1979 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1979 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–6 3–5 Darryl Rogers 4th George Dyer 2nd Danny Bass Danny Bass Mark Brammer Spartan Stadium The 1979 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 1979 Big Ten football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Darryl Rogers, the Spartans compiled a 5–6 record (3–5 in conference games), tied for seventh place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 253 to 240. In four games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 15 Notre Dame, No. 11 Michigan, No. 16 Purdue, and No. 4 Ohio State.1979 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1979-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 On offense, the Spartans gained an average of 176.4 rushing yards and 141.0 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 190.8 rushing yards and 161.3 passing yards per game. The individual statistical leaders included quarterback Bryan Clark with 800 passing yards, Steve Smith with 972 rushing yards, Eugene Byrd with 30 receptionsand 559 receiving yards, and Derek Hughes (66 points scored on 11 touchdowns).1979 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1979.html Three Spartans were selected by either the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) as first-team players on the 1979 All-Big Ten Conference football teams: tight end Mark Brammer (UPI-1); linebacker Danny Bass (AP-1); and punter Ray Stachowitz (AP-1).Blue lands four All-Big Ten spots: OSU places six, Purdue five The Michigan Daily November 29, 1979 9 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19791129&id=JhJKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Sx4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2720,4678345 Dan Bass was selected as the team's most valuable player.2025 Media Guide, p. 300. In January 1980, Rogers resigned to become head coach at Arizona State.Rogers goes to SU, too The Lansing State Journal January 16, 1980 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-rogers/196053707/ Newspapers.com The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1979 AP September 8 w 10 Illinois Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 33–16 71,125 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-msu-rolls-over-illini-331/157927193/ The Lima News MSU rolls over Illini 33–16 as Andersen, Vaughn star September 9, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 15 w y 10 Oregon Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 41–17 76,123 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-michigan-state-swa/157815411/ The Winona Daily News Michigan State swamp Oregon in 41–17 rout September 16, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 22 w y 8 Miami (OH) Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 24–21 78,582 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-michigan-state-rally/157921559/ The Courier-Journal Michigan State rally wins 24–21 September 23, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 29 l y y 7 Notre Dame 15 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry 3–27 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-notre-dame-rips/157857718/ The Santa Fe New Mexican Notre Dame rips Michigan State 27–3 September 30, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 6 l 16 Michigan 11 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 7–21 79,311 U-M air blitz rips MSU, 21-7: Bo won't open up? Two 2d half TD passes jar Spartans Detroit Free Press Charlie Vincent October 7, 1979 1F, 4F https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43099837/um_air_blitz_rips_msu_217/ Newspapers.comMichigan chills muffled MSU attack, 21-7: Offense finally clicks; Sparta is conquered The Michigan Daily Geoff Larcom October 7, 1979 1 https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754373/401 Bentley Historical Library October 13 l y 19 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 29–38 77,083 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-spirited-badgers/157928321/ Wisconsin State Journal Spirited Badgers upset MSU October 14, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 20 l y Purdue 16 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 7–14 79,561 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-lackluster-conte/157928852/ The Des Moines Register Lackluster contest won by Purdue October 21, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com October 27 l y Ohio State 4 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 0–42 87,747 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-ohio-state-rolls-by-sp/157928944/ The Tampa Tribune-Times Ohio State rolls by Spartans 42–0 October 28, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 3 w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 42–7 20,193 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-reserve-qb-leads-m/157926812/ The Rock Island Argus Reserve QB leads MSU over 'Cats November 4, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 10 w Minnesota Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 31–17 75,433 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-spartans-forsake-p/157929023/ Battle Creek Enquirer & News Spartans forsake passing game, run past Gophers November 11, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com November 17 l y Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 23–33 56,320 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-mosley-earns-rushing-titl/157929091/ The Pantagraph Mosley earns rushing title as Iowa triumphs November 18, 1979 October 27, 2024 Newspapers.com1979 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 27, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1979-schedule.html Roster 1979 Michigan State Spartans f 91 Sr Mark Brammer TE y 53 Sr Angelo Fields T y 6 Mark Jones WR 33 Joe Kolodziej FB 16 Sr Mark Anderson DB 49 Sr Danny Bass LB y 28 So Jim Burroughs CB y 40 Jr John McCormick LB 57 Sr Larry Savage Larry Savage (American football) LB y 8 So Morten Andersen K y 19 Jr Ray Stachowicz P y *Darryl Rogers References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Michigan State Spartans football