1996 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1996 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 6–6 5–3 Nick Saban 2nd Gary Tranquill 2nd Pro set Dean Pees 2nd 4–3 Duane Goulbourne Duane Goulbourne Ike Reese Chris Smith Spartan Stadium Sun Bowl L 0–38 vs. Stanford The 1996 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Nick Saban, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 6–6 with a mark of 5–3, tying for fifth place in the Big Ten. Michigan State was invited to the Sun Bowl, where they lost to Stanford, 38–0, on December 31. The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1996 AP Eastern August 31 12:30 p.m. w Purdue Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN 52–14 72,511 September 7 12:00 p.m. l y y Nebraska 1 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ABC 14–55 75,590 September 21 1:00 p.m. l y Louisville Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 20–30 70,311 September 28 12:30 p.m. w y Eastern Michigan Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI SCD 47–0 69,941 October 5 2:00 p.m. l y Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 30–37 70,397 October 12 12:00 p.m. w y Illinois Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN Plus 42–14 71,639 October 19 4:00 p.m. w y Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN 27–9 45,434 October 26 12:30 p.m. w Wisconsin Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN2 30–13 69,217 November 2 12:00 p.m. l y Michigan 9 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry ABC 29–45 106,381 November 9 1:00 p.m. w Indiana Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 38–15 64,719 November 23 3:30 p.m. l y Penn State 7 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ABC 29–32 96,263 December 31 2:30 p.m. l y y Stanford Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Sun Bowl CBS 0–38 42,271 thumb|right|Halftime of the Michigan State vs. Illinois game on October 12 Roster 1996 Michigan State Spartans f 76 Jr Flozell Adams T y 75 Fr Shane Adkins OL 60 Fr Mike Brzezinski T 16 Fr Bill Burke QB 83 Jr Josh Keur TE 80 Sr Derrick Mason WR y 7 Fr LaVaile Richardson WR 9 Jr Todd Schultz QB 73 Jr Scott Shaw Scott Shaw (American football) G y 25 Fr Mike Austin LB 38 Fr Sean Banks LB 3 So Amp Campbell CB 96 Sr Chris Smith DT 43 So Scott Ernsberger S 22 Sr Reggie Garnett LB 54 So T.J. Henning LB 36 Sr Aldi Henry CB 10 Jr Ray Hill CB 62 Fr Robert Newkirk DT 44 Jr Ike Reese LB y Sr Jabbar Threats DE y 99 So Dimitrius Underwood DT y 1 Fr Paul Edinger K y https://web.archive.org/web/19961225145229/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/sfc/big10/sfcd05ra.htm Nick Saban Gary Tranquill – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bobby Williams – Running backs coach Charlie Baggett – Wide receivers coach Jim Bollman – Offensive line coach Dean Pees – Defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Todd Grantham – Defensive line coach Mark Dantonio – Defensive back coach Pat Shurmur – Special teams coach Brad Salem – Graduate assistant Mike Vorkapich – Graduate assistant Greg Colby – Assistant 1997 NFL draft The following players were selected in the 1997 NFL draft. Michigan State Spartans Player Round Pick Position NFL team Derrick Mason 4 98 Wide receiver Tennessee Oilers Nigea Carter 6 197 Wide receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football