| 2021 Michigan State Spartans football | |
|---|---|
 | |
Peach Bowl champion | |
Peach Bowl, W 31–21 vs. Pittsburgh | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| East Division | |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 8 |
| AP | No. 9 |
| Record | 11–2 (7–2 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Jay Johnson (2nd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Scottie Hazelton (2nd season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Spartan Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Michigan xy$^ | 8 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6 Ohio State x | 8 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 Michigan State | 7 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Penn State | 4 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 3 | – | 6 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 2 | – | 7 | 5 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 0 | – | 9 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23 Iowa xy | 7 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 6 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 6 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 6 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 4 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nebraska | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Michigan 42, Iowa 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2021 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans competed as members of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. This was the program's second season under head coach Mel Tucker.[1]
The Spartans became bowl-eligible by starting the season 6–0.[2] The team finished the season 11–2, 7–2 in Big Ten play to finish in third place in the East division, and ranked No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings.[3] MSU was selected to participate in the Peach Bowl on December 30, the school's first New Year's Six bowl game since 2015.[4] The Spartans defeated Pittsburgh 31–21 in the Peach Bowl.[5]
Running back Kenneth Walker III was a consensus All-American[6][7] and became the first Spartan to win the Walter Camp and Doak Walker awards.[8] Walker led the Spartans and was second in the country with 1,636 rushing yards.[9] MSU had the nation's worst passing defense, allowing 337.7 yards per game.[10]
On November 24, the school announced that they had signed Tucker to a 10-year, $95 million contract extension, allegedly all through donor money, amid speculations of Tucker being sought after for other college and NFL coaching positions.[11][12]
- ^ "Michigan State Spartans: CFN College Football Preview 2021". College Football News. August 10, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- ^ "Michigan State Football: Bowl projections after Rutgers win in Week 6". Spartan Avenue. October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- ^ "College Football Playoff Rankings: Final Top 25". College Football News. December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Michigan State to face Pittsburgh in Peach Bowl". mlive. December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ Charboneau, Matt. "Michigan State's turnaround season earns berth in Peach Bowl vs. Pitt, Pat Narduzzi". The Detroit News. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ Knight (SpartyOnHuskers), Kevin (December 9, 2021). "MSU running back Kenneth Walker III earns numerous First-Team All-American honors, Cal Haladay named Freshman All-American, Mel Tucker named AP B1G COTY". The Only Colors. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ Knight (SpartyOnHuskers), Kevin (December 16, 2021). "Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III earns unanimous All-American honors". The Only Colors. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
- ^ "Kenneth Walker III named Walter Camp Player of the Year, wins Doak Walker Award". WZZM13.com. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "NCAA College Football FBS current individual Stats | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "NCAA College Football FBS current team Stats | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "Mel Tucker signs MSU extension, reportedly 10 years, $95 million". WEYI. Associated Press. November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ MattSheehan (November 24, 2021). "Tuck Stayin': Mel Tucker signs massive extension with Michigan State". The Only Colors. Retrieved November 29, 2021.