1983 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1983 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 4–6–1 2–6–1 George Perles 1st Nick Saban 1st Carl Banks Carl Banks Spartan Stadium The 1983 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 1983 Big Ten football season. In their first season under head coach George Perles, the Spartans compiled a 4–6–1 record (2–6–1 in conference games), finished in seventh place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 233 to 162. In four games against ranked opponents, they defeated No. 4 Notre Dame, and lost to No. 14 Michigan, No. 17 Ohio State, and No. 12 Iowa.1983 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 22, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1983-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 102.4 rushing yards and 116.8 passing yards per game. On defense, and with Nick Saban in his first season as the Spartans' defensive coordinator, they held opponents to an average of 136.5 rushing yards and 192.5 passing yards per game. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Clark Brown with 837 passing yards, Carl Butler with 549 rushing yards, Daryl Turner with 28 receptions and 549 receiving yards, and kicker Ralf Mojsiejenko with 46 points scored (11 of 17 field goals, 13 of 17 extra points).1983 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 23, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1983.html Linebacker Carl Banks received first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP), the United Press International (UPI), NEA and Sporting News on the 1983 All-America college football team. Three Spartans were recognized by the AP and/or the UPI on the 1983 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Banks (AP-1; UPI-1); defensive back Phil Parker (AP-2; UPI-1); and kicker Mojsiejenko (AP-2).Hawkeyes represented well on AP all-Big 10 football teams The Daily Reporter December 1, 1983 6 https://books.google.com/books?id=l3dhAAAAIBAJ&dq=All-Big+Ten+Conference+football+team&pg=PA4&article_id=4839,4310816All-Big Ten The Bryan Times (UPI story) Barry Minkoff November 22, 1983 12 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19631122&id=baZhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ocDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3162,5187647&hl=en Banks 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 1983 AP September 10 w y Colorado Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 23–17 56,835 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-spartans-play-over-mis/166549611/ The Flint Journal Spartans play over mistakes to win, 23–17 September 11, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com September 17 w y y Notre Dame 4 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 28–23 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-parker-led-michigan-st/166504518/ Asbury Park Press Parker-led Michigan State startles Notre Dame September 18, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com September 24 l Illinois Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 10–20 75,867 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-herald-spartans-lose-1st-illi/166612592/ The Times Herald Spartans lose 1st; Illinois ends MSU streak September 25, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 1 t y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 29–29 69,203 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-late-flurry-leaves-p/166618047/ Journal and Courier Late flurry leaves Purdue in standoff October 2, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 8 l Michigan 14 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 0–42 78,033 Same old Story: Bo gets No. 100 as U-M ruins Perles' MSU debut, 42-0 Detroit Free Press Jack Saylor October 9, 1983 1H, 9H https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42471771/same_old_story_bo_gets_no_100_as_um/ Newspapers.com October 15 l y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 12–24 46,088 https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press-hoosiers-de/166618575/ The Sunday Courier & Press Hoosiers defeat Spartans 24–12 October 16, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 l y Ohio State 17 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 11–21 89,104 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-journal-ohio-state-pass-combo-a-spl/166615333/ News Journal Ohio State pass combo a splash against Spartans October 23, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 29 w y Minnesota Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 34–10 76,481 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-michigan-state-rip/166618701/ The Winona Daily News Michigan State rips Gophers October 30, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 5 w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 9–3 27,463 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-winnin-ugly-msu/166620451/ The Grand Rapids Press Winnin' ugly: MSU 9, NU 3 November 6, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 12 l Iowa 12 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 6–12 72,528 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-long-passing-lift/166614679/ The Sioux City Journal Long passing lifts Hawkeyes November 13, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 19 l y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 0–32 54,204 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-times-reporter-badgers-close-seas/166616759/ Herald-Times-Reporter Badgers close season topping Spartans 32–0 November 20, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries Purdue Michigan St 13 3 10 3 Purdue 3 13 0 13 October 1 Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana Source: yes 1 PUR Clark 42-yard field goal PUR 3-0 1 MSU Butler 82-yard pass from Brown (kick failed) MSU 6-3 1 MSU Turner 44-yard pass from Brown (Mojsiejenko kick) MSU 13-3 2 MSU Mojsiejenko 42-yard field goal MSU 16-3 2 PUR Clark 42-yard field goal MSU 16-6 2 PUR Campbell 4-yard run (Clark kick) MSU 16-13 2 PUR Clark 22-yard field goal Tied 16-16 3 MSU Manley 5-yard run (Mojsiejenko kick) MSU 23-16 3 MSU Mojsiejenko 34-yard field goal MSU 26-16 4 PUR Hawthorne 10-yard pass from Campbell (kick failed) MSU 26-22 4 PUR Brunner 15-yard pass from Campbell (Clark kick) PUR 29-26 4 MSU Mojsiejenko 59-yard field goal Tied 29-29 yes Roster 1983 Michigan State Spartans y 34 Sr Tom Robinson TE 54 Sr Carl Banks LB y 32 So Phil Parker S y 93 So Kelly Quinn DE 2 Jr Ralf Mojsiejenko P/K y George Perles Team players drafted into the NFL Michigan State Spartans Player Position Round Pick NFL club Carl BanksLinebacker1 3 New York GiantsDaryl TurnerWide receiver2 49 Seattle SeahawksScott AuerTackle9 229 Kansas City Chiefs https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1984.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071221193408/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1984.htm 2007-12-21 1984 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com Pro-Football-Reference.com References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football