1968 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1968 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–5 2–5 Duffy Daugherty 15th Al Brenner Al Brenner Spartan Stadium The 1968 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 1968 Big Ten football season. In their 15th season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 5–5 record (2–5 in conference games), finished seventh in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 202 to 151. In three games against ranked opponents, the Spartans defeated No. 5 Notre Dame and lost to No. 2 Ohio State and No. 15 Purdue.1968 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 23, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1968-schedule.html2025 Michigan State Football Media Guide Michigan State University 204 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 2,039 rushing yards (203.9 yards per game) and 1,217 passing yards (121.7 yards per game). On defense, they gave up 1,468 rushing yards (146.8 yards per game) and 1,665 passing yards (166.5 yards per game).2025 Media Guide, p. 186. The individual statistical leaders included quarterback Bill Triplett with 714 passing yards and 1,012 yards of total offense, Tommy Love with 729 rushing yards, split end Frank Foreman with 29 receptions and 456 receiving yards, quarterback Bill Feraco with 42 points scored (seven touchdowns), and linebacker Rich Saul with 84 total tackles.1968 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1968.html2025 Media Guide, pp. 179 and 181-182. Three Spartans were selected for the 1968 All-Big Ten Conference football teams. Defensive back Al Brenner was selected as a first-team player by both the Associated Press (AP) and the United Press International (UPI). Tackle Charles Bailey received first-team honors from the AP, and linebacker Rich Saul received second-team honors from both the AP and UPI.Podolak, Meskimen Make All-Big 10: 4 Ohio State, 6 Michigan Men Picked Cedar Rapids Gazette 1968-11-26Big Ten All-Conference Team Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Michigan November 30, 1968 13 https://www.newspapers.com/image/55607590/?terms=brown%2Bkeyes%2Bjohnson%2Bmayes%2Brudney Wide receiver and defensive back Al Brenner was selected as the team's most valuable player.2025 Media Guide, p. 300. The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1968 AP September 21 w y Syracuse Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 14–10 63,488 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-syracuse-topples/183704812/ Asheville Citizen-Times Syracuse topples by MSU, 14–10 September 22, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 w y Baylor Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 28–10 64,826 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kilgore-news-herald-spartans-overcom/168852009/ The Kilgore News Herald Spartans overcome Baylor Bears, 28–10 September 29, 1968 March 25, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 w y 19 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 39–0 49,067 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ann-arbor-news-michigan-state-mauls/183726583/ The Ann Arbor News Michigan State mauls punchless Wisconsin October 6, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 l y 12 Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 14–28 102,785 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-u-m-wins-2814/183726655/ Battle Creek Enquirer & News U-M wins, 28–14 October 13, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 l y Minnesota Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 13–14 74,321 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-gophers-nip-sparta/183724925/ The Indianapolis Star Gophers nip Spartans, 14–13 October 20, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 w y Notre Dame 5 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 21–17 77,339 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-patriot-news-spartans-surprise-notre/183707793/ The Patriot-News Spartans surprise Notre Dame, 21–17 October 27, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 l y 16 Ohio State 2 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 20–25 84,859 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ironton-tribune-osu-takes-advantage/183723753/ The Ironton Tribune OSU takes advantage of Spartan errors November 3, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 l 17 Indiana Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 22–24 65,841 https://www.newspapers.com/article/jackson-citizen-patriot-win-over-msu-is/183725903/ Jackson Citizen Patriot Win over MSU is Indiana's most unbelievable of all November 10, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 l Purdue 15 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 0–9 68,362 https://www.newspapers.com/article/palladium-item-purdue-slips-by-michigan/183724439/ The Palladium-Item Purdue slips by Michigan State 9 to 0 November 17, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 31–14 28,245 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-spartans-diversity-on/183726860/ The Flint Journal Spartans' diversity on offense helpful November 24, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1968 Michigan State) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/130227 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 26, 2025 Game summaries Michigan Week 4: Michigan State at Michigan Michigan State Michigan 6 0 0 8 13 0 0 15 October 12, 1968 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI 103,785 Eugene Calhoun On October 12, 1968, Michigan State lost to Michigan by a 28 to 14 score. The game was the 61st meeting in the Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry. The Spartans had won three consecutive games from 1965 to 1967,Michigan vs. Michigan State David DeLassus College Football Data Warehouse July 7, 2015 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan/opponents_records.php?teamid=1988 May 26, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150526234935/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan/opponents_records.php?teamid=1988 dead and the Wolverines came into the 1968 game as an unranked underdog facing an undefeated Spartans team that had routed Wisconsin 39-0 the prior week and was ranked #12 in the AP Poll.Michigan State Yearly Results David DeLassus College Football Data Warehouse July 7, 2015 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan_state/1965-1969_yearly_results.php July 8, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150708172951/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/m/michigan_state/1965-1969_yearly_results.php dead Michigan quarterback Dennis Brown completed 9 of 15 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Jim Mandich caught four passes for 125 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown reception, and John Gabler also caught a touchdown pass. Ron Johnson carried the ball 19 times for 152 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Garvie Craw also ran 25 yards for a touchdown and caught a pass from Brown for a two-point conversion. Tim Killian also kicked two extra points for Michigan. Michigan gained 420 yards in the game, 243 rushing and 177 passing. Michigan State gained 356 yards, 295 rushing and 61 passing.Wolverines Win; Upset M.S.U. on Drives in 4th Quarter; Dennis Brown Paces Victory Robert Markus Chicago Tribune October 13, 1968 2-1 http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/10/13/page/65/article/wolverines-win-irish-defeat-n-uMichigan Defeats Mich. State, 28-14; Hands Spartans First Loss Before Crowd of 103,785 The New York Times October 13, 1968 https://www.nytimes.com/1968/10/13/archives/michigan-defeats-mich-state-2814-hands-spartans-first-loss-before.html After defeating Michigan State, the Wolverines were ranked No. 17 in the weekly AP Poll.Southern Cal Rises to Top in Grid Poll Ironwood Daily Globe October 15, 1968 5 https://www.newspapers.com/image/59919905/ It was the first time since early in the 1966 season that Michigan had been ranked. Personnel DT No. 61 Charles Bailey, Sr. References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football