1976 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1976 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 4–6–1 3–5 Darryl Rogers 1st Bob Padilla 1st Richard Baes Richard Baes Tommy Hannon Spartan Stadium The 1976 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 1976 Big Ten football season. In their first season under head coach Darryl Rogers, the Spartans compiled a 4–6–1 record (3–5 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for seventh place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 278 to 236. In three games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 4 Ohio State, No. 18 Notre Dame, and No. 1 Michigan.1976 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1976-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 175.5 rushing yards and 211.1 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 256.5 rushing yards and 116.2 passing yards per game. The individual statistical leaders included quarterback Ed Smith with 1,749 passing yards (tops in the Big Ten), Richard Baes with 931 rushing yards, and flanker Kirk Gibson with 39 receptions for 748 receiving yards (tops in the Big Ten).1976 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1976.html Baes was selected as the team's most valuable player.2025 Media Guide, p. 300. Seven Spartans were selected by either the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) for the 1976 All-Big Ten Conference football teams: tight end Mike Cobb (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive back Tommy Hannon (AP-1, UPI-1); flanker Kirk Gibson (AP-2, UPI-2); center Al Pitts (AP-2, UPI-2); defensive tackle Larry Bethea (AP-2, UPI-2); offensive tackle Tony Bruggenthies (AP-2); and defensive end Otto Smith (UPI-2).Michigan, Ohio State Pace All-Big Ten Team Toledo Blade (AP story) December 3, 1976 27 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19761203&id=ahBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=agIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6803,3874955Illini place two on All-Big 10 The Pantagraph November 24, 1976 A11 https://www.newspapers.com/image/72821573/?terms=leach%2Bdierking%2Bcobb%2B%22united%2Bpress%22 The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1976 AP September 11 l y Ohio State 4 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 21–49 86,509 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-woody-shows-spar/181038206/ The Des Moines Register Woody shows Spartans no mercy September 12, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 w y Wyoming Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 21–10 57,183 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-msu-plusses-are-negati/157340889/ The Flint Journal MSU plusses are negative to Wyoming September 19, 1976 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com September 25 t y y NC State Carter Stadium Raleigh, NC 31–31 38,300 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-high-point-enterprise-wolfpack-spar/139627095/ The High Point Enterprise Wolfpack, Spartans tie September 26, 1976 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 2 l y Notre Dame 18 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 6–24 77,081 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-notre-dame-too-tou/180957488/ Battle Creek Enquirer & News Notre Dame too tough for State 24–6 October 3, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 l y Michigan 1 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 10–42 104,211 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-big-rivalry-turns-int/181038277/ Detroit Free Press Big rivalry turns into rout...U–M pounds MSU, 42–10 October 10, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 l y Minnesota Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 10–14 56,166 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-blade-gophers-edge-spartans/181038326/ The Blade Gophers edge Spartans October 17, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 w y Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 31–23 52,860 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muskegon-chronicle-big-aerial-attack/181038423/ The Muskegon Chronicle Big aerial attack wins for Spartans October 24, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 w Purdue Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 45–13 52,222 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-smith-gets-msu-rol/181038476/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Smith gets MSU rolling October 31, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 w Indiana Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 23–0 50,376 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ann-arbor-news-msu-defense-clicks-2/181038554/ The Ann Arbor News MSU defense clicks, 23–0 November 7, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com November 13 l y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 21–42 15,204 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muskegon-chronicle-spartans-surprise/181038023/ The Muskegon Chronicle Spartans surprised by Wildcat defense November 14, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com November 20 l Iowa Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 17–30 48,412 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-msu-humbled-by-iowa/181038620/ Detroit Free Press MSU humbled by Iowa, 30–17 November 21, 1976 September 14, 2025 Newspapers.com Roster DB No. 16 Mark Anderson, Fr. TE Mike Cobb, Sr. RB Jim Earley, Jr. WR Kirk Gibson, So. LB No, 57 Larry Savage, Fr. Game summaries Michigan Week 5: Michigan State at Michigan Michigan State 10 0 0 0 Michigan 14 14 7 7 October 9, 1976 Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI 104,211 yes 1 MSU Nielsen 24-yard field goal MSU 3-0 1 MICH Lytle 75-yard run (Wood kick) MICH 7-3 1 MICH Huckleby 38-yard run (Wood kick) MICH 14-3 1 MSU Brammer 10-yard pass from E. Smith (Nielsen kick) MICH 14-10 2 MICH Leach 3-yard run (Wood kick) MICH 21-10 2 MICH Huckleby 1-yard run (Wood kick) MICH 28-10 3 MICH Huckleby 2-yard run (Wood kick) MICH 35-10 4 MICH Zuver 60-yard interception return (Wood kick) MICH 42-10 yes On October 9, 1976, Michigan State played its cross-state rival Michigan in the annual battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The Wolverines had won six straight games with the last victory for the Spartans dating back to 1969. Michigan extended the streak to seven games with a 42-10 victory at Michigan Stadium.Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page University of Michigan December 2, 2012 MGoBlue.com http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071112175906/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php November 12, 2007 (To retrieve team statistics, enter the applicable year in the "Enter Year" box under the heading "Games & Totals by Season." Press "Display Season." At the next prompt, click the box for "Michigan State" and then click icon for "Display Chosen Game Stats".) Michigan's 42 points was the most it had scored against Michigan State since 1947.Michigan Romps Over Mich. State The New York Times October 10, 1976 https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E11F83C5A1A7493C2A8178BD95F428785F9 Fullback Rob Lytle rushed for 180 yards on 10 carries, including a 45-yard gain on a fake punt and a 75-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. After the game, Bo Schembechler said of Lytle, "If that guy isn't an All-American, I don't know who is."Michigan runs away from Spartans, 42-10 Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon October 10, 1976 8C https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MOVVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6934,2235324&dq=michigan+football&hl=en Lytle added, "All backs like to break away on a long one like that. It was the longest run I've had at Michigan. In fact, I think this was my biggest day ever." Harlan Huckleby rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Russell Davis added 91 yards on 13 carries. In all, the Wolverines rushed for 442 yards on 62 carries against the Spartans. Quarterback Rick Leach completed five of seven passes for 93 yards and rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries. Wolfman Jerry Zuver scored Michigan's final touchdown on a 60-yard interception return in the fourth quarter. In the AP Poll released on the Monday after the game, Michigan retained its #1 ranking with 57 out of 60 first-place votes and 1,194 points out of a possible 1,200 points. Pittsburgh was ranked #2 with the remaining three first-place votes.Terps Fifth As Michigan Remains No. 1 The News and Courier (AP story) October 12, 1976 1-C https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5gs1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=EU8KAAAAIBAJ&pg=4376,2543781&dq=michigan+football&hl=en References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football