1978 Michigan State Spartans football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1978 Michigan State Spartans football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 12 8–3 7–1 Darryl Rogers 3rd George Dyer 1st Ed Smith Mel Land Ed Smith Spartan Stadium Big Ten co-champion The 1978 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 1978 Big Ten football season. In their third season under head coach Darryl Rogers, the Spartans compiled an 8–3 record (7–1 in conference games), tied with Michigan for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 411 to 170. After losing three of their first four games, they defeated No. 5 Michigan and won their final seven games. They were ranked No. 12 in the final AP poll.1978 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1978-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 The Michigan State football program was placed on three years of probation in January 1976 and was therefore ineligible to be included in the 1978 UPI coaches poll or to play in a bowl game after the 1978 season.MSU must wait for bowl, other items to be decided Lynn Henning Lansing State Journal January 18, 1978 C1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-msu/196049527/ Newspapers.comBowls forbidden, MSU eyes Big Ten title Lynn Henning The Lansing State Journal September 7, 1978 2 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-bowls-forbidden/196049234/ Newspapers.com On offense, the Spartans gained an average of 242.1 rushing yards and 239.2 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 165.8 rushing yards and 125.5 passing yards per game. The individual statistical leaders included quarterback Ed Smith with 2,226 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns (both tops in the Big Ten), Steve Smith with 772 rushing yards, flanker Kirk Gibson with 802 receiving yards (tops in the Big Ten), and kicker Morten Andersen with 73 points scored (52 of 54 extra points, 7 of 16 field goals).1978 Michigan State Spartans Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football April 21, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1978.html Smith was selected as the team's most valuable player;2025 Media Guide, p. 300. he finished his collegiate career as the Big Ten's all-time leader with 5,706 passing yards.Ticats sign highly-rated passer Ottawa Journal February 13, 1979 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9363496/ticats_sign_highlyrated_passer/ Ten Spartans were selected by either the Associated Press (AP) or the United Press International (UPI) as first- or second-team players on the 1978 All-Big Ten Conference football teams: flanker Kirk Gibson (AP-1, UPI-1); split end Eugene Byrd (AP-1, UPI-1); tight end Mark Brammer (AP-1, UPI-1); offensive tackle Jim Hinsley (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive lineman Melvin Land (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive back Tom Graves (AP-1, UPI-1); punter Ray Stachowicz (AP-2, UPI-1); quarterback Ed Smith (AP-2, UPI-2); safety Mark Anderson (AP-2, UPI-2); and linebacker Dan Bass (AP-2).Leach leads All-Big Ten: Michigan, MSU dominate team The Kokomo Tribune December 7, 1978 26 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9322082/leach_leads_allbig_ten_michigan_msu/Co-champs dominate all-Big Ten selections The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) November 30, 1978 B3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4112694/co_champs_dominate_all_big_10_selections/ The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Schedule 1978 AP September 16 l y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 14–21 60,365 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-purdue-rallies-t/157581587/ Wisconsin State Journal Purdue rallies to beat Spartans September 17, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 w y Syracuse Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 49–21 74,511 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-spartans-bomb-syracuse/157581957/ The Buffalo News Spartans bomb Syracuse, 49–21 September 24, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com September 29 l y y USC 3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 9–30 65,319 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-trojans-roll-past-s/157582024/ The Arizona Republic Trojans roll past Spartans October 1, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 l y Notre Dame Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 25–29 77,087 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-irish-hold-off-s/157582094/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Irish hold off Spartans, 29–25 October 8, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 w y Michigan 5 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 24–15 105,132 MSU turns the tables, ends 9-year drought; Michigan tumbles, 24–15 Detroit Free Press Tom Henderson October 15, 1978 1F, 7F https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41868312/msu_turns_the_tables_ends_9year/State win turns Blue green The Michigan Daily Paul Campbell October 15, 1978 1, 12 https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754365/501 Bentley Historical Library October 21 w y Indiana Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI rivalry 49–14 76,013 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-michigan-state-rolls-over/157578243/ The Pantagraph Michigan State rolls over Indiana, 49–14 October 22, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 w Wisconsin Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 55–2 70,114 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-spartans-crush-badgers/157579103/ The Reporter Spartans crush Badgers October 29, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 w y 18 Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 59–19 48,077 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muskegon-chronicle-michigan-state-ro/157576360/ The Muskegon Chronicle Michigan State romps past Illinois 59–19 November 5, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 w 17 Minnesota Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 33–9 72,122 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-decatur-daily-review-michigan-state/157580600/ The Decatur Daily Review Michigan State rolls past Minnesota 33–9 November 12, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 w y 16 Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 52–3 14,157 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-msu-routs-wildcats/157560588/ The Post-Crescent MSU routs Wildcats November 19, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 25 w 14 Iowa Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 42–7 57,007 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-spartans-offense-de/157577617/ The Daily Nonpareil Spartans' offense destroys Hawkeyes November 26, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com Roster 1978 Michigan State Spartans y 91 Jr Mark Brammer TE y 53 Jr Angelo Fields T y Ed Smith Ed Smith (quarterback) QB JR y Ed Smith (quarterback) 23 Kirk Gibson WR SR y James "Jody" McCulloh OG n 16 Mark Anderson DB JR n 57 Larry Savage Larry Savage (American football) LB y Larry Savage (American football) 19 So Ray Stachowicz P y Dan Underwood Jon-Erik Hexum actor known for accidentally fatally shooting himself on the set of Cover Up.Jon-Erik Hexum Papers UA.10.3.127 - Michigan State Universityarchive.lib.msu.edu › uahc › FindingAids References Michigan State Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Michigan State Spartans football