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Michigan State Football Team History

Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
Founded: 1855
Stadium: Spartan Stadium
Capacity: 75,005
Colors: Green & Gold
Coach: Nick Saban
Conference: Big 10-

Select Year:

1885 <-- 1995 <- 1996 -> 1997 --> 2024

1996 Season Highlights

Nick Saban enters his 2nd season as Head Coach at Michigan State.

1996 Season

Date	Opponent	Score
Sat., Aug. 31	vs. Purdue	52	14	W
Sat., Sep. 7	@ Nebraska	14	55	L
Sat., Sep. 21	vs. Louisville	20	30	L
Sat., Sep. 28	vs. Eastern Michigan	47	0	W
Sat., Oct. 5	@ Iowa	30	37	L
Sat., Oct. 12	vs. Illinois	42	14	W
Sat., Oct. 19	@ Minnesota	27	9	W
Sat., Oct. 26	vs. Wisconsin	30	13	W
Sat., Nov. 2	@ Michigan	29	45	L
Sat., Nov. 9	vs. Indiana	38	15	W
Sat., Nov. 23	@ Penn State	29	32	L
Tue., Dec. 31	Stanford	0	38	L	@ El Paso, TX	Sun Bowl

1996 Season Totals
Record	6-6
Points Scored	358
Scoring Average	29.8
Points Allowed	302
Defense Average	25.2
Opponents Record	74-67
Conference Record	5-3
Home Record	5-1
Away Record	1-4

1996 NCAA Final Rankings
Rank	Record	Source
was not ranked.

1996 Big 10- Standings
	Season			Bowls	Conference
Team	W/L/T	PF	PA		W/L/T	PF	PA	Coach
Minnesota	4-7	236	340		1-7	145	281	Jim Wacker
Indiana	3-8	242	291		1-7	181	268	Bill Mallory
Illinois	2-9	190	372		1-7	149	269	Lou Tepper
Ohio State	11-1	455	131	Won 20-17	7-1	264	91	John Cooper
Northwestern	9-3	336	278	Lost 28-48	7-1	215	182	Gary Barnett
Penn State	11-2	400	203	Won 38-15	6-2	224	174	Joe Paterno
Iowa	9-3	339	243	Won 27-0	6-2	233	183	Hayden Fry
Michigan	8-4	277	184	Lost 14-17	5-3	185	131	Lloyd Carr
Michigan State	6-6	358	302	Lost 0-38	5-3	277	179	Nick Saban
Wisconsin	8-5	377	243	Won 38-10	3-5	190	203	Barry Alvarez
Purdue	3-8	194	324		2-6	146	248	Jim Colletto

1996 All American Awards
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Award	Team	Source
Coming Someday

1996 All Big 10 Conference Players
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Team	Source
Coming Someday

Some records may be incomplete.

Great Moments in College Football History

Quarterbacks from Alabama won the first three Super Bowls. They also have more Super Bowl wins than quarterbacks from any other school (Kenny Stabler 1, Joe Namath 1 and Bart Starr 2).