1972 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1972 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–5–1 5–2–1 Duffy Daugherty 19th Denny Stolz 2nd Gail Clark Billy Joe DuPree Brad Van Pelt Spartan Stadium The 1972 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 1972 Big Ten football season. In their 19th and final season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 5–5–1 record (5–2–1 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 158 to 156. In four games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 1 USC, No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 5 Michigan, and defeated No. 5 Ohio State.1972 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1972-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 an average of 228.0 rushing yards and 65.8 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 151.1 rushing yards and 150.2 passing yards per game. The individual statistical leaders included quarterback George Mihaiu with 367 passing yards, halfback David Brown with 575 rushing yards, and tight end Billy Joe DuPree with 23 receptions and 406 receiving yards.1972 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1972.html Five Spartans were selected by either the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1972 All-Big Ten Conference football team: tight end Billy Joe Dupree (AP-2, UPI-1); offensive guard Joe DeLamielleure (AP-1, UPI-1); linebacker Gail Clark (AP-1, UPI-1); and defensive backs Bill Simpson (AP-1, UPI-1) and Brad Van Pelt (AP-1, UPI-1).Wells named to All-Big Ten team The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois) November 28, 1972 https://www.newspapers.com/image/70472707/?terms=wells%2Barmstrong%2Bdupree%2B%22associated%2Bpress%22UM, State, Buckeyes Dominate UPI's All Big Ten Team Ludington Daily News (UPI story) November 28, 1972 5 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19721127&id=vtJOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G0oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6846,4761518 Gail Clark was selected as the team's most valuable player.2025 Media Guide, p. 300. On November 3, 1972, Duffy Daugherty announced that he would resign as Michigan State's head football coach at the end of the 1972 season.Duffy's Last Season With Mich. State: Only One Winner Since '66 Title The Des Moines Register November 4, 1972 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2805829/duffys_last_season_with_mich_state/ In 19 years as the head coach, he compiled a 109–69–5 record and won two Big Ten championships. Denny Stolz, who had been the Spartans' defensive coordinator for two years, was hired in December 1972 to replace Daugherty.Michigan State Selects Stolz as Grid Coach News-Herald, Panama City, Florida December 13, 1972 23 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2805818/michigan_state_selects_stolz_as_grid/ The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1972 AP September 16 w y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 24–0 55,493 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-herald-msu-defense-shines/181951420/ The Times Herald MSU defense shines September 17, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com September 23 l y 18 Georgia Tech Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 16–21 77,141 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-georgia-tech-topples-msu/151969275/ The Pantagraph Georgia Tech topples MSU September 24, 1972 July 24, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 l y y USC 1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 6–51 63,934 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-trojans-annihilate/181881288/ The Sunday Oregonian Trojans annihilate Michigan State, 51–6 October 1, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 7 l y Notre Dame 7 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 0–16 77,828 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bay-city-times-irish-subdue-tough-ms/181878264/ The Bay City Times Irish subdue tough MSU October 8, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 14 l y Michigan 5 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 0–10 103,735 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-wolverines-edge/181951582/ The Duluth News Tribune Wolverines edge improved Spartans October 15, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 21 w y Wisconsin Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 31–0 62,638 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-spartans-roll-310/181951654/ Chicago Tribune Spartans roll 31–0 October 22, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com October 28 t y Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 6–6 46,852 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-iowa-tiies-fumbli/181951750/ The Grand Rapids Press Iowa tiies fumbling Spartans, 6–6 October 29, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com November 4 w Purdue Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 22–12 58,649 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bay-city-times-msu-upsets-purdue/181950923/ The Bay City Times MSU upsets Purdue November 5, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com November 11 w Ohio State 5 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 19–12 76,264 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-bucks-get-the-boot/181942572/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Bucks get the boot November 12, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com November 18 l y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 10–14 33,001 https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-goal-line-stand-help/181951873/ Grand Forks Herald Goal line stand help Gophers nudge Spartans November 19, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com November 25 w Northwestern Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 24–14 46,140 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muskegon-chronicle-duffys-coaching/181951996/ The Muskegon Chronicle Duffy's coaching career ends with his 109th win November 26, 1972 September 28, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1972 Michigan State) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/251612 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics September 28, 2025 Game summaries Michigan Michigan St 0 0 0 0 Michigan 0 3 0 7 October 14 Michigan Stadium 103,735 yes 2 MICH Lantry 22-yard field goal Michigan 3-0 4 MICH Chapman 58-yard run (Lantry kick) Michigan 10-0 yes On October 14, 1972, Michigan State lost to Michigan, 10–0, in front of a crowd of 103,735 at Michigan Stadium. The game was Michigan's first shutout victory over Michigan State since 1947. Michigan scored on a 22-yard field goal by Mike Lantry in the second quarter and a 58-yard touchdown run by Gil Chapman in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines totaled 334 rushing yards, including 107 by Ed Shuttlesworth, 81 by Chuck Heater, and 64 by Dennis Franklin. The Spartans had a 24-yard touchdown run called back due to a clipping penalty, and their only other scoring threat ended when a hit from Dave Brown forced the Spartans' ball carrier to fumble into the end zone.U-M Whips Spartans . . . But It's A Battle, 10–0 Detroit Free Press Curt Sylvester October 15, 1972 1D, 6D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5510134/um_whips_spartans_but_its_a/ References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football