1985 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1985 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 7–5 5–3 George Perles 3rd Nick Saban 3rd Lorenzo White Anthony Bell John Wojciechowski Spartan Stadium All-American Bowl L 14–17 vs. Georgia Tech The 1985 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 1985 Big Ten football season. In their third season under head coach George Perles, the Spartans compiled a 7–5 record (5–3 in conference games), tied for fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 244 to 202. In two games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 1 Iowa and No. 3 Michigan. They concluded the season with a loss to Georgia Tech in the 1985 All-American Bowl.1985 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 23, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1985-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 Michigan State running back Lorenzo White led the country with 2,066 rushing yards (total including bowl game), finished fourth in the voting for the 1985 Heisman Trophy,1985 Heisman Trophy Voting Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 23, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1985.html and was a consensus first-team pick on the 1985 All-America college football team.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 March 18, 2017 3, 13 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf The team's other statistical leaders included quarterback Dave Yarema with 755 passing yards and wide receiver Mark Ingram Sr. with 31 receptions and 675 receiving yards.1985 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 23, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1985.html Six Spartans were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) on the 1985 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Lorenzo White (AP-1; UPI-1); offensive guard John Wojciechowski (AP-1); offensive tackle Steve Bogdalek (AP-2); linebacker Shane Bullough (AP-2); defensive back Phil Parker (UPI-1); and punter Greg Montgomery (AP-1).Soph White, Station, Unanimous Choices Toledo Blade (AP story) December 3, 1985 33 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19851203&id=og1PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0wIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6768,3394959Long Nips Everett For Spot On All-Big Ten First Team Logansport Pharos-Tribune November 26, 1985 10 https://www.newspapers.com/image/13843275/?terms=long%2Bwhite%2Bharmon%2Bmallory%2BUPI The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1985 AP September 14 12:08 p.m. w y Arizona State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 12–3 62,797 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-msu-manages-to-sa/170575353/ The South Bend Tribune MSU manages to salvage win September 15, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com September 21 7:46 p.m. l y y Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ESPN 10–27 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-notre-dame-easily-overc/170218270/ The Saginaw News Notre Dame easily overcomes handicapped MSU September 22, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 1:00 p.m. w y Western Michigan Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 7–3 63,829 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-msu-rallies-late-to-b/170620695/ Detroit Free Press MSU rallies late to beat WMU, 7–3 September 29, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 2:42 p.m. l y Iowa 1 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA CBS 31–35 66,044 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ann-arbor-news-spartans-scare-hawkey/170620795/ The Ann Arbor News Spartans scare Hawkeyes October 6, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 2:42 p.m. l Michigan 3 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry CBS 0–31 78,235 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-wolverines-maul-mich/170620866/ The Birmingham News Wolverines maul Michigan State October 13, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 1:00 p.m. l y Illinois Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 17–30 76,438 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-mistakes-haunt-spa/170620942/ Lansing State Journal Mistakes haunt Spartans October 20, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 12:38 p.m. w y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN TBS 28–24 67,660 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-yarema-leads-spartans-t/170619694/ The Saginaw News Yarema leads Spartans to win with clutch, last-ditch drive October 27, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 12:08 p.m. w Minnesota Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI TBS 31–26 63,578 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-msu-holds-on-for-victo/170620229/ The Flint Journal MSU holds on for victory November 3, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 1:00 p.m. w y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 35–16 24,764 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-crunch-spartans-wh/170601471/ Journal and Courier Crunch; Spartans' White runs past Hoosiers November 10, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 1:00 p.m. w Northwestern Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 32–0 55,439 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-yaremas-passing-l/170600738/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Yarema's passing leads MSU to win November 17, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 2:05 p.m. w y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 41–7 56,854 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-times-reporter-michigan-state-rom/170602311/ Herald-Times-Reporter Michigan State romps over Wisconsin 41–7 November 24, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com December 31 Tuesday 8:00 p.m. l y y Georgia Tech Legion Field Birmingham, AL All-American Bowl TBS 14–17 45,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-wreck-outlasts-sp/139984805/ Birmingham Post-Herald Wreck outlasts Spartans January 1, 1986 January 31, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries Arizona State 1985 Arizona State Sun Devils football team At Notre Dame 1985 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team Michigan State–Notre Dame football rivalry Western Michigan 1985 Western Michigan Broncos football team At Iowa Michigan State at #1 Iowa Spartans 0 10 14 7 No. 1 Hawkeyes 7 6 15 7 October 5 Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa 1:40 p.m. CDT 3:50 66,044 52 F, Cloudy, Wind NW 20-25 mph on Tom Quinn Brent Musburger and Ara Parseghian CBS Sports yes 1 10:23 IOWA Robert Smith 60-yard pass from Chuck Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0 2 13:12 IOWA Mike Flagg 17-yard pass from Chuck Long (kick failed) IOWA 13-0 2 11:34 MSU Chris Caudell 32-yard field goal IOWA 13-3 2 9:15 MSU Andre Rison 50-yard pass from Bobby McAllister (Caudell kick) IOWA 13-10 3 12:30 MSU Lorenzo White 23-yard run (Caudell kick) MSU 17-13 3 7:01 MSU Lorenzo White 1-yard run (Caudell kick) MSU 24-13 3 6:16 IOWA Robert Smith 4-yard pass from Chuck Long (Flagg pass from Long for two-point conversion) MSU 24-21 3 3:21 IOWA Mike Flagg 12-yard pass from Chuck Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 28-24 4 4:06 MSU Craig Johnson 25-yard run (Caudell kick) MSU 31-28 4 0:27 IOWA Chuck Long 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 35-31 yes 1985 Iowa Hawkeyes football team Lorenzo White 39 Rush, 229 Yds, 2 TDOctober 5, 1985 Last-Minute Score Gives Iowa Victory https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/06/sports/last-minute-score-gives-iowa-victory.html The New York Times January 18, 2020 Michigan No. 3 Wolverines 14 3 0 14 Spartans 0 0 0 0 October 12 Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI 1985 Michigan Wolverines football team On October 12, 1985, Michigan State lost to Michigan, 31–0, in front of a crowd of 78,235 at Spartan Stadium. The victory was regarded at the time as revenge for the Spartans' 19–7 upset of the Wolverines in 1984. Michigan struck early after Michigan State quarterback Bobby McAllister fumbled the snap on the second play of the game, Andy Moeller recovered the ball on the Spartans' 16-yard line, and Jim Harbaugh threw a touchdown pass to tight end Eric Kattus. Less than two minutes after Michigan's first score, Dieter Heren blocked a Greg Montgomery punt, and Ed Hood recovered the ball in the end zone for Michigan's second touchdown. Harbaugh completed 13 of 23 passes, threw two touchdown passes to Kattus and gave up three interceptions. Jamie Morris rushed for 84 yards on 19 carries. Mike Gillette also kicked a field goal. On defense, Michigan held Lorenzo White (who set a Big Ten record with 2,066 yards in 1985) to a season-low 47 yards on 18 carries. The Wolverines' defense also sacked Bobby McAllister three times, intercepted him once, and held him to 83 passing yards.Wolverines get revenge: U-M defense manhandles MSU, 31–0 Detroit Free Press Jack Saylor October 13, 1985 G1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4094415/wolverines_get_revenge/ Illinois 1985 Illinois Fighting Illini football team At Purdue 1985 Purdue Boilermakers football team Lorenzo White 53 Rush, 244 Yds Minnesota 1985 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team At Indiana Lorenzo White 25 Rush, 286 Yds, 2 TD (played just over a half) Northwestern 1985 Northwestern Wildcats football team At Wisconsin Lorenzo White 42 Rush, 223 Yds (set single season Big Ten rushing record) Football's Best Won't Win Heisman https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-12-06-8503240416-story.html Chicago Tribune December 6, 1985 December 21, 2019 Georgia Tech—All-American Bowl Michigan State vs. Georgia Tech Spartans 0 7 7 0 Yellow Jackets 0 0 7 10 December 31 Legion Field, Birmingham, AL Bob Neal, Tim Foley and Paul Hornung 1985 All-American Bowl 1985 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team January 2, 1986 All-American Bowl : Georgia Tech Beats Michigan State, 17-14 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-01-02-sp-23622-story.html Los Angeles Times January 19, 2020 Personnel 1985 Michigan State Spartans y 8 Fr Bobby McAllister QB 11 Jr Mark Ingram WR y Mark Ingram Sr. 21 Jr Bobby Morse RB y 1 Fr Andre Rison WR y 60 So Pat Shurmur C y 34 So Lorenzo White RB y 14 Jr Dave Yarema QB 51 Sr Anthony Bell Anthony Bell (American football) LB y 41 Jr Shane Bullough LB 32 Sr Phil Parker S y 93 Sr Kelly Quinn DE Jr Chris Caudell K 23 So Greg Montgomery P y George Perles Nick Saban (defensive coordinator) References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football