1955 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1955 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 2 2 9–1 5–1 Duffy Daugherty 2nd Carl Nystrom Carl Nystrom Macklin Stadium National champion (Boand)Rose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W 17–14 vs. UCLA The 1955 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the 1955 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third season playing in Big Ten Conference and their second season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 9–1 record (5–1 against Big Ten opponents), and outscored opponents by a total of 253 to 83.2016 Football Media Guide Michigan State University 146, 155 June 18, 2017 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-history-145-19.pdf January 17, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170117203046/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-history-145-19.pdf dead1955 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 18, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1955-schedule.html The team's sole loss was on the road and early in the season against rival Michigan by a 14–7 score. In the final AP and UPI coaches polls, both released on November 28, 1955, Michigan State was ranked No. 2 behind No. 1 Oklahoma. In the UPI poll, the Sooners edged the Spartans by a narrow margin of 325 points to 309 points with seven of the coaches ranking Michigan State as the No. 1 team. In the AP poll, the Sooners tallied 3,581 points to 3,204 points for Michigan State.Pick Oklahoma Nation's Top College Team Daily News-Post Monrovia, California November 29, 1955 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99180083/pick-oklahoma-nations-top-college-team/ Newspapers.com After the polls were finalized, the Spartans defeated No. 4 UCLA in the 1956 Rose Bowl. Neither the AP nor UPI conducted post-bowl polls in these years. Although most later rankings and analyses continued to recognize Oklahoma as the 1955 national champion, the Boand System recognized Michigan State as national champion.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2018 December 11, 2018 113 Two Michigan State players, quarterback Earl Morrall and tackle Norm Masters, were selected as consensus first-team players on the 1955 All-America college football team.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 9 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf Fullback Jerry Planutis was also selected as a first-teaam All-American by Jet magazine.Jet's All-American College Grid Team Jet https://www.flickr.com/photos/vieilles_annonces/9277727847/ Eight Michigan State players were selected by the Associated Press (AP), United Press (UP), or International News Service (INS) on the 1955 All-Big Ten Conference football team: quarterback Morrall (AP-1, UP-1, INS-1); halfback Walt Kowalczyk (AP-2, UP-2); halfback Clarence Peaks (UP-3); fullback Planutis (AP-2, UP-1); end John Lewis (UP-3); tackle Masters (AP-1, UP-2, INS-1); guard Carl "Buck" Nystrom (AP-1, UP-2, INS-1); and center Joe Badaczewski (UP-3).Five Boilermaker Gridders Gain Recognition on AP's All-Big Ten Journal and Courier November 22, 1955 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74511306/1955-all-big-ten/ Newspapers.comKrupa Named All-Big Ten: Dawson, Lundey, Murley, Murakowski Cited by UP Journal and Courier November 23, 1955 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74512816/1955-all-big-ten/ Newspapers.comTwo Hawks On All-Big 10 The Des Moines Tribune November 22, 1955 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74513777/1955-ins-all-big-ten/ Newspapers.com Schedule 1955 AP September 24 w y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 20–13 20,287 Fast Start for Michigan State's Youngsters: Sophs Spark Spartans In 'Comeback' Victory Over Indiana, 20 to 13 Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton September 25, 1955 67, 71 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99180615/fast-start-for-michigan-states/ Newspapers.com Indiana Football 2023 Record Book https://static.iuhoosiers.com/custompages/pdf/fb/2023/23-FB-Record_Book_Full.pdf Indiana University 14 December 28, 2023 October 1 l y Michigan 2 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 7–14 97,239 Wolverines Win, 14-7: Yost-Style Victory; Spartans Tops Only in Statistics Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton October 2, 1955 57 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99180492/wolverines-win-14-7-yost-style/ Newspapers.com October 8 w y Stanford 20 Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI 38–14 47,586 Spartans Hit 'Old Form', Shatter Stanford, 38-14: Rattle Indians With Early Rash Of Touchdowns Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton October 9, 1955 59 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99180693/spartans-hit-old-form-shatter/ Newspapers.com October 15 w y 13 Notre Dame 4 Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 21–7 52,007 1955 State Team One of Spartans' Best: End Notre Dame's Winning Streak, 21-7 Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton October 16, 1955 61, 64 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99180764/1955-state-team-one-of-spartans-best/ Newspapers.com October 22 w y 6 Illinois Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI 21–7 51,851 Indian Totems Wave From Spartan Spears: Morrall Paces Michigan State To 21-7 Victory Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton October 23, 1955 67, 68 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99180876/indian-totems-wave-from-spartan-spears/ Newspapers.com October 29 w y 5 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 27–0 53,529 Spartans Bury Last Badger Title Hopes, 27-0: Blazing Speed, Standout Backs Engineer Rout Wisconsin State Journal Henry J. McCormick October 30, 1955 Sports 1, 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99181116/spartans-bury-last-badger-title-hopes/ Newspapers.com November 5 w y 4 Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 27–0 41,000 Purdue Falls Victim To Fumbles As Michigan State Wins; 27 To 0; Spartans Outgained From Scrimmage But Net 116 Yards On Interceptions The Palladium-Item and Sun-Telegram Dale Burgess November 6, 1955 26 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99181200/purdue-falls-victim-to-fumbles-as/ Newspapers.com November 12 w 3 Minnesota Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI 42–14 51,605 Victorious Spartans in Waiting Role: Michigan-Ohio State Game Key to State's Rose Bowl Hopes Now Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton November 13, 1955 63, 69 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99181281/victorious-spartans-in-waiting-role/ Newspapers.com November 19 w y 3 Marquette Macklin Stadium East Lansing, MI 33–0 41,814 California, It's Those SPARTANS --- Again! Bowl-Bound Michigan State Takes Care of Marquette in Finale, 33 to 0 Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton November 20, 1955 67, 68 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99181381/california-its-those-spartans/ Newspapers.com January 2, 1956 w y y 2 UCLA 4 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl 17–14 100,809 MSU Edges UCLA, 17-14, Before 100,809: Kaiser's 41-Yard Kick in Final Seven Seconds Decides Rose Bowl Los Angeles Times January 3, 1956 IV-1, IV-3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99181451/msu-edges-ucla-17-14-before-100809/ Newspapers.com http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2009-2010/1955.html Michigan State Official Athletic Site www.msuspartans.com July 28, 2016https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1955-schedule.html 1955 Michigan State Spartans College Football at Sports-Reference.com July 28, 2016 References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Category:Rose Bowl champion seasons Michigan State Spartans football