2024 Michigan State Spartans football team explained

Year:	2024
Team:	Michigan State Spartans
Sport:	football
Conference:	Big Ten Conference
Short Conf:	Big Ten
Record:	5–7
Conf Record:	3–6
Head Coach:	Jonathan Smith
Hc Year:	1st
Off Coach:	Brian Lindgren
Oc Year:	1st
Off Scheme:	Multiple
Def Coach:	Joe Rossi
Dc Year:	1st
Def Scheme:	Multiple 4–2–5
Captain:	Aidan Chiles, Nate Carter, Maverick Hansen, Tanner Miller, Jordan Turner
Stadium:	Spartan Stadium
Uniform:	Michigan_spartans_football_unif.png

The 2024 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium located in East Lansing, Michigan, and were led by first-year head coach Jonathan Smith.

Following the removal and eventual firing of head coach Mel Tucker after the first two games of the 2023 season following disclosures relating to alleged sexual harassment,^[1] defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett was named the interim coach and former head coach Mark Dantonio agreed to return as the team's associate head coach for the remainder of the season.^[2] On November 26, the school named Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith the team's new head coach for the 2024 season.^[3]

After beating the Prairie View A&M Panthers, Smith became the first Spartans head coach to start 3–0 in his debut season with the team since Mark Dantonio in 2007. Ultimately, however, the Spartans had a third consecutive bowl-ineligible season. This had not occurred since the 2004 through 2006 seasons.

Game summaries

vs Florida Atlantic

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
MSU -13	44.5

Statistics	FAU	MSU
First downs	19	15
Plays–yards	72–248	61–293
Rushes–yards	47–132	35–179
Passing yards	116	114
Passing: ––	12–25–2	10–24–2
Time of possession	29:19	30:41

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida Atlantic	Passing	Cam Fancher	12/25, 116 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Cam Fancher	25 carries, 67 yards
Receiving	Omari Hayes	5 receptions, 74 yards
Michigan State	Passing	Aidan Chiles	10/24, 114 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams	9 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Michael Masunas	2 receptions, 29 yards

at Maryland

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
UMD -8.5	44.5

vs Prairie View A&M

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
MSU -42.5	52

at Boston College

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
BC -5	45.5

vs No. 3 Ohio State

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
OSU -23.5	48

at No. 6 Oregon

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
UO -22.5	52.5

vs Iowa

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
IOW -6.5	39.5

at Michigan

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
UM -3.5	39

vs No. 13 Indiana

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
IND -7.5	53.5

at Illinois

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
ILL -1.5	47.5

vs Purdue

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
MSU -14	48.5

vs Rutgers

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
MSU -1.5	47

Personnel

Coaching staff

Jonathan Smith	Head Coach	1st
Keith Bhonapa	Assistant Head Coach/Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs	1st
Brian Lindgren	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach	1st
Joe Rossi	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach	1st
Jim Chialczik	Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator	1st
Blue Adams	Secondary Coach	1st
Courtney Hawkins	Wide Receivers Coach	5th
Demetrice Martin	Cornerbacks Coach	1st
Legi Suiaunoa	Defensive Line Coach	1st
Chad Wilt	Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Rush Ends Coach	1st
Brian Wozniak	Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator	1st

Notes and References

Web site: 2023-09-10 . Michigan State coach Mel Tucker suspended without pay after sexual harassment allegations . 2023-09-11 . Yahoo Sports . en-US.
Web site: After Mel Tucker ban, Mark Dantonio 'excited to be back' with Michigan State football . 2023-09-11 . Detroit Free Press . en-US.
Web site: 2023-11-25 . Michigan State hires Jonathan Smith: Oregon State coach leaves alma mater to take over Spartans job . 2023-11-27 . CBSSports.com . en.