1970 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1970 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 4–6 3–4 Duffy Daugherty 17th Eric Allen Gordon Bowdell Michael Hogan Wilt Martin Spartan Stadium The 1970 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 1970 Big Ten football season. In their 17th season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 4–6 record (3–4 in conference games), tied for fifth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 215 to 190. In four games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 1 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan, and No. 18 Northwestern.1970 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1970-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 171.4 rushing yards and 169.7 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 201.0 rushing yards and 148.6 passing yards per game. The individual statistical leaders included quarterback Mike Rasmussen with 1,344 passing yards, halfback Eric Allen with 811 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, and split end Gordon Bowdell with 34 receptions and 495 receiving yards.1970 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1970.html Four Michigan State players received second-team honors from either the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) on the 1970 All-Big Ten Conference football team: split end Gordon Bowdell (AP-2, UPI-2); halfback Eric Allen (UPI-2); offensive guard Joe DeLamielleure (AP-2); and center Tom Beard.Bucks, Michigan Top All-Big Ten Team Jacksonville (Ill.) Journal December 1, 1970 10 https://www.newspapers.com/image/59003663/?terms=adamle%2Bbrockington%2Bstaroba%2B%22associated%2Bpress%22Buckeyes place 6 on all-Big Ten team The Bryan Times (AP story) November 27, 1970 10 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19701127&id=k1EwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TVIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4310,3497604 Allen was selected as the team's most valuable player.2025 Media Guide, p. 300. The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1970 AP September 19 l y y Washington University of Washington Stadium Seattle, WA 16–42 52,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-sixkiller-slays-michigan/183286245/ The Fresno Bee Sixkiller slays Michigan State in 42–16 rout September 20, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com September 26 w y Washington State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 28–14 64,053 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-eight-pass-intercep/183290140/ The Arizona Republic Eight pass interceptions spark MSU September 27, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 3 l y Notre Dame 4 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 0–29 76,103 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bay-city-times-irish-shut-out-sparta/182561542/ The Bay City Times Irish shut out Spartans October 4, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 10 l Ohio State 1 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 0–29 75,511 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-buckeyes-win-big-ten/183302169/ The Salisbury Post Buckeyes win Big Ten opener over Spartans October 11, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 17 l y Michigan 6 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 20–34 103,580 U-M Whacks MSU, 34-20: Taylor (3 TDs), Doughty (1 TD) Run Wild Detroit Free Press October 19, 1970 1D, 5D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41479259/um_whacks_msu_3420_taylor_3_tds/ Newspapers.com October 24 w y Iowa Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 37–0 63,482 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-herald-msu-rebounds-past-helpl/183304240/ The Times Herald MSU rebounds past helpless Iowa 37–0 October 25, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 31 w y Indiana Seventeenth Street Football Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 32–7 41,426 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ann-arbor-news-rasmussen-sparks-spar/183305781/ The Ann Arbor News Rasmussen sparks Spartans' romp November 1, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 7 w Purdue Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 24–14 61,113 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-state-trips-purdue/183305907/ The Kalamazoo Gazette State trips Purdue for third in row November 8, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 14 l y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 13–23 42,834 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-gophers-extend-msu/183306036/ The Indianapolis Star Gophers extend MSU hex, 23–13 November 15, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 21 l Northwestern 18 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 20–23 46,789 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-nu-field-goal-in-last-37/183303792/ Chicago Tribune NU field goal in last 37 sec. nips Spartans, 23–20 November 22, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1970 Michigan State) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/296602 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 19, 2025 Roster 1970 Michigan State Spartans f 41 So Ken Alderson FB 24 Jr Eric Allen WR 44 Sr Earl Anderson RB 51 Sr Tom Beard C 83 Sr Gordon Bowdell WR y 19 Jr Randy Davis WR 59 So Joe DeLamielleure G y 89 Jr Billy Joe DuPree TE y 65 So Chris King G 33 Sr Steve Kough WR 86 So Dennis Macholz WR 23 Jr Henry Matthews RB y Henry Matthews (American football) 85 So Brian McConnell TE 35 Jr Brad McLee RB 71 Sr Vic Mittelberg T 72 Jr Jim Nicholson T 76 Sr Gary Nowak T y 12 Jr Mike Rasmussen QB y 60 Sr Mike Tobin G 25 Jr Doug Barr CB 42 Sr Jay Breslin LB 98 So Gail Clark LB y 96 Sr Bill Dawson DL 50 Sr Calvin Fox DE 91 Jr Doug Halliday DE 61 So Ernie Hamilton DE 30 Sr Clifton Hardy DB y Cliff Hardy 66 Sr Mike Hogan LB 38 Sr Tom Kutchinsk S 97 Sr Wilt Martin DT 99 Jr Duane McLaughlin DT 48 Sr Gary Parmentier LB 27 Sr Harold Phillips DB 63 Sr Dave Thomas DE 10 So Brad Van Pelt S y 39 Sr Ralph Wielba LB 3 Sr Gary Boyce K *Duffy Daugherty References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football Category:Long stubs with short prose