; Treadwell coaches sideline; First time in 43 years MSU has beaten UM three consecutive years (1965-67).
Oct. 16	ILLINOIS Homecoming; Noon ET, Big Ten Network	WON (26-6); Dantonio again coaches from Press Box; Treadwell coaches sideline; Scottish actor Gerard Butler, who played King Leonidas in major motion picture "300," attends game, entertains crowd.
Oct. 23	at Northwestern Noon ET, ESPN	WON (35-27); MSU overcomes 17-point 2nd quarter deficit with fake punt (play nicknamed "Mousetrap"); Dantonio returns to coaching from sideline, first time since Notre Dame game; First time in 44 years MSU has been 8-0 (1966); After this win, MSU ranked #5 in BCS; highest BCS ranking ever for MSU.
Oct. 30	at Iowa 3:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN	LOST (37-6)
Nov. 6	MINNESOTA Noon ET, Big Ten Network	WON (31-8)
Nov. 20	PURDUE Noon ET, Big Ten Network	WON (35-31); Down by 15, MSU scores 22 points in last 11 minutes to win; First time MSU has ever been 7-0 at home.
Nov. 27	at Penn State Noon ET, ESPN2	WON (28-22); First win in Happy Valley since 1965; first time MSU has ever been 11-1 in regular season; Seniors become winningest class in MSU history (33 wins); MSU wins share of Big Ten title, first conference championship since 1990; MSU finishes at #9 in final BCS rankings.
Jan. 1, 2011	ALABAMA Capital One Bowl, Orlando, FL	LOST (49-7); Alabama coached by former MSU head coach Nick Saban (Dantonio was assistant to Saban at MSU) and former MSU head coach Bobby Williams; Alabama had been ranked #1 for first five weeks of season; After game, MSU Offensive Coordinator Don Treadwell leaves MSU for head coaching job at Miami of Ohio (Treadwell coached four games this season while Dantonio recuperated from heart attack).

2009 6-7 (46%) overall, 4-4 in Big Ten Conference (6th place, tied with Purdue). Coached by Mark Dantonio (3rd season at MSU).
Sept. 5	MONTANA STATE	WON (44-3)
Sept. 12	CENTRAL MICHIGAN	LOST (29-27)
Sept. 19	at Notre Dame	LOST (33-30)
Sept. 26	at Wisconsin	LOST (38-30)
Oct. 3	MICHIGAN	WON (26-20 OT); First consecutive wins over Michigan in 42 years (1966-67).
Oct. 10	at Illinois	WON (24-14)
Oct. 17	NORTHWESTERN	WON (24-14)
Oct. 24	IOWA	LOST (15-13)
Oct. 31	at Minnesota	LOST (42-34)
Nov. 7	WESTERN MICHIGAN	WON (49-14)
Nov. 14	at Purdue	WON (40-37)
Nov. 21	PENN STATE	LOST (42-14)
Jan. 2, 2010	TEXAS TECH Valero Alamo Bowl, San Antonio, TX	LOST (41-31); MSU plays without numerous key players suspended after November 22 incident at MSU dormitory.

2008 9-4 (69%) overall, 6-2 in Big Ten Conference (3rd place, behind Co-Champions Penn State and Ohio State). Coached by Mark Dantonio (2nd season at MSU). MSU wins every game they were favored to win.
Aug. 30	at California	LOST (38-31)
Sept. 6	EASTERN MICHIGAN	WON (42-10)
Sept. 13	FLORIDA-ATLANTIC	WON (17-0); First shut-out by MSU in Spartan Stadium since 1996; first shut-out by MSU since 1999.
Sept. 20	NOTRE DAME	WON (23-7); MSU running back Javon Ringer becomes first in Big Ten history to earn conference "Offensive Player of the Week" award three consecutive weeks (games of 205, 282, and 201 yards rushing).
Sept. 27	at Indiana	WON (42-29)
Oct. 4	IOWA	WON (16-13)
Oct. 11	at Northwestern	WON (37-20)
Oct. 18	OHIO STATE	LOST (45-7)
Oct. 25	at Michigan	WON (35-21)
Nov. 1	WISCONSIN	WON (25-24)
Nov. 8	PURDUE	WON (21-7); MSU earns first 9-win season since 1999; With 16 wins in his first two seasons, Mark Dantonio becomes winningest second-year MSU football coach.
Nov. 22	at Penn State	LOST (49-18)
Jan. 1, 2009	GEORGIA Capital One Bowl, Orlando, FL	LOST (24-12)

2007 7-6 (54%) overall, 3-5 in Big Ten Conference (four-way tie for 7th place). Coached by Mark Dantonio (1st season at MSU). No MSU loss is by more than 7 points.
Sept. 1	ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM	WON (55-18); Only game back-up quarterback Nick Foles ever plays in for MSU, and plays sparingly; in 2018, Foles would become MVP of Superbowl LII champion Philadelphia Eagles
Sept. 8	BOWLING GREEN	WON (28-17)
Sept. 15	PITTSBURGH	WON (17-13)
Sept. 22	at Notre Dame	WON (31-14); MSU becomes first team to win six straight at Notre Dame; Mark Dantonio becomes first to win first four games as new head coach at MSU.
Sept. 29	at Wisconsin	LOST (37-34)
Oct. 6	NORTHWESTERN	LOST (48-41 OT)
Oct. 13	INDIANA	WON (52-27)
Oct. 20	at Ohio State	LOST (24-17)
Oct. 27	at Iowa	LOST (34-27 2OT)
Nov. 3	MICHIGAN	LOST (28-24); MSU and Michigan meet on football field for 100th time; After game, UM player Mike Hart describes MSU as being UM's "little brother," to which Dantonio replies, "Mock us all you want. It's not over. It'll never be over."
Nov. 10	at Purdue	WON (48-31); MSU becomes bowl-eligible for first time since 2003.
Nov. 17	PENN STATE	WON (35-31); MSU overcomes 17-point 3rd quarter deficit to earn 7-5 season and assure bowl assignment.
Dec. 28	BOSTON COLLEGE Champs Sports Bowl, Orlando, FL	LOST (24-21)

2006 4-8 overall (33%), 1-7 in Big Ten Conference (tied with Illinois for last place). Coached by John L. Smith (4th season at MSU; fired after loss to Indiana; remains Head Coach through end of season). First year Big Ten Conference goes to a 12-game regular season.
Sept. 2	IDAHO	WON (27-17)
Sept. 9	EASTERN MICHIGAN	WON (52-20)
Sept. 16	at Pittsburgh	WON (38-23)
Sept. 23	NOTRE DAME	LOST (40-37)
Sept. 30	ILLINOIS	LOST (23-20)
Oct. 7	at Michigan	LOST (31-13)
Oct. 14	OHIO STATE	LOST (38-7)
Oct. 21	at Northwestern	WON (41-38); MSU overcomes 35-point deficit (biggest comeback in NCAA Division 1A history); scores 38 unanswered points.
Oct. 28	at Indiana	LOST (46-21)
Nov. 4	PURDUE	LOST (17-15)
Nov. 11	MINNESOTA	LOST (31-18)
Nov. 18	at Penn State	LOST (17-13)