1986 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1986 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 6–5 4–4 George Perles 4th Morris Watts 1st Nick Saban 4th Mark Ingram Dave Yarema Shane Bullough Dave Yarema Spartan Stadium The 1986 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 1986 Big Ten football season. In their fourth season under head coach George Perles, the Spartans compiled a 6–5 record (4–4 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 285 to 197. In three games against ranked opponents, they defeated No. 20 Notre Dame, but lost to No. 11 Iowa and No. 4 Michigan.1986 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 23, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1986-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 Quarterback Dave Yarema led the Big Ten with 2,581 passing yards, a 67.3% completion percentage, and 16 passing touchdowns. The team's other statistical leaders included Lorenzo White with 633 rushing yards and wide receiver Andre Rison with 54 receptions and 966 receiving yards.1986 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 23, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1986.html Eight Spartans were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) on the 1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team: receiver Andre Rison (AP-1; UPI-1); punter Greg Montgomery (AP-1, UPI-1); linebacker Shane Bullough (AP-2, UPI-1); receiver Mark Ingram Sr. (AP-2, UPI-2); defensive tackle Mark Nichols (AP-2, UPI-2); running back Lorenzo White (UPI-2); quarterback Dave Yarema (UPI-2); and defensive end John Budde (AP-2).Harbaugh heads All-Big Ten team The Michigan Daily November 26, 1986 8 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19861126&id=1A5KAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vx4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1069,3998533Woodson, Waiters Both All-Big Ten Logansport Pharos-Tribune November 25, 1986 10 https://www.newspapers.com/image/16937786/?terms=UPI%2B%22all-big%2Bten%22 The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1986 AP Eastern September 13 10:18 p.m. l y y 20 Arizona State Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ TBS 17–20 70,689 https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-journal-sun-devils-avert-loss/170832026/ Statesman Journal Sun Devils avert loss September 14, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com September 20 2:42 p.m. w y Notre Dame 20 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry CBS 20–15 79,895 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-irish-again-fall/170676321/ The Grand Rapids Press Irish again fall short September 21, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 1:00 p.m. w y 19 Western Michigan Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 45–10 65,907 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-white-spartans/170897236/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution White, Spartans rip off 45–10 win September 28, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 4 2:42 p.m. l 17 Iowa 11 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI CBS 21–24 75,102 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-spartan-rally-picked-o/170897352/ The Flint Journal Spartan rally picked off by Iowa October 5, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 2:42 p.m. l y Michigan 4 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry CBS 6–27 106,141 U-M flattens MSU, 27–6: Pass rush batters Yarema Detroit Free Press Tommy George October 12, 1986 1D, 10D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43526312/um_flattens_msu_276_pass_rush/ Newspapers.comTradition, 'D' smother Spartans: MSU unoffensive in 27-6 Blue pasting The Michigan Daily Adam Martin October 12, 1986 1, 12 https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754787/391 Bentley Historical Library October 18 1:49 p.m. w y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL CBS 29–21 75,083 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-illini-drop-decision-to-m/170896102/ The Pantagraph Illini drop decision to Michigan State October 19, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 25 1:00 p.m. w Purdue Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 37–3 77,063 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-michigan-state-wallops-pu/170892365/ The Muncie Star Michigan State wallops punchless Purdue, 37–3 October 26, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 8:00 p.m. w y Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN 52–23 57,408 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-michigan-state-ste/170897504/ Battle Creek Enquirer Michigan State steamrolls Minnesota November 2, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 12:40 p.m. l Indiana Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry TNT 14–17 64,973 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-rare-road-win-sends-iu-bowling/170896970/ The Times Rare road win sends IU bowling November 9, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 2:00 p.m. l y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 21–24 26,711 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-northwestern-sho/170893606/ The Des Moines Register Northwestern shocks Spartans November 16, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 22 12:40 p.m. w Wisconsin Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI TNT 23–13 60,285 https://www.newspapers.com/article/leader-telegram-badgers-end-on-losing-no/170891603/ Leader-Telegram Badgers end on losing note November 23, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries Purdue Lorenzo White rushed for 79 yards on 19 carries in part-time duty in return from injury while the Spartans' defense intercepted four passes. White ran for first half touchdowns of three and one yards, respectively.Eugene Register-Guard. 1986 Oct 26. Retrieved 2022-Oct-04. Personnel 1986 Michigan State Spartans y Willie Bouyer WR Blake Ezor RB y Rich Gicewicz TE Mark Hill OL David Houle OL 11 Sr Mark Ingram WR y Mark Ingram Sr. Craig Johnson RB Tony Mandarich OL y 8 So Bobby McAllister QB y Bobby McAllister (gridiron football) James Moore RB 21 Sr Bobby Morse RB y Joe Pugh RB 1 So Andre Rison WR y Doug Rogers OL Mike Sargent OL 60 Jr Pat Shurmur C y Vince Tata OL 34 Jr Lorenzo White RB y Bernard Wilson WR Dave Yarema QB C Dean Altobelli DB 36 Fr Harlon Barnett DB y Joe Bergin DL Paul Bobbitt DB John Budde DL 41 Sr Shane Bullough LB Maurice Chamberlain DB Travis Davis DL Todd Krumm DB Kurt Larson LB John Miller John Miller (safety) DB y Tim Moore LB Mark Nichols DL Ron Rowe DB 48 Fr Percy Snow LB y Rob Stradley LB Jim Szymanski DL Dave Wolff DL Sr Chris Caudell K 23 Jr Greg Montgomery P y George Perles Nick Saban – Defensive coordinator References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football