What Is 2016 Michigan State Spartans football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2016 Michigan State Spartans football team finished with a 3–9 record, their worst since 1990, under head coach Mark Dantonio. They played in the Big Ten Conference's East Division and lost their only conference game by more than 20 points.

Key Facts

Finished with a 3–9 overall record, their worst since 1990
Won only 1 of 8 Big Ten games, finishing 5th in the East Division
Started the season ranked #11 in the AP Poll
Lost to No. 4 Wisconsin 30–6 in Week 5, marking a turning point
Ended the season with a 27–21 loss to Rutgers, their first loss to the Scarlet Knights since 2013

Overview

The 2016 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Big Ten Conference's East Division, the team was led by head coach Mark Dantonio in his ninth season. Despite high preseason expectations, the Spartans struggled significantly on both offense and defense, finishing with a losing record for the first time in over two decades.

The season marked a sharp decline from their 2015 success, which included a Cotton Bowl Classic victory and a final AP ranking of #3. In 2016, inconsistent quarterback play, injuries on defense, and poor special teams execution contributed to their downfall. The team failed to win consecutive games and lost five contests by double digits.

Preseason Ranking: Entered the season ranked #11 in the AP Poll, reflecting expectations of a competitive Big Ten race and potential College Football Playoff contention.
Season Record: Finished 3–9 overall and 1–8 in Big Ten play, their worst win-loss record since the 1990 season under head coach George Perles.
Home Games: Played home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan, averaging around 74,000 fans per game despite declining performance.
Key Injuries: Lost starting quarterback Connor Cook’s successor, Tyler O'Connor, to injury mid-season, leading to a rotation including Damion Terry and Brian Lewerke.
Defensive Struggles: Allowed 30 or more points in 7 of 12 games, a stark contrast to their historically strong defensive identity under Dantonio.

Game-by-Game Performance

The Spartans began the season with a strong 3–0 record, defeating Furman, Notre Dame, and BYU. However, their performance declined rapidly after a narrow 36–28 win over BYU, as Big Ten play exposed their weaknesses. A decisive 30–6 loss to No. 4 Wisconsin in Week 5 signaled the beginning of a seven-game losing streak.

September 10 – Notre Dame: Won 36–28 in South Bend, marking Michigan State’s first victory over the Fighting Irish since 2010 and boosting national rankings.
October 1 – Wisconsin: Suffered a 30–6 defeat in Madison, where the Spartans managed only 183 total yards and turned the ball over twice.
November 5 – Ohio State: Lost 17–16 at home despite holding the Buckeyes to a season-low point total, missing a game-tying field goal in the final seconds.
November 19 – Maryland: Fell 28–14 on the road, marking their fifth consecutive loss and eliminating them from bowl eligibility contention.
November 26 – Rutgers: Lost 27–21, their first defeat to the Scarlet Knights since 2013, ending the season with a losing record.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2016 season to recent years highlights the team’s dramatic regression:

Season	Overall Record	Big Ten Record	Final AP Rank	Bowl Result
2014	11–2	7–1	#9	Lost Peach Bowl 42–41 to Baylor
2015	12–2	7–1	#3	Won Cotton Bowl 38–3
2016	3–9	1–8	Unranked	No bowl game
2017	10–3	8–1	#11	Won Holiday Bowl 42–17
2018	8–5	5–4	Unranked	Won Pinstripe Bowl 31–21

The 2016 season stands out as a major outlier in the Dantonio era, breaking a streak of consistent winning seasons. While the team rebounded in 2017, the 2016 campaign remains a cautionary tale of how quickly performance can decline due to injuries and offensive inefficiency.

Why It Matters

The 2016 season had lasting implications for Michigan State’s football program, affecting recruiting, coaching evaluations, and fan morale. It underscored the importance of quarterback stability and depth, especially after the departure of multiple NFL-bound players from previous rosters.

Coaching Evaluation: Raised questions about Mark Dantonio’s adaptability, though he remained head coach and led a rebound in 2017.
Recruiting Impact: Despite the poor season, Michigan State maintained a top-25 recruiting class in 2017, showing continued program respect.
Quarterback Development: Highlighted the need for better QB succession planning after struggles from O'Connor, Terry, and Lewerke.
Program Identity: Challenged the perception of Michigan State as a consistent defensive powerhouse in the Big Ten.
Bowl Drought: Marked the first time since 2009 the Spartans failed to qualify for a postseason bowl game.
Historical Context: Remains one of only two sub-.400 seasons in Dantonio’s first 12 years, emphasizing its statistical rarity.

Ultimately, the 2016 season serves as a case study in the volatility of college football, where even established programs can face sudden downturns. It also illustrates the resilience required to recover, as Michigan State returned to prominence within a year.