The 2017 Michigan State Spartans football team represents Michigan State University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans play their home games at the Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan, and will compete in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They are led by 11th-year head coach Mark Dantonio.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Previous season
The Spartans finished the 2016 season 3-9, 1-8 in Big Ten play to finish in sixth place in the East Division.
Michigan State Bowling Ball Video
Offseason
2017 NFL Draft
Undrafted NFL free agents
Dismissals due to sexual assault incidents
The Spartans dismissed three players, Donnie Corley, Josh King, and Demetric Vance, after they were charged with third degree criminal sexual conduct in relation to a sexual assault investigation. In a separate incident, Auston Robertson, was charged with third-degree sexual misconduct in April and dismissed from the team.
Recruiting
Recruits
The Spartans signed a total of 23 recruits.
Roster
Position key
Coaching staff
Schedule
Michigan State announced its 2017 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2017 schedule consists of seven home and five away games in the regular season. The Spartans host Big Ten foes Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, and Penn State, and travel to Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Rutgers. The Spartans host all three non-conference opponents, Bowling Green from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Western Michigan, also from the MAC, and Notre Dame, an independent. MSU will not leave the state of Michigan until October 14 when they travel to Minnesota.
Game summaries
Bowling Green
MSU opened the season at Spartan Stadium against Mid-American Conference opponent, Bowling Green looking to improve upon their poor performance in 2016. The Spartans started well, driving to the Falcon goalline before LJ Scott fumbled the ball and Bowling Green returned it to their 31-yard line. The Falcons moved the ball down the field and took the lead shortly thereafter on a Jake Suder 36-yard field goal. After this ominous beginning, neither team managed any further points in the first quarter, but the Spartans took the lead for good less than four minutes into the second quarter on a Madre London seven-yard touchdown run. As time ran out in the first half, Brian Lewerke hit Felton Davis for a four-yard touchdown pass to give the Spartans a 14-3 lead at halftime. MSU's offense took control in the third period, scoring touchdowns on back-to-back possessions, both touchdown passes from Brian Lewerke, to give the Spartans a commanding 28-3 lead. Tyson Smith, playing in his first game since suffering a stroke in November of 2016, intercepted a Falcon pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown and a 35-3 lead. LJ Scott would lose another fumble early in the fourth quarter, this time the Falcons returned it 46 yards for a touchdown to reduce the Spartan lead to 35-10. Neither team scored again as the Spartans moved to 1-0 on the season with a convincing win.
Brian Lewerke played well, completing 22 of this 33 attempts and throwing three touchdowns. He also rushed for 70 yards on the day. LJ Scott had a poor day, rushing 15 times and gaining only 39 yards and fumbling the ball twice with the Falcons recovering both. The Spartan defense limited the Falcons to three points and 212 total yards on the day.
Western Michigan
In the second week of the season, the Spartans hosted another MAC opponent, the previous year's MAC champion, Western Michigan. The Michigan State defense would hold steady on the opening drive by the Broncos, with Josiah Scott recording his first career interception. The Spartan offense was able to drive into WMU territory following the interception, but was unable to score. Several possessions later, Brian Lewerke finally opened the scoring in the first quarter on a read option play, scoring on a 61-yard run, giving Michigan State a 7-0 lead. Michigan State would add another score late in the second quarter on a 15-yard pass from Lewerke to LJ Scott. As a result, MSU led 14-0 at halftime. For the second week in a row, an opponent scored on a fumble recovery when true-freshman receiver Hunter Rison had the ball stripped by WMU cornerback Darius Phillips and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown, to pull the Broncos within 14-7. The Spartan offense immediately answered the score, taking less than three minutes on their following drive to score, which included a Darrell Stewart run of 41 yards to the WMU one-yard line. Lewerke would punch it in from one-yard out, restoring MSU's two touchdown lead, 21-7. The Spartans increased the lead in the fourth quarter when LJ Scott broke a 44-yard run on fourth and one from the Spartan 45-yard line. Scott would eventually score on a two-yard touchdown run, giving MSU a 28-7 lead. However, Darius Phillips answered the Spartan touchdown on the ensuing kickoff with a 100-yard return for touchdown, making it 28-14. The Bronco offense would finally put a drive together late in the fourth quarter, driving all the way to the MSU 15-yard line before failing to convert on fourth and one. The Spartan offense would then run out the clock to secure the 28-14 victory. The win moved the Spartans to 2-0 on the season with a bye week to follow.
The Michigan State defense played extremely well, tallying four sacks (they had 11 total sacks all of last year) and surrendering only 195 yards and, for the second week in a row, did not give up a touchdown. Brian Lewerke totaled 242 all purpose yards (161 yards passing, 81 yards rushing), with two rushing TDs and a passing TD. LJ Scott led all rushers with 86 yards rushing with a couple of TDs (one receiving and one rushing). Felton Davis led all receivers with four receptions and 69 yards. Michigan State rushed for 296 yards, the most yards rushing the Spartans have had in a game since rushing for 330 yards against Indiana in 2014.
Notre Dame
Following a bye week, the Spartans welcomed rival Notre Dame to Spartan Stadium for their third consecutive home game. Notre Dame jumped up early on the Spartans, taking the opening drive 78 yards on seven plays as Notre Dame QB Brandon Wimbush ran for 16 yards to put the Irish up 7-0. On the next possession, things got even worse for the Spartans as Brian Lewerke's pass was intercepted by Julian Love and returned 59 yards for a touchdown. Trailing 14-0, the Spartans would answer, going 75 yards and scoring on a Darrell Stewart Jr. four-yard touchdown catch to cut the lead to 14-7. Neither team managed any more points in the first quarter, but Lewerke again committed a mistake early in the second quarter as he fumbled the ball at the MSU 24-yard line. Six plays later Wimbush hit Dexter Williams for an eight-yard touchdown to put the Irish up 21-7. Looking to avoid the rout. the Spartans took their next drive deep into Notre Dame territory. L. J. Scott scored an apparent touchdown from 14 yards out, but he was stripped of the ball before he crossed the goalline and Notre Dame recovered the fumble. Instead of the lead being reduced to 21-14, Notre Dame moved down the field on five plays as Williams again scored for the Irish, putting the score at 28-7. MSU was unable to answer and trailed by 21 at the half.
In the second half, MSU attempted to prevent the blowout, but only managed a field goal on their opening possession. The Irish put the game out of reach on their next possession, going 62 yards on eight plays to balloon the lead to 35-10. Notre Dame added a field goal with five minutes remaining in the game as the MSU offense continued to struggle. The Spartans did get another touchdown as Gerald Holmes caught a 25-yard pass from Brian Lewerke to cut the lead to 38-18 with the two point conversion. However, with just 1:36 remaining the game, it was too little too late and the Spartans fell 38-18. As a result of the win, the Irish received the Megaphone Trophy. The Spartans fell to 2-1 on the season.
MSU outgained the Irish 496-355, but the three turnovers cost the Spartans. Lewerke completed 31 of 51 passes for 340 yards and the Spartans gained 151 yards on the ground.
Iowa
In their fourth consecutive home game to begin the season, the Spartans hosted the Hawkeyes in East Lansing in the teams' first matchup since the 2015 Big Ten Championship. MSU started off hot as Brian Lewerke hit his first five passes including a 22-yard catch by Felton Davis for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead over Iowa. After exchanging punts on their next possessions, the Spartans again got hot through the air as Lewerke again hit Davis, this time from six yards out to move the MSU lead to 14-0. Iowa would answer as they went 72 yards on 10 plays before Arkum Wadley scored on a 9-yard run that cut the lead in half at 14-7. Michigan State managed a 38-yard field goal from Matt Coghlin with 43 seconds left in the half to push the halftime lead to 17-7.
In the second half, both defenses controlled the game. However, Iowa, on the first possession of the half moved to the Spartan five-yard line before Iowa quarterback Nathan Stanley fumbled the ball without being touched and MSU recovered at their own three yard line. The first scoring of the half came with a little over nine minutes left in the game as Iowa converted on a Miguel Recinos 43-yard field goal to narrow the lead to 17-10. After exchanging punts, the Spartans punted to Iowa with just over three minutes remaining in the game. The Spartan defense, however, limited the Hawkeyes to three plays before the clock ran out and the Spartans left with the victory 17-10.
Iowa managed only 231 yards in the game while the Spartans put up 300 yard. The difference in the game were the turnovers as the Spartans, who entered the game with eight turnovers on the season, did not turn the ball over while the Hawkeyes lost two fumbles. The win moved MSU to 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in the Big Ten with a trip to Ann Arbor looming.
Michigan
Leaving Spartan Stadium for the first time on the season, the Spartans traveled to take on rival Michigan in a matchup for the Paul Bunyon Trophy. No. 7-ranked Michigan looked like the better team to start the game as they went 64 yards on 16 plays, but stalled on the MSU 11-yard line and settled for a 30-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. The unranked Spartans were forced to punt on their first possession and, after a first down for Michigan, MSU took control of the game. Joe Bachie stripped Michigan's Ty Isaac and Chris Frey recovered the fumble at the Michigan 46-yard line. The Spartans drove straight down the field and Brian Lewerke scrambled in from 14 yards out to give the Spartans a 7-3 lead. The MSU defense forced Michigan to punt and the Spartan offense stalled at the Michigan 47. Following another punt by the Wolverines, the Spartans capped off an 83-yard drive with a Madre London 16-yard run to put the Spartans up 14-3. Another forced fumble by the Spartan defense ended a Michigan drive at the Spartan 29-yard line with just over a minute remaining in the half. The Spartans happily went to the locker room with a 14-3 lead.
In the second half, the weather became a major factor. With the wind kicking up and a storm approaching, Michigan scored on their second possession after a short punt gave the Wolverines the ball as the Spartan 33. The one-yard touchdown run narrowed the MSU lead to 14-10. MSU's offense, facing a strong wind and a storm, went conservative for the remainder of the game. MSU's defense did not, intercepting Michigan quarterback John O'Korn on the next three possessions. Though MSU did not convert any of the interceptions into points, each stopped a Wolverine drive at crucial junctures. The Spartan defense kept up its good play, forcing Michigan to punt on their next two possessions and the Spartans took over with 3:58 remaining in the game. A pair of MSU first downs, their first first downs of the half, appeared to seal the win for MSU, but penalties set the Wolverines up with the ball at their own 20 with 34 seconds to go. Another personal foul penalty on the Spartans following 15-yard gain gave Michigan the ball at midfield. Finally, as time expired, the Wolverines' Hail Mary-pass was deflected to the ground at the goal line to give the Spartans the win and the Paul Bunyon trophy.
The win gave the Spartans their eighth win over Michigan in the last 10 years, all under head coach Mark Dantonio. The Spartans rushed for 158 yards, but were limited to only 94 yards through the air. The MSU defense held the Wolverines to 300 yards. MSU also did not turn the ball over, while forcing five Wolverine turnovers.
Minnesota
Going on the road for the second straight week but leaving the state of Michigan for the first time on the season, the newly-ranked Spartans traveled to Minnesota. The start of the game was delayed for approximately 45 minutes due to thunderstorms in the area. The weather made for a very sloppy start for both offenses, with Minnesota going three and out on their first drive. Michigan State took over, but a fumbled snap set the Spartans back and they had to punt as well. Disaster struck on the punt, as the snap was high and slipped through punter Jake Hartbarger's hands, with Minnesota recovering at the Michigan State 3 yard line. The Spartan defense stood tall and drove the Gophers back, leading to an Emmit Carpenter 25-yard field goal to open the scoring. Michigan State responded with a field goal drive of their own, with Matt Coghlin hitting from 42 yards out to even the score at 3-3. On the ensuing Gopher possession, a fumbled hand off was recovered by Michigan State defensive end Kenny Willekes at the Gopher 8 yard-line. Madre London scored the game's first touchdown from 3 yards out to make the score 10-3. After a Gopher punt, Brian Lewerke threw his first interception in 3 games, and the Gophers took over at the MSU 34 yard-line. This led to a 47-yard field goal from Carpenter to make the score 10-6. Michigan State responded with a touchdown drive, with LJ Scott scoring from 24 yards out to extend the lead to 17-6. The score would remain the same for the rest of the half.
Michigan State received the opening kickoff of the second half and drove down into the red zone, but they would have to settle for another field goal, with Coghlin hitting from 35 yards out to move the score to 20-6. The Gophers would punt, and the Spartans put together another long drive all the way down inside the Gopher 10 yard-line, but a false start penalty backed them up and they had to settle for another Coghlin field goal, this time from 25 yards out to move the score to 23-6. Minnesota punted again, and the Spartan fumbling problems of 2017 continued with LJ Scott putting it on the ground. Minnesota recovered, and they quickly scored their first touchdown of the game, a 28-yard pass from Demry Croft to Tyler Johnson to cut the lead to 23-13. After a good kickoff return from Connor Heyward, MSU quickly responded to the Gopher touchdown with Scott scoring from 6 yards out, making it 30-13 Spartans. It was then Minnesota's turn to respond, as Croft found Johnson again for a touchdown from 17 yards out to cut it to 30-20 with under 8 minutes remaining in the game. The next Spartan drive led to a missed field goal from 45 yards out, and Minnesota took over with under 5 minutes remaining in the game. Croft found Johnson in the end zone for the third time of the second half, and the Spartan lead was only a field goal at 30-27. Minnesota attempted an onside kick, but Michigan State freshman wide receiver Cody White recovered to give the Spartans a hard-fought 30-27 victory on the road at Minnesota.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=400935380
Scott ran for a career-high 194 yards on 25 carries with 2 rushing touchdowns. London added 74 yards and a touchdown, and Matt Coghlin made 3 field goals in the win. MSU moves to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten and will return home to Spartan Stadium next week for their Homecoming game against Indiana.
Indiana
On Homecoming, the Hoosiers will visit the Spartans at Spartan Stadium in a matchup for the Old Brass Spittoon.
Northwestern
A trip to Evanston to face Northwestern will mark MSU's third road game on the season.
Penn State
MSU will take on rival and reigning Big Ten Champion Penn State with three more games remaining on the schedule, marking the first time since 2013 the teams did not conclude the regular season playing each other.
Ohio State
MSU will travel to Columbus to take on Big Ten favorite Ohio State.
Maryland
In the penultimate game of the regular season and Senior Day for the Spartans, Maryland will visit Spartan Stadium.
Rutgers
On the final day of the regular season, the Spartans will travel to New Jersey to take on Rutgers, the team against which MSU tallied its lone conference win from the prior year.
Rankings
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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