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Michigan State’s best, worst season since 2014 B1G expansion
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Heading into Year 2 of the Mel Tucker era at Michigan State, the Spartans are eager to rebuild the program and regain some of the consistency found during the height of the Mark Dantonio era.
In 2020, the Spartans and Tucker were faced with a unique set of circumstances. After hiring Tucker in February of 2020, he had essentially one month on the job before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and dramatically altered his start in East Lansing.
Without a normal offseason and with a brand new coach, Michigan State finished at 2-5 in 2020 but with upsets of in-state rival Michigan and Northwestern. But with Tucker’s salary and raised expectations from the Dantonio era, time is of the essence entering 2021.
As we look back at the first seven seasons of the expanded B1G, it provides a nice opportunity to examine the high- and low-water marks for MSU since 2014. Needless to say, the highs have been a College Football Playoff appearance, but the lows have been rock bottom.
Best Season – 2015 (12-2 final record, B1G Champs, CFP appearance)
The 2015 season was one to remember for the Spartans. Led by senior quarterback Connor Cook, a talented running back trio, and an experienced and talented defense, Michigan State posted four wins over teams ranked 12th or higher at the time of playing. It started with an early-season win over Oregon and culminated with a final-minute win over Iowa in the B1G Championship Game. The Spartans also knocked off then-No. 2 Ohio State on the road in a very Dantonio-esque defensive performance.
Unfortunately, the season was not meant to end on a happy note. The Spartans were unable to keep up with eventual national champion Alabama in the CFP and were shut out, 38-0. Still, with wins over Oregon, Michigan, OSU, Penn State, and Iowa – along with a B1G title and the program’s only CFP appearance – 2015 stands as the best performance for the program since 2014.
Worst Season – 2016 (3-9 final record, 1-8 record in B1G play)
Unfortunately for the Spartans, the success and momentum of 2015 did not carry over into 2016, to say the least. Replacing Cook under center and a number of key defensive pieces proved to be too much as Michigan State took a step back, allowing 27.8 points per game. Three quarterbacks also saw time for the Spartans with the team combining to complete 57% of passes on the year.
Michigan State started the year 2-0, including a win over a ranked Notre Dame team early on, but the only win in conference play came in a demolition of Rutgers. Dantonio and company were able to right the ship in 2017, but there’s no denying the 2016 campaign reset the program a bit after posting double-digit wins in five of six seasons and three straight entering 2016.
Total record for MSU since 2014: 52-33 (33-26 B1G play)
Average record since 2014: 7.4-4.7 (4.7-3.7)
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.