American college football season
The1977 Michigan State Spartans football team representedMichigan State University in the1977 Big Ten Conference football season . Led by second-year head coachDarryl Rogers , the Spartans compiled an overall record of 7–3–1 with a mark of 6–1–1 in conference play, placing third in the Big Ten.
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 10 Purdue W 19–1453,014 [ 1] September 17 Washington State * Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI L 21–2350,263 [ 2] September 24 Wyoming * Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI W 34–1656,214 [ 3] October 1 at No. 14Notre Dame * L 6–1659,075 [ 4] October 8 No. 3Michigan Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry ) L 14–2478,183 [ 5] October 15 atIndiana T 13–1336,892 [ 6] October 22 atWisconsin W 9–779,203 [ 7] October 29 Illinois Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI W 49–2070,589 [ 8] November 5 atMinnesota W 29–1030,600 [ 9] November 11 Northwestern Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI W 44–361,238 [ 10] November 19 atIowa W 22–1643,700 [ 11] *Non-conference game Rankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game
Team 1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan 0 10 14 0 24 Michigan St 0 7 0 7 14
Scoring summary Q2 MSU Gibson 19 yard pass from Smith (Nielsen kick) MSU 7–0 Q2 MICH White 12 yard pass from Leach (Willner kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 MICH Willner 50 yard field goal MICH 10–7 Q3 MICH R. Davis 3 yard run (Willner kick) MICH 17–7 Q3 MICH Leach 3 yard run (Willner kick) MICH 24–7 Q4 MSU Earley 11 yard run (Nielsen kick) MICH 24–14
On October 8, 1977, Michigan State lost to Michigan, 24–14, at Spartan Stadium. Michigan State took a 7–0 lead on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Ed Smith toKirk Gibson . Michigan responded with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Rick Leach to White and a 50-yard field goal to take a 10–7 lead at halftime. Michigan extended its lead to 24–7 in the third quarter on touchdown runs by Russell Davis and Ed Leach.Harlan Huckleby rushed for 146 yards, and Russell Davis added 96 yards. Ralph Clayton caught three passes for 99 yards. Michigan completed four of 10 passes in the game and threw only one pass in the second half.[ 12]
1977 Michigan State Spartans football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible
^ "Herrmann leaves Spartans gasping" .The South Bend Tribune . September 11, 1977. RetrievedApril 27, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Washington State slips past MSU" .Wisconsin State Journal . September 18, 1977. RetrievedApril 27, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ Fred Stabley Jr. (September 25, 1977)."Spartans pass 'gut check,' 34–16" .Lansing State Journal . p. D1. RetrievedApril 27, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com . ^ "Notre Dame outlasts MSU in game of turnovers" .The Post-Crescent . October 2, 1977. RetrievedApril 27, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Spartans lose momentum, game, 24–14" .Lansing State Journal . October 9, 1977. RetrievedApril 27, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ Stultz, Max (October 16, 1977)."I.U. Fumbles, Tumbles To 13–13 Tie With MSU" .The Indianapolis Star Indianapolis, Indiana . p. 1, section 2. RetrievedDecember 28, 2023 – viaNewspapers.com ^ "Michigan State hands Badgers 2nd straight loss" .The La Crosse Tribune . October 23, 1977. RetrievedApril 27, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Michigan State ground game destroys Illini" .The Pantagraph . October 30, 1977. RetrievedApril 27, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Spartans hit Minnesota" .The Sioux City Journal . November 6, 1977. RetrievedApril 27, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Northwestern stays in rut" .Chicago Tribune . November 13, 1977. RetrievedApril 27, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Winds lift Spartans over Hawkeyes, 22–16" .The Muskegon Chronicle . November 20, 1977. RetrievedApril 27, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ Charlie Vincent (October 9, 1977)."U-M Struggles, 24-14" .Detroit Free Press . pp. 1E, 4E.
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