| Sport: | football |
| Year: | 2009 |
| Team: | Michigan State Spartans |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 6–7 |
| Conf Record: | 4–4 |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Bowl Result: | L 31–41 vs. Texas Tech |
The 2009 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of the Michigan State University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans were coached by Mark Dantonio, who was in his third season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games in Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
This season saw the Spartans schedule a Division I FCS opponent (Montana State) for the first time since the NCAA split Division I football in 1978. This left Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, and Washington as the only Division I FBS teams to never have played a lower-division opponent since the split.[1]
See also: 2009 Central Michigan Chippewas football team.
See also: 2009 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
See also: 2009 Wisconsin Badgers football team.
See also: 2009 Michigan Wolverines football team and Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry.
Michigan came into the game 4–0 (1–0 Big Ten) and ranked #22, looking to reclaim the Paul Bunyan trophy after losing to MSU the previous year. Michigan State dominated the first 55 minutes of regulation, building a 20–6 lead. Michigan rallied with two TDs in the final minutes to send the game to OT, but MSU quickly intercepted a pass and running back Larry Caper rushed 23 yards through multiple tackles for the game-winning score.
See also: 2009 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.
See also: 2009 Northwestern Wildcats football team.
See also: 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes football team.
Final Seconds: With 2 seconds remaining in the game, on 4th and Goal from the Michigan State 7 and a half yard line, Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi snapped the ball and passed the ball to Iowa WR Marvin McNutt into the end zone as the time expired to win the game.
See also: 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.
See also: 2009 Western Michigan Broncos football team.
See also: 2009 Purdue Boilermakers football team.
See also: 2009 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and Land Grant Trophy.
See also: 2010 Alamo Bowl (January) and 2009 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.
Only one Spartan was selected in the 2010 NFL draft. However, wide receiver Blair White signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent.