1974 Michigan State Spartans football team

1974 Michigan State Spartans football
Conference	Big Ten
Ranking
AP	No. 12
1974 record	7–3–1 (6–1–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Denny Stolz (2nd year)
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium
Seasons « 1973 1975 »

1974 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#4 Ohio State +	7	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
#3 Michigan +	7	–	1	–	0			10	–	1	–	0
#12 Michigan State	6	–	1	–	1			7	–	3	–	1
Wisconsin	5	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Illinois	4	–	3	–	1			6	–	4	–	1
Purdue	3	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Minnesota	2	–	6	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Iowa	2	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Northwestern	2	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Indiana	1	–	7	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

1 2 3 4 Total Michigan State 0 0 0 7 7 • Michigan 7 14 0 0 21 Date: October 12 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan Game attendance: 104,682

Scoring summary 1 MICH Bell 13-yard run (Lantry kick) Michigan 7–0 2 MICH Jilek recovered MSU fumble in end zone (Lantry kick) Michigan 14–0 2 MICH Smith 45-yard pass from Franklin (Lantry kick) Michigan 21–0 4 MSU Cobb 15-yard pass from Baggett (Nielsen kick) Michigan 21–7

Scoring summary
1		MICH	Bell 13-yard run (Lantry kick)	Michigan 7–0
2		MICH	Jilek recovered MSU fumble in end zone (Lantry kick)	Michigan 14–0
2		MICH	Smith 45-yard pass from Franklin (Lantry kick)	Michigan 21–0
4		MSU	Cobb 15-yard pass from Baggett (Nielsen kick)	Michigan 21–7

1 2 3 4 Total Ohio State 3 0 3 7 13 • Michigan State 0 3 0 13 16 Date: November 9 Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI Game attendance: 78,533 TV announcers (ABC): Chris Schenkel, Duffy Daugherty & Jim Lampley

Scoring summary 1 OSU Tom Klaban field goal OSU 3-0 2 0:03 MSU Hans Nielsen 39 yard field goal Tied 3-3 3 OSU Tom Klaban field goal OSU 6-3 4 OSU Champ Henson 1 yard run (Klaban kick) OSU 13-3 4 MSU Mike Jones 44 yard pass from Charlie Baggett (pass failed) OSU 13-9 4 3:17 MSU Levi Jackson 88 yard run (Nielsen kick) MSU 16-13

Scoring summary
1		OSU	Tom Klaban field goal	OSU 3-0
2	0:03	MSU	Hans Nielsen 39 yard field goal	Tied 3-3
3		OSU	Tom Klaban field goal	OSU 6-3
4		OSU	Champ Henson 1 yard run (Klaban kick)	OSU 13-3
4		MSU	Mike Jones 44 yard pass from Charlie Baggett (pass failed)	OSU 13-9
4	3:17	MSU	Levi Jackson 88 yard run (Nielsen kick)	MSU 16-13

The 1974 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season.

On October 12, 1974, Michigan State lost to Michigan by a 21-7 score. The game, played at Michigan Stadium, attracted a crowd of 104,682, reported to be "the second largest crowd in modern N.C.A.A. history" behind the 1973 Michigan-Ohio State game. Gordon Bell led Michigan's rushing attack with 73 yards on 16 carries, including a 13-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Dennis Franklin completed five of nine passes for 84 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jim Smith in the second quarter, but left the game in the third quarter with bruised ribs. Linebacker Dan Jilek also scored in the second quarter when he forced a fumble on a punt attempt and then recovered it in the end zone.

Michigan State manages a considerable upset at home, topping then #1 Ohio State, 16-13. Fullback Levi Jackson scores the final points of the game on an 88-yard TD run, followed by a Hans Neilsen point after touchdown. In a tumultuous finish, Ohio State fails to convert at the Spartans' 1-yard line as time expires. Big Ten Commissioner Wayne Duke went to referee Gene Calhoun and the team of officials to confirm that the Buckeyes had not attempted their second-down play before the clock ran out.

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