1974 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1974 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the 1974 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second season under head coach Denny Stolz, the Spartans compiled a 7–3–1 record, finished in third place in the Big Ten, and were ranked No. 12 in the final AP Poll. Quarterback Charlie Baggett was selected as the team's most valuable player.

1974 Michigan State Spartans football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 18
APNo. 12
Record7–3–1 (6–1–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorAndy MacDonald (2nd season)
MVPCharlie Baggett
CaptainClarence Bullock, James Tauber
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
(capacity: 76,000)
1974 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 4 Ohio State + 7 –1 –010 –2 –0
No. 3 Michigan + 7 –1 –010 –1 –0
No. 12 Michigan State 6 –1 –17 –3 –1
Wisconsin 5 –3 –07 –4 –0
Illinois 4 –3 –16 –4 –1
Purdue 3 –5 –04 –6 –1
Minnesota 2 –6 –04 –7 –0
Iowa 2 –6 –03 –8 –0
Northwestern 2 –6 –03 –8 –0
Indiana 1 –7 –01 –10 –0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 14Northwestern
W 41–749,103
September 21Syracuse*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 19–066,847
September 28at UCLA*
L 14–5644,026
October 5No. 7 Notre Dame*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
L 14–1977,431
October 12at No. 4 Michigan
L 7–21104,682
October 19at Illinois
T 21–2155,677
October 26Purduedagger
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 31–763,321
November 2at No. 20 Wisconsin
W 28–2178,848
November 9No. 1 Ohio State
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
ABCW 16–1378,533
November 16at IndianaNo. 15
W 19–1025,492
November 23IowaNo. 14
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 60–2151,002
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1]

Roster
1974 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB Charlie Baggett So
TE Mike Cobb So
WR 21 Dane Fortney Jr
FB Levi Jackson
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured Injured
    • Redshirt Redshirt

    Game summaries

    Michigan
    1 234Total
    Michigan State 0 007 7
    • Michigan 7 1400 21
    Scoring summary
    1MICHBell 13-yard run (Lantry kick)Michigan 7–0
    2MICHJilek recovered MSU fumble in end zone (Lantry kick)Michigan 14–0
    2MICHSmith 45-yard pass from Franklin (Lantry kick)Michigan 21–0
    4MSUCobb 15-yard pass from Baggett (Nielsen kick)Michigan 21–7

    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.[2] 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.[2]

    Ohio State

    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.

    1 234Total
    Ohio State 3 037 13
    • Michigan State 0 3013 16
    Scoring summary
    1OSUTom Klaban field goalOSU 3-0
    20:03MSUHans Nielsen 39 yard field goalTied 3-3
    3OSUTom Klaban field goalOSU 6-3
    4OSUChamp Henson 1 yard run (Klaban kick)OSU 13-3
    4MSUMike Jones 44 yard pass from Charlie Baggett (pass failed)OSU 13-9
    43:17MSULevi Jackson 88 yard run (Nielsen kick)MSU 16-13

    [3][4]

    See also

    References
    1. 2011 Michigan State media guide.
    2. Roy Damer (October 13, 1974). "Wolverines win 21-7". Chicago Tribune. p. 3-3 and 3-11.
    3. "Ohio State Defeated By Spartans, Ruling." Ocala Star-Banner. 1974 Nov 10.
    4. "Spartans Stop No.1 Team...Buckeyes Lose, 16-13." Gadsden Times. 1974 Nov 10.


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