1982 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1982 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 2–9 2–7 Muddy Waters 3rd James Neely Carl Banks John Leister Spartan Stadium The 1982 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1982 Big Ten football season. In their third and final season under head coach Muddy Waters, the Spartans compiled a 2–9 record (2–7 in conference games), tied for eighth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 242 to 202. In three games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 12 Ohio State, No. 16 Miami (FL), and No. 11 Notre Dame.1982 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 22, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1982-schedule.html2025 Michigan State Football Media Guide Michigan State University 205 April 23, 2025 https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/msuspartans.com/documents/2025/8/29/2025_Michigan_State_Football_Media_Guide.pdf?timestamp=20250829045740 On offense, the Spartans gained an average of 104.1 rushing yards and 173.5 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to an average of 147.7 rushing yards and 204.3 passing yards per game. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback John Lester with 1,321 passing yards, Tony Ellis with 671 rushing yards, Otis Grant with 36 receptions and 547 receiving yards, and kicker Ralf Mojsiejenko with 58 points scored (14 of 20 field goals, 16 of 16 extra points).1982 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 23, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1982.html Two Spartans were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) on the 1982 All-Big Ten Conference football team: linebacker Carl Banks (AP-1; UPI-1); and defensive lineman Smiley Creswell (AP-2; UPI-2).Carter, Bostic, Lukens Top All-Big Ten Football Team The Blade, Toledo, Ohio (AP story) Joe Mooshil November 30, 1982 26 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19821130&id=rE5PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6734,4951775Michigan dominates All-Big Ten squads Barry Minkoff The Bryan Times (UPI story) November 23, 1982 13 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19821122&id=UMRTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=54cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6395,4941764 Linebacker James Neely was selected by his teammates as the team's most valuable player for the 1982 season.2025 Media Guide, p. 300. The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1982 AP Eastern September 11 l y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 16–23 66,152 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-illinois-wins-official-d/166372226/ The Pantagraph Illinois wins; official dies September 12, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 l Ohio State 12 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 10–31 73,483 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-broadnax-leads-b/166369598/ Wisconsin State Journal Broadnax leads Buckeye victory September 19, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 4:00 p.m. l y y Miami (FL) 16 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL 22–25 26,748 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-miami-slips-by-spart/166128087/ The Courier-Journal Miami slips by Spartans in final 1:04 September 26, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 l y Notre Dame 11 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 3–11 77,119 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-irish-defense-tough-in-wi/166126233/ The Muncie Star Irish defense tough in win over Spartans October 3, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 l y Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 17–31 106,113 Wolverines devour MSU: Carter catches a flock of U-M records in 31-17 romp Detroit Free Press Joe Lapointe October 10, 1982 1E, 5E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42383104/wolverines_devour_msu/ Newspapers.com October 16 l y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 23–24 78,187 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-badgers-just-plain-lucky/166377159/ Sunday News Badgers just plain lucky October 17, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 l y Purdue Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 21–24 66,707 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-campbells-sneak/166379106/ Wisconsin State Journal Campbell's sneak lifts Boilermakers October 24, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 w y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 22–14 38,571 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-iu-smacks-rock/166378396/ The South Bend Tribune I.U. smacks rock bottom October 31, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 l Northwestern Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 24–28 53,513 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-wildcats-stun-ms/166379736/ Wisconsin State Journal Wildcats stun MSU November 7, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 13 w y Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN 26–7 57,146 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-spartans-get-kicks/166380073/ Lansing State Journal Spartans get kicks, top folding Gophers November 14, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 20 l Iowa Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 18–24 50,103 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-things-turn-out-just-peachy/166371751/ The Waterloo Courier Things turn out just 'peachy' for Hawks November 21, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries At Miami (FL) Michigan State at Miami (FL) Spartans 0 14 8 0 Hurricanes 6 9 3 7 September 25 Orange Bowl • Miami, Florida yes 1 MIA Baratta 3-yard pass from Richt (kick failed) Miami (FL) 6-0 2 MIA Boone 63-yard interception return (pass failed) Miami (FL) 12-0 2 MSU Ellis 16-yard run (Mojsiejenko kick) Miami (FL) 12-7 2 MSU Grant 15-yard pass from Leister (Mojsiejenko kick) Michigan St 14-12 2 MIA Davis 46-yard field goal Miami (FL) 15-14 3 MSU Ellis 6-yard run (Tanker pass from Scharlo) Michigan St 22-15 3 MIA Davis 47-yard field goal Michigan St 22-18 4 MIA Rush 1-yard run (Davis kick) Miami (FL) 25-22 yes Notre Dame Notre Dame at Michigan State Fighting Irish 2 9 0 0 Spartans 0 0 3 0 October 2 Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI 77,119 yes Q1 ND Leister tackled in end zone ND 2–0 Q2 ND Johnston 33 yard field goal ND 5–0 Q2 ND Johnston 29 yard field goal ND 8–0 Q2 ND Johnston 42 yard field goal ND 11–0 Q3 MSU Mojsiejenko 50 yard field goal ND 11–3 yes Iowa Iowa at Michigan State Hawkeyes 10 14 0 0 Spartans 0 3 0 15 November 20 Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI 1:02 p.m. EST 3:04 50,103 57 F, Breezy and warm, chance of rain, Wind SSE 15 mph on John Nealon yes Q1 7:19 IOWA Nichol 43-yard field goal IOWA 3–0 Q1 3:59 IOWA Owen Gill 10-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 10–0 Q2 11:49 IOWA Owen Gill 5-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 17–0 Q2 6:37 MSU Mojsiejenko 39-yard field goal IOWA 17–3 Q2 1:04 IOWA Owen Gill 11-yard run (Nichol kick) IOWA 24–3 Q4 7:27 MSU Ellis 1-yard run (Mojsiejenko kick) IOWA 24–10 Q4 1:23 MSU Ellis 2-yard run (Schario run) IOWA 24–18 yes 1982 Iowa Hawkeyes football team Roster 1982 Michigan State Spartans y 34 Jr Tom Robinson TE 54 Jr Carl Banks LB y 32 Fr Phil Parker S y 93 Fr Kelly Quinn DE 2 So Ralf Mojsiejenko P/K y Muddy Waters References Michigan State Spartans Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football Category:Long stubs with short prose