2015 Michigan State Spartans football team

2015 Michigan State Spartans football

Big Ten champion Big Ten East Division co-champion
Big Ten Championship Game, W 16–13 vs. Iowa
Cotton Bowl Classic (CFP Semifinal), L 0–38 vs. Alabama
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Division	East Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 6
AP	No. 6
2015 record	12–2 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Mark Dantonio (9th year)
Co-offensive coordinator	Dave Warner (3rd year)
Co-offensive coordinator	Jim Bollman (3rd year)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Co-defensive coordinator	Harlon Barnett (1st as DC; 9th overall year)
Co-defensive coordinator	Mike Tressel (1st as DC; 9th overall year)
Base defense	Multiple
Captain	Jack Allen
Captain	Shilique Calhoun
Captain	Darien Harris
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium (Capacity: 75,005)
Seasons ← 2014 2016 →

2015 Big Ten football standings
	Conf				Overall
Team		W		L		W		L
East Division
#6 Michigan State xy$^		7	–	1		12	–	2
#4 Ohio State x		7	–	1		12	–	1
#12 Michigan		6	–	2		10	–	3
Penn State		4	–	4		7	–	6
Indiana		2	–	6		6	–	7
Rutgers		1	–	7		4	–	8
Maryland		1	–	7		3	–	9
West Division
#9 Iowa x		8	–	0		12	–	2
#23 Northwestern		6	–	2		10	–	3
#21 Wisconsin		6	–	2		10	–	3
Nebraska		3	–	5		6	–	7
Minnesota		2	–	6		6	–	7
Illinois		2	–	6		5	–	7
Purdue		1	–	7		2	–	10
Championship: Michigan State 16, Iowa 13
^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant As of January 2, 2016; Rankings from AP Poll

Michigan State at Western Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
• No. 5 Michigan State	20	7	7	3	37
Western Michigan	7	3	7	7	24

Date: September 4th
Location:
Waldo Stadium
Kalamazoo, MI
Game start: 7:07 PM
Elapsed time: 3:36
Game attendance: 30,885
Game weather: 78°F, wind: 8 MPH NW, sunny and humid
Referee: Jerry McGinn
TV announcers (ESPNU):
Allen Bestwick (play-by-play)
Dan Hawkins (analyst)
Paul Carcaterra (sideline)

Sources:

Scoring summary

1	09:09	MSU	Madre London 4 yd run (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 7–0

1	08:56	WMU	Darius Phillips kickoff return for 100 yds (Andrew Haldeman kick)	TIE 7–7

1	05:07	MSU	Madre London 7 yd run (failed 2-pt conversion)	MSU 13–7

1	06:26	MSU	Josiah Price 9 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 20–7

2	08:00	MSU	Gerald Holmes 8 yd run (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 27–7

2	02:46	WMU	Andrew Haldeman 22 yd field goal	MSU 27–10

3	09:35	MSU	DeAnthony Arnett 21 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 34–10

3	01:37	WMU	Corey Davis 17 yd pass from Zach Terrell (Andrew Haldeman kick)	MSU 34–17

4	11:09	WMU	Jeremiah Mullinax 29 yd pass from Zach Terrell (Andrew Haldeman kick)	MSU 34–24

4	07:55	MSU	Michael Geiger 21 yd field goal	MSU 37–24

Scoring summary

1	09:09	MSU	Madre London 4 yd run (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 7–0

1	08:56	WMU	Darius Phillips kickoff return for 100 yds (Andrew Haldeman kick)	TIE 7–7

1	05:07	MSU	Madre London 7 yd run (failed 2-pt conversion)	MSU 13–7

1	06:26	MSU	Josiah Price 9 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 20–7

2	08:00	MSU	Gerald Holmes 8 yd run (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 27–7

2	02:46	WMU	Andrew Haldeman 22 yd field goal	MSU 27–10

3	09:35	MSU	DeAnthony Arnett 21 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 34–10

3	01:37	WMU	Corey Davis 17 yd pass from Zach Terrell (Andrew Haldeman kick)	MSU 34–17

4	11:09	WMU	Jeremiah Mullinax 29 yd pass from Zach Terrell (Andrew Haldeman kick)	MSU 34–24

4	07:55	MSU	Michael Geiger 21 yd field goal	MSU 37–24

Oregon at Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 7 Oregon	7	0	7	14	28
• No. 5 Michigan State	7	7	10	7	31

Date: September 12th
Location:
Spartan Stadium
East Lansing, MI
Game start: 8:12 PM
Elapsed time: 3:29
Game attendance: 76,526
Game weather: 56°F, wind: 4 MPH SE, partly cloudy
Referee: Michael Batlan
TV announcers (ABC):
Rece Davis (play-by-play)
Kirk Herbstreit (analyst)
Heather Cox (sideline)

Sources:

Scoring summary

1	11:10	ORE	Royce Freeman 2 yd run (Aidan Schneider Kick)	ORE 7–0

1	10:02	MSU	Josiah Price 12 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger Kick)	TIE 7–7

2	13:45	MSU	Aaron Burbridge 17 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger Kick)	MSU 14–7

3	13:11	ORE	Bralon Addison 81 yd punt return (Aidan Schneider Kick)	TIE 14–14

3	08:11	MSU	LJ Scott 6 yd run (Michael Geiger Kick)	MSU 21–14

3	01:08	MSU	Michael Geiger 36 yd field goal	MSU 24–14

4	12:20	ORE	Vernon Adams 2 yd run (Aidan Schneider kick)	MSU 24–21

4	10:51	MSU	LJ Scott 36 yd run (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 31–21

4	03:25	ORE	Royce Freeman 15 yd pass from Vernon Adams	MSU 31–28

Scoring summary

1	11:10	ORE	Royce Freeman 2 yd run (Aidan Schneider Kick)	ORE 7–0

1	10:02	MSU	Josiah Price 12 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger Kick)	TIE 7–7

2	13:45	MSU	Aaron Burbridge 17 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger Kick)	MSU 14–7

3	13:11	ORE	Bralon Addison 81 yd punt return (Aidan Schneider Kick)	TIE 14–14

3	08:11	MSU	LJ Scott 6 yd run (Michael Geiger Kick)	MSU 21–14

3	01:08	MSU	Michael Geiger 36 yd field goal	MSU 24–14

4	12:20	ORE	Vernon Adams 2 yd run (Aidan Schneider kick)	MSU 24–21

4	10:51	MSU	LJ Scott 36 yd run (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 31–21

4	03:25	ORE	Royce Freeman 15 yd pass from Vernon Adams	MSU 31–28

Air Force at Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Air Force	7	0	7	7	21
• No. 4 Michigan State	14	14	7	0	35

Date: September 19th
Location:
Spartan Stadium
East Lansing, MI
Game start: 12:05 PM
Elapsed time: 3:16
Game attendance: 74,211
Game weather: 62°F, Wind: 14 MPH NW,Overcast
Referee: Alan Eck
TV announcers (ABC):
Dave Pasch (Play-by-Play)
Brian Griese (Analyst)
Tom Luginbill (Sideline)

Sources:

Scoring summary

1	08:48	MSU	Josiah Price 15 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 7–0

1	06:31	MSU	RJ Williamson 64 yd fumble return (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 14–0

1	01:22	AF	Benton Washington 1 yd run (Drew Oehrle kick)	MSU 14–7

2	10:40	MSU	Aaron Burbridge 28 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 21–7

2	00:28	MSU	Aaron Burbridge 32 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 28–7

3	11:07	MSU	Aaron Burbridge 21 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 35–7

3	08:38	AF	Jalen Robinette 38 yd pass from Karson Roberts (Drew Oehrle kick)	MSU 35–14

4	02:11	AF	DJ Johnson 2 yd run (Drew Oehrle kick)	MSU 35–21

Scoring summary

1	08:48	MSU	Josiah Price 15 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 7–0

1	06:31	MSU	RJ Williamson 64 yd fumble return (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 14–0

1	01:22	AF	Benton Washington 1 yd run (Drew Oehrle kick)	MSU 14–7

2	10:40	MSU	Aaron Burbridge 28 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 21–7

2	00:28	MSU	Aaron Burbridge 32 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 28–7

3	11:07	MSU	Aaron Burbridge 21 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 35–7

3	08:38	AF	Jalen Robinette 38 yd pass from Karson Roberts (Drew Oehrle kick)	MSU 35–14

4	02:11	AF	DJ Johnson 2 yd run (Drew Oehrle kick)	MSU 35–21

Central Michigan at Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Central Michigan	0	7	3	0	10
• No. 2 Michigan State	7	10	0	13	30

Date: September 26th
Location:
Spartan Stadium
East Lansing, MI
Game start: 12:01 PM
Elapsed time: 3:06
Game attendance: 75,218
Game weather: 71°F, Wind: 9 MPH ESE, Partly Cloudy
Referee: Greg Blum
TV announcers (BTN):
Eric Collins (Play-by-Play)
Glen Mason (Analyst)
Rick Pizzo (Sideline)

Sources:

Scoring summary

1	08:56	MSU	Madre London 6 yd run (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 7–0

2	11:20	MSU	Michael Geiger 47 yd field gold	MSU 10–0

2	05:13	MSU	Josiah Price 5 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 17-0

2	00:08	CMU	Anthony Rice 1 yd pass from Cooper Rush (Brian Eavey kick)	MSU 17–7

3	06:24	CMU	Brian Eavey 42 yd kick	MSU 17–10

4	08:37	MSU	Gerald Holmes 3 yd run (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 24–10

4	03:21	MSU	Gerald Holmes 6 yd run (Michael Geiger PAT blocked)	MSU 30–10

Scoring summary

1	08:56	MSU	Madre London 6 yd run (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 7–0

2	11:20	MSU	Michael Geiger 47 yd field gold	MSU 10–0

2	05:13	MSU	Josiah Price 5 yd pass from Connor Cook (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 17-0

2	00:08	CMU	Anthony Rice 1 yd pass from Cooper Rush (Brian Eavey kick)	MSU 17–7

3	06:24	CMU	Brian Eavey 42 yd kick	MSU 17–10

4	08:37	MSU	Gerald Holmes 3 yd run (Michael Geiger kick)	MSU 24–10

4	03:21	MSU	Gerald Holmes 6 yd run (Michael Geiger PAT blocked)	MSU 30–10

The 2015 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan State played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan and were led by ninth-year head coach Mark Dantonio. They finished the season 12–2, 7–1 in Big Ten play to share the East Division championship with Ohio State. Due to their head-to-head win over Ohio State, they represented the East Division in the Big Ten Championship Game where they defeated West Division champion Iowa to become Big Ten Champions. They finished the season No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings and were selected to play in the CFP Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl Classic where they lost to No. 2 Alabama.

Four members of the 2014 Spartan football team were selected in the 2015 NFL Draft

In addition, five other Spartans were signed as undrafted free agents:

Michigan State remained one of only five teams to have had a player selected in each draft since the AFL/NFL merger.

The Spartans began the 2015 campaign with a rare road game against MAC foe Western Michigan. The last time MSU and Western played, the Spartans required a couple of defensive touchdowns to put the Broncos away in the home opener of the 2013 season, a year in which they won the Big Ten outright and won the Rose Bowl.

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