1981 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1981 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–6 4–5 Muddy Waters 2nd Joe Pendry 2nd Bryan Clark George Cooper John Leister Spartan Stadium The 1981 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 1981 Big Ten football season. In their second season under head coach Muddy Waters, the Spartans compiled a 5–6 record (4–5 in conference games), tied for sixth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 263 to 249. In four games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 8 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan, and No. 19 Iowa, and defeated No. 14 Wisconsin.1981 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 22, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1981-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 Four Spartans were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1981 All-Big Ten Conference football team: center Tom Piette (AP-2; UPI-1); linebacker Carl Banks (AP-2; UPI-1); defensive back Jim Burroughs (AP-2; UPI-1); and placekicker Morten Andersen (AP-1; UPI-1).Eason Edges Schlichter on All-Big Ten The Argus-Press, Owosso, Michigan (AP story) Joe Mooshil December 1, 1981 14 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19811201&id=vUMiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Uq0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1357,2601449Randy Minkoff Name All Big Ten The Bryan Times (UPI story) November 25, 1981 19 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19811124&id=23NNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-FEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6379,5449453 Several Michigan State players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following: Placekicker Morten Andersen led the conference with 15 field goals made and a 75.0 field goal percentage. Quarterback Bryan Clark ranked third in the conference with a 128.9 passing efficiency rating, fourth with a 53.4% pass completion percentage and seventh with 1,521 passing yards.1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 19, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/big-ten/1981.html Clark was also selected as the team's most valuable player.2025 Media Guide, p. 300. Running back Aaron Roberts ranked seventh in the conference with 4.9 yards per carry and 10th with 461 rushing yards. Ted Jones ranked sixth in the conference with 44 receptions and ninth with 624 receiving yards. Daryl Turner ranked eighth in the conference with 653 receiving yards. The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1981 AP September 12 l Illinois Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 17–27 54,945 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-wilson-who-eason/158374472/ The Rock Island Argus Wilson who? Eason passes carry Illinois September 13, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 l y Ohio State 8 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 13–27 87,084 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-osu-flies-2713/158374549/ St. Petersburg Times OSU flies 27–13 September 20, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 w y Bowling Green Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 10–7 64,323 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-spartans-hang-on/158361086/ Wisconsin State Journal Spartans hang on September 27, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 l y y Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 7–20 59,074 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-irish-bell-run-past-mic/158212252/ Chicago Tribune Irish, Bell run past Michigan St. October 4, 1981 October 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 l Michigan 6 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 20–38 77,923 U-M ground game grinds down MSU Detroit Free Press Jack Saylor October 11, 1981 1H, 7H https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42234287/um_ground_game_grinds_down_msu/ Newspapers.comBlue surge bombs MSU, 38–20 The Michigan Daily Mark Mihanovic October 11, 1981 1, 10 https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754662/437 Bentley Historical Library October 17 w y Wisconsin 14 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 33–14 67,652 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-michigan-state-up/158374657/ The South Bend Tribune Michigan State upsets Wisconsin October 18, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 l y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 26–27 69,877 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-wind-saves-purdue-from-m/158373830/ Chicago Tribune Wind saves Purdue from Michigan State October 25, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 w Indiana Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 26–3 60,131 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-humming-spartans-rout/158366851/ Detroit Free Press Humming Spartans rout Indiana, 26–3 November 1, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 61–14 24,104 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-northwestern-ea/158366166/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Northwestern easily notches record of futility November 8, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 w Minnesota Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 43–36 56,571 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-michigan-state-dumps-minneso/158374748/ Sunday News Michigan State dumps Minnesota November 15, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 l y Iowa 19 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 7–36 60,103 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-the-reward-is-ro/158374849/ Wisconsin State Journal The reward is roses for Hawkeyes' victory November 22, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com 1981 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 3, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1981-schedule.html Roster 1981 Michigan State Spartans f 68 So Scott Auer T y 14 Sr Bryan Clark QB y 5 Jr Tony Ellis RB 51 Sr Joe Jacquemain C 18 Jr John Leister QB y 38 So Daryl Turner WR y 72 Sr Jeff Wiska OT y 54 So Carl Banks LB y 28 Sr Jim Burroughs CB y 39 Sr George Cooper LB y George Cooper (linebacker) 91 Sr Smiley Creswell DE y 35 So Tim Cunningham DB 48 So Nate Hannah DB 43 Sr Steve Maidlow LB y 7 Jr Chris Van Pelt CB 8 Sr Morten Andersen K y 2 Fr Ralf Mojsiejenko P y *Muddy Waters References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football Category:Long stubs with short prose