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Schedule & Results
Schedule posted on MSU website / Future schedules / Big Ten divisions
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2012
Coached by Mark Dantonio (his 6th season)
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Notes
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Date | Opponent
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MSU Won/Lost (score)
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Aug. 31
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BOISE STATE Night game
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- Only second time a night game is ever played at Spartan Stadium on a Friday (see 2011)
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Sept. 8
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at Central Michigan
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- First time MSU has ever played at Central Michigan (?)
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Sept. 15
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NOTRE DAME
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-
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Sept. 22
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EASTERN MICHIGAN
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-
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Sept. 29
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OHIO STATE
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-
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| Oct. 6 |
at Indiana
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-
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| Oct. 13 |
IOWA Homecoming
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-
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| Oct. 20 |
at Michigan
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- If MSU wins, will be first time MSU has ever beaten UM five consecutive years
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| Oct. 27 |
at Wisconsin
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-
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| Nov. 3 |
NEBRASKA
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-
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| Nov. 17 |
NORTHWESTERN
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-
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| Nov. 24 |
at Minnesota
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- |
Dec. 1 |
Big Ten Championship Game Divisional winners play (at Indianapolis, IN?) |
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| ? |
Bowl game ? |
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2013 (schedule subject to change) - Western Michigan, Southern Florida, Youngstown State, at Notre Dame, at Iowa, Indiana, Purdue,
at Illinois, Michigan, at Nebraska, at Northwestern
2014 (schedule subject to change) - Jacksonville State, at West Virginia, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, at Michigan, at Indiana,
Northwestern, at Purdue, Nebraska, Iowa, at Minnesota
2011
11-3 (78.6%) overall, 7-1 in Big Ten Conference regular season, inaugural Legends Division Champions
Coached by Mark Dantonio (his 5th season)
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| Notes - 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 MSU bowl win for Coach Dantonio.
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| Date | Opponent | MSU Won/Lost (score) |
| Sept. 2 |
YOUNGSTOWN STATE 7:30 PM Big Ten Network |
W (28-6) MSU starts season ranked #17 nationally by Associated Press... First Friday night game ever played in Spartan Stadium (84F at kick-off)... MSU begins "No Bag" Policy in Spartan Stadium. |
| Sept. 10 |
FLORIDA-ATLANTIC Noon ESPN2 |
W (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 |
L (31-13) MSU enters game ranked #15 nationally by Associated Press. |
| Sept. 24 |
CENTRAL MICHIGAN Noon ESPNU |
W (45-7) MSU enters game unranked nationally by Associated Press. |
| Oct. 1 |
at Ohio State 3:30 PM ABC |
W (10-7) MSU enters game unranked nationally by Associated Press... First MSU victory in Columbus since 1998. |
| Oct. 15 |
MICHIGAN Noon ESPN |
W (28-14) MSU enters game ranked #23 nationally by Associated Press, UM ranked #11... 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 |
WISCONSIN Homecoming 8:00 PM ESPN |
W (37-31) MSU enters game ranked #15 nationally by Associated Press (#16 in first BCS rankings of the season); Wisconsin ranked #4 nationally (#6 in BCS)... ESPN GameDay broadcasts live from MSU campus... 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 |
L (24-3) MSU enters game ranked #9 nationally by Associated Press (#11 in BCS) |
| Nov. 5 |
MINNESOTA Noon Big Ten Network |
W (31-24) MSU enters game ranked #15 nationally by Associated Press (#17 in BCS) |
| Nov. 12 |
at Iowa Noon ET ESPN2 |
W (37-21) MSU enters game ranked #13 nationally by Associated Press (#17 in BCS)... Seniors become winningest class in MSU history (34 wins) |
| Nov. 19 |
INDIANA Noon Big Ten Network |
W (55-3) MSU enters game ranked #12 nationally by Associated Press, 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 |
W (31-17) MSU enters game ranked #11 nationally by Associated Press (#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 |
L (42-39) MSU enters game ranked #11 nationally by Associated Press (#13 in BCS). |
| Jan. 2, 2012 |
GEORGIA Outback Bowl |
W (33-30 3OT) MSU enters game ranked #12 nationally by Associated Press (#17 in BCS)... MSU overcomes 16-point deficit to win in triple overtime by blocking Georgia's field goal attempt... First MSU bowl win for Dantonio. |
2010
11-2 (85%) overall, 7-1 in Big Ten Conference (BIG TEN CO-CHAMPIONS, tied with Ohio State and Wisconsin)
Coached by Mark Dantonio (his 4th season)
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| Notes - 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
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| Date | Opponent | MSU Won/Lost (score) Notes |
| Sept. 4 |
WESTERN MICHIGAN Noon ET on ESPN2 |
W (38-14) |
| Sept. 11 |
at Florida-Atlantic Played at Detroit's Ford Field; Noon ET on ESPNU |
W (30-17) |
| Sept. 18 |
NOTRE DAME 8:00 PM ET on ABC |
W (34-31 OT) MSU scores game-winning touchdown on fake field goal (nicknamed "Little Giants")... Soon after game, Coach Dantonio suffers heart attack. |
| Sept. 25 |
NORTHERN COLORADO Noon ET on Big Ten Network |
W (45-7) Dantonio recuperates at home; Offensive Coordinator Don Treadwell coaches in interim. |
| Oct. 2 |
WISCONSIN 3:30 PM ET on ABC |
W (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 on ABC |
W (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 on Big Ten Network |
W (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 on ESPN |
W (35-27) MSU overcomes 17-point 2nd quarter deficit with fake punt (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 on ABC/ESPN |
L (37-6) |
| Nov. 6 |
MINNESOTA Noon ET on Big Ten Network |
W (31-8) |
| Nov. 20 |
PURDUE Noon ET on Big Ten Network |
W (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 on ESPN2 |
W (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 |
L (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 (his 3rd season)
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| Date | Opponent | MSU Won/Lost (score) Notes |
| Sept. 5 | MONTANA STATE | W (44-3) |
| Sept. 12 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN | L (29-27) |
| Sept. 19 | at Notre Dame | L (33-30) |
| Sept. 26 | at Wisconsin | L (38-30) |
| Oct. 3 | MICHIGAN | W (26-20 OT) First consecutive wins over Michigan in 42 years (1966-67). |
| Oct. 10 | at Illinois | W (24-14) |
| Oct. 17 | NORTHWESTERN | W (24-14) |
| Oct. 24 | IOWA | L (15-13) |
| Oct. 31 | at Minnesota | L (42-34) |
| Nov. 7 | WESTERN MICHIGAN | W (49-14) |
| Nov. 14 | at Purdue | W (40-37) |
| Nov. 21 | PENN STATE | L (42-14) |
| Jan. 2, 2010 | TEXAS TECH Valero Alamo Bowl, San Antonio, TX | L (41-31) MSU plays without numerous key players suspended after November 22 incident at MSU dormitory.
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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 (his 2nd season)
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| Note - MSU wins every game they were favored to win.
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| Date | Opponent | MSU Won/Lost (score) Notes |
| Aug. 30 | at California | L (38-31) |
| Sept. 6 | EASTERN MICHIGAN | W (42-10) |
| Sept. 13 | FLORIDA-ATLANTIC | W (17-0) First shut-out by MSU in Spartan Stadium since 1996; first shut-out by MSU since 1999. |
| Sept. 20 | NOTRE DAME | W (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 | W (42-29) |
| Oct. 4 | IOWA | W (16-13) |
| Oct. 11 | at Northwestern | W (37-20) |
| Oct. 18 | OHIO STATE | L (45-7) |
| Oct. 25 | at Michigan | W (35-21) |
| Nov. 1 | WISCONSIN | W (25-24) |
| Nov. 8 | PURDUE | W (21-7) MSU earns first 9-win season since 1999. Also, with 16 wins in his first two seasons, Mark Dantonio becomes winningest second-year MSU football coach. |
| Nov. 22 | at Penn State | L (49-18) |
| Jan. 1, 2009 | GEORGIA Capital One Bowl, Orlando, FL | L (24-12) |
2007
7-6 (54%) overall, 3-5 in Big Ten Conference (four-way tie for 7th place) Coached by Mark Dantonio (his 1st season)
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| Note - No MSU loss is by more than 7 points. |
| Date | Opponent | MSU Won/Lost (score) Notes |
| Sept. 1 | ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM | W (55-18) |
| Sept. 8 | BOWLING GREEN | W (28-17) |
| Sept. 15 | PITTSBURGH | W (17-13) |
| Sept. 22 | at Notre Dame | W (31-14) MSU becomes first team to win six straight at Notre Dame. Also, Mark Dantonio becomes first to win first four games as new head coach at MSU. |
| Sept. 29 | at Wisconsin | L (37-34) |
| Oct. 6 | NORTHWESTERN | L (48-41 OT) |
| Oct. 13 | INDIANA | W (52-27) |
| Oct. 20 | at Ohio State | L (24-17) |
| Oct. 27 | at Iowa | L (34-27 2OT) |
| Nov. 3 | MICHIGAN | L (28-24) MSU and Michigan meet for 100th time on football field. |
| Nov. 10 | at Purdue | W (48-31) MSU becomes bowl-eligible for first time since 2003. |
| Nov. 17 | PENN STATE | W (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 | L (24-21) |
2006
4-8 overall (33%), 1-7 in Big Ten Conference (tied with Illinois for last place) Coached by John L. Smith (his 4th season; fired after loss to Indiana; remains Head Coach through end of season)
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| Note - First year Big Ten Conference goes to a 12-game season. |
| Date | Opponent | MSU Won/Lost (score) Notes |
| Sept. 2 | IDAHO | W (27-17) |
| Sept. 9 | EASTERN MICHIGAN | W (52-20) |
| Sept. 16 | at Pittsburgh | W (38-23) |
| Sept. 23 | NOTRE DAME | L (40-37) |
| Sept. 30 | ILLINOIS | L (23-20) |
| Oct. 7 | at Michigan | L (31-13) |
| Oct. 14 | OHIO STATE | L (38-7) |
| Oct. 21 | at Northwestern | W (41-38) MSU overcomes 35-point deficit (biggest comeback in NCAA Division 1A history); scores 38 unanswered points. |
| Oct. 28 | at Indiana | L (46-21) |
| Nov. 4 | PURDUE | L (17-15) |
| Nov. 11 | MINNESOTA | L (31-18) |
| Nov. 18 | at Penn State | L (17-13) |
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