2016 Michigan State Spartans football team

2016 Michigan State Spartans football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Division	East Division
2016 record	3–9 (1–8 Big Ten)
Head coach	Mark Dantonio (10th year)
Co-offensive coordinator	Dave Warner (4th year)
Co-offensive coordinator	Jim Bollman (4th year)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Co-defensive coordinator	Harlon Barnett (2nd as DC; 10th overall year)
Co-defensive coordinator	Mike Tressel (2nd as DC; 10th overall year)
Base defense	Multiple
Captain	3 Tyler O'Connor Riley Bullough Demetrius Cox
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium (Capacity: 75,005)
Seasons ← 2015 2017 →

2016 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
No. 7 Penn State xy$		8	–	1					11	–	3
No. 6 Ohio State x^		8	–	1					11	–	2
No. 10 Michigan		7	–	2					10	–	3
Indiana		4	–	5					6	–	7
Maryland		3	–	6					6	–	7
Michigan State		1	–	8					3	–	9
Rutgers		0	–	9					2	–	10
West Division
No. 9 Wisconsin xy		7	–	2					11	–	3
Iowa		6	–	3					8	–	5
Nebraska		6	–	3					9	–	4
Minnesota		5	–	4					9	–	4
Northwestern		5	–	4					7	–	6
Illinois		2	–	7					3	–	9
Purdue		1	–	8					3	–	9
Championship: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31
^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

Furman at No. 12 Michigan State

1 2 3 4 Total Furman 0 3 3 7 13 • No. 12 Michigan State 7 7 7 7 28 Date: September 2, 2016 Location: Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI Game start: 7:04 PM Elapsed time: 3:13 Game attendance: 74,516 Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Wind: 7 MPH NE, Partly Cloudy Referee: Mike Conlin TV announcers (BTN): Justin Kutcher (Play-by-Play), Jim Miller (Analyst), Johnny Kane (Sideline)

Scoring summary 1 11:19 MSU LJ Scott 1-yard run (Michael Geiger kick) 7–0 MSU 2 03:19 MSU Felton Davis III 13-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick) 14–0 MSU 2 00:15 FUR Jon Croft Hollingsworth 20-yard field goal 14–3 MSU 3 07:34 FUR Jon Croft Hollingsworth 23-yard field goal 14–6 MSU 3 04:26 MSU Josiah Price 21-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick) 21–6 MSU 4 13: 37 FUR Antonio Wilcox 6-yard run (Jon Croft Hollingsworth kick) 21–13 MSU 4 04:55 MSU Jamal Lyles 12-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick) 28–13 MSU

Scoring summary
1	11:19	MSU	LJ Scott 1-yard run (Michael Geiger kick)	7–0 MSU
2	03:19	MSU	Felton Davis III 13-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick)	14–0 MSU
2	00:15	FUR	Jon Croft Hollingsworth 20-yard field goal	14–3 MSU
3	07:34	FUR	Jon Croft Hollingsworth 23-yard field goal	14–6 MSU
3	04:26	MSU	Josiah Price 21-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick)	21–6 MSU
4	13: 37	FUR	Antonio Wilcox 6-yard run (Jon Croft Hollingsworth kick)	21–13 MSU
4	04:55	MSU	Jamal Lyles 12-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick)	28–13 MSU

No. 12 Michigan State at No. 18 Notre Dame
(Megaphone Trophy)

1 2 3 4 Total • No. 12 Michigan State 0 15 21 0 36 No. 18 Notre Dame 7 0 7 14 28 Date: September 17, 2016 Location: Notre Dame Stadium South Bend, IN Game start: 7:44 PM Elapsed time: 3:31 Game attendance: 80,795 Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C), Wind: 6 MPH W, Clear Referee: Dan Capron TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico (Play-by-Play), Doug Flutie (Analyst), Kathryn Tappen (Sideline)

Scoring summary 1 03:07 ND DeShone Kizer 14-yard run (Justin Yoon kick) 0–7 ND 2 09:30 MSU Donnie Corley 38-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Matt Macksood pass to Josiah Price) 8–7 MSU 2 00:23 MSU R.J. Shelton 10-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick) 15–7 MSU 3 07:48 MSU Gerald Holmes 3-yard run (Michael Geiger kick) 22–7 MSU 3 06:28 MSU LJ Scott 9-yard run (Michael Geiger kick) 29–7 MSU 3 03:45 MSU Gerald Holmes 73-yard run (Michael Geiger kick) 36–7 MSU 3 02:40 ND Equanimeous St. Brown 15-yard pass from DeShone Kizer (Justin Yoon kick) 36–14 MSU 4 11:45 ND DeShone Kizer 3-yard run (Justin Yoon kick) 36–21 MSU 4 06:02 ND Durham Smythe 12-yard pass from DeShone Kizer (Justin Yoon kick) 36–28 MSU

Scoring summary
1	03:07	ND	DeShone Kizer 14-yard run (Justin Yoon kick)	0–7 ND
2	09:30	MSU	Donnie Corley 38-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Matt Macksood pass to Josiah Price)	8–7 MSU
2	00:23	MSU	R.J. Shelton 10-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick)	15–7 MSU
3	07:48	MSU	Gerald Holmes 3-yard run (Michael Geiger kick)	22–7 MSU
3	06:28	MSU	LJ Scott 9-yard run (Michael Geiger kick)	29–7 MSU
3	03:45	MSU	Gerald Holmes 73-yard run (Michael Geiger kick)	36–7 MSU
3	02:40	ND	Equanimeous St. Brown 15-yard pass from DeShone Kizer (Justin Yoon kick)	36–14 MSU
4	11:45	ND	DeShone Kizer 3-yard run (Justin Yoon kick)	36–21 MSU
4	06:02	ND	Durham Smythe 12-yard pass from DeShone Kizer (Justin Yoon kick)	36–28 MSU

No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 8 Michigan State

1 2 3 4 Total • No. 11 Wisconsin 7 6 17 0 30 No. 8 Michigan State 3 3 0 0 6 Date: September 24, 2016 Location: Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI Game start: 12:01 pm Elapsed time: 3:12 Game attendance: 75,505 Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), Wind: ENE 8 MPH, Partly Cloudy Referee: Jerry McGinn TV announcers (BTN): Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), Lisa Byington (sideline)

Scoring summary 1 08:03 MSU Michael Geiger 48-yard field goal 3–0 MSU 1 00:25 WIS Eric Steffes 1-yard pass from Alex Hornibrook (Andrew Endicott kick) 7–3 WIS 2 07:14 WIS Corey Clement 1-yard run (kick failed) 13–3 WIS 2 01:18 MSU Michael Geiger 40-yard field goal 13–6 WIS 3 13:10 WIS Leo Musso 66-yard fumble recovery (Andrew Endicott kick) 20–6 WIS 3 04:58 WIS Andrew Endicott 41-yard field goal 23–6 WIS 3 03:52 WIS Corey Clement 5-yard run (Andrew Endicott kick) 30–6 WIS

Scoring summary
1	08:03	MSU	Michael Geiger 48-yard field goal	3–0 MSU
1	00:25	WIS	Eric Steffes 1-yard pass from Alex Hornibrook (Andrew Endicott kick)	7–3 WIS
2	07:14	WIS	Corey Clement 1-yard run (kick failed)	13–3 WIS
2	01:18	MSU	Michael Geiger 40-yard field goal	13–6 WIS
3	13:10	WIS	Leo Musso 66-yard fumble recovery (Andrew Endicott kick)	20–6 WIS
3	04:58	WIS	Andrew Endicott 41-yard field goal	23–6 WIS
3	03:52	WIS	Corey Clement 5-yard run (Andrew Endicott kick)	30–6 WIS

No. 17 Michigan State at Indiana
(Old Brass Spittoon)

1 2 3 4 OT Total No. 17 Michigan State 7 0 7 7 0 21 • Indiana 0 0 7 14 3 24 Date: October 1, 2016 Location: Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN Game start: 8:05 pm Elapsed time: 3:45 Game attendance: 43,971 Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), Wind: S 4 MPH, Fair Referee: Michael Cannon TV announcers (BTN): Eric Collins (play-by-play), Glen Mason (anaylst)

Scoring summary 1 04:39 MSU R.J. Shelton 86-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick) 7–0 MSU 3 04:00 MSU Delton Williams 24-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick) 14–0 MSU 3 00:52 IND Richard Lagow 5-yard pass from Michell Paige (Griffin Oakes kick) 14–7 MSU 4 08:23 IND Ricky Jones 22-yard pass from Richard Lagow (Griffin Oakes kick) 14–14 TIE 4 04:38 IND Mitchell Paige 15-yard pass from Richard Lagow (Griffin Oakes kick) 21–14 IND 4 00:11 MSU Josiah Price 2-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick) 21–21 TIE OT 15:00 IND Griffin Oakes 20-yard field goal 24–21 IND

Scoring summary
1	04:39	MSU	R.J. Shelton 86-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick)	7–0 MSU
3	04:00	MSU	Delton Williams 24-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick)	14–0 MSU
3	00:52	IND	Richard Lagow 5-yard pass from Michell Paige (Griffin Oakes kick)	14–7 MSU
4	08:23	IND	Ricky Jones 22-yard pass from Richard Lagow (Griffin Oakes kick)	14–14 TIE
4	04:38	IND	Mitchell Paige 15-yard pass from Richard Lagow (Griffin Oakes kick)	21–14 IND
4	00:11	MSU	Josiah Price 2-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor (Michael Geiger kick)	21–21 TIE
OT	15:00	IND	Griffin Oakes 20-yard field goal	24–21 IND

The 2016 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans played in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. They were led by head coach Mark Dantonio, who was in his tenth season. They finished the season 3–9, 1–8 in Big Ten Play to finish in sixth place in the East Division.

The 2015 season was one of the most successful in school history. The Spartans defeated in-state rival Michigan in Ann Arbor after a fumbled snap by Wolverine punter Blake O'Neill was picked up by Jalen Watts-Jackson and returned for a touchdown in the final ten seconds to give Michigan State a 27–23 win. The Spartans defeated Ohio State on the road in Columbus, playing without Connor Cook and relying on the arms of backup QBs Damion Terry and Tyler O'Connor. Michael Geiger would make a 41-yard field goal as time expired to give the Spartans a 17–14 win and to win the East Division. Michigan State would win its third Big Ten Championship in six years after defeating Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, 16–13. The Spartans were selected to play in the College Football Playoff, where they were defeated by eventual National Champion Alabama, 38–0, finishing with a 12–2 record and achieving their fifth 11-win season in six years.

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