1995 Michigan State Spartans football
Independence Bowl, L 26–45 vs. LSU
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record6–5–1 (4–3–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Tranquill (1st season)
Offensive schemePro set
Defensive coordinatorDean Pees (1st season)
Base defense4–3
MVPScott Greene
CaptainYakini Allen, Tony Banks, Scott Greene
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
Seasons
← 1994
1996 →
1995 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 8 Northwestern $ 8 – 0 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 6 Ohio State 7 – 1 – 0 11 – 2 – 0
No. 13 Penn State 5 – 3 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
No. 17 Michigan 5 – 3 – 0 9 – 4 – 0
Michigan State 4 – 3 – 1 6 – 5 – 1
No. 25 Iowa 4 – 4 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Illinois 3 – 4 – 1 5 – 5 – 1
Wisconsin 3 – 4 – 1 4 – 5 – 2
Purdue 2 – 5 – 1 4 – 6 – 1
Minnesota 1 – 7 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Indiana 0 – 8 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1995 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University as member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Nick Saban, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 6–5–1 with a mark of 4–3–1 in conference play, placing fifth in Big Ten. Michigan State was invited to the Independence Bowl, where they lost on December 29 to LSU. The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 912:00 p.m.No. 2 Nebraska*
ABCL 10–5073,891
September 1612:00 p.m.at Louisville*
W 30–734,027
September 232:30 p.m.at Purdue
ABCT 35–3543,070
September 3012:00 p.m.Boston College*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
ABCW 25–2172,981
October 712:00 p.m.Iowadagger
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
CreativeL 7–2173,732
October 1412:00 p.m.at Illinois
CreativeW 27–2165,653
October 211:00 p.m.Minnesota
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI
W 34–3170,123
October 2812:00 p.m.at Wisconsin
CreativeL 14–4578,043
November 43:30 p.m.No. 7 Michigan
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
ABCW 28–2574,667
November 111:00 p.m.at Indiana
W 31–1324,027
November 253:30 p.m.No. 14 Penn State
  • Spartan Stadium
  • East Lansing, MI (rivalry)
ESPNL 20–2466,189
December 295:30 p.m.vs. LSU*
ESPNL 26–4548,835[1]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Roster

1995 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 12 Tony Banks
WR 80 Derrick Mason Jr
WR 1 Muhsin Muhammad Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 22 Reggie Garnett Jr
DT 96 Chris Smith Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Game summaries

Nebraska

See also: 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Nebraska Cornhuskers at Michigan State Spartans
Period 1 2 34Total
Nebraska 10 10 161450
Michigan State 7 0 3010

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

Game information
First quarter
  • NEB - FG K Brown 22
  • NEB - Phillips 2 run (K Brown kick)
  • MSU - Muhammad 16 pass from Banks (C Gardner kick)

Second quarter

  • NEB - Phillips 1 run (K Brown kick)
  • NEB - FG K Brown 47

Third quarter

  • NEB - FG K Brown 20
  • MSU - FG C Gardner 24
  • NEB - Phillips 1 run (two-point conversion failed)
  • NEB - Phillips 50 run (K Brown kick)

Fourth quarter

  • NEB - Green 57 run (K Brown kick)
  • NEB - Sims 80 run (Retzlaff kick)

Louisville

See also: 1995 Louisville Cardinals football team
Michigan State Spartans at Louisville Cardinals
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan State 3 10 9830
Louisville 0 7 007

at Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky

  • Date: September 16, 1995
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 34,027
  • Box Score
Game information
First quarter
  • MSU - FG C Gardner 32

Second quarter

  • UL - Tyson 2 pass from Lowe (Akers kick)
  • MSU - S Greene 7 run (C Gardner kick)
  • MSU - FG C Gardner 37

Third quarter

  • MSU - Banks 19 run (two-point conversion failed)
  • MSU - FG C Gardner 27

Fourth quarter

  • MSU - S Greene 2 run (two-point conversion failed)
  • MSU - Safety, Arrington tackled in end zone

Purdue

See also: 1995 Purdue Boilermakers football team
Michigan State Spartans at Purdue Boilermakers
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan State 14 6 8735
Purdue 7 14 01435

at Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Date: September 23, 1995
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 43,070
  • Box Score
Game information

Boston College

See also: 1995 Boston College Eagles football team
Boston College Eagles at Michigan State Spartans
Period 1 2 34Total
Boston College 0 15 6021
Michigan State 3 6 13325

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

Game information
First quarter
  • MSU - FG C Gardner 27

Second quarter

  • BC - Watson 38 run (Mcguire kick)
  • MSU - Muhammad 34 pass from Schultz (kick failed)
  • BC - Harding 4 pass from Hartsell (Hemmert reception for two-point conversion)

Third quarter

  • BC - Hemmert 4 pass from Hartsell (two-point conversion failed)
  • MSU - Chapman 3 pass from Schultz (C Gardner kick)
  • MSU - S Greene 1 run (two-point conversion failed)

Fourth quarter

  • MSU - FG C Gardner 19

Iowa

See also: 1995 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
Iowa Hawkeyes at Michigan State Spartans
Period 1 2 34Total
Iowa 0 6 8721
Michigan State 0 7 007

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring

Second quarter

  • IOWA - Bromert 37-yard field goal
  • MSU - S. Greene 2-yard run (C Gardner kick)
  • IOWA - Hurley 50-yard field goal

Third quarter

  • IOWA - Dwight 11-yard pass from Sherman (S Shaw reception for two-point conversion)

Fourth quarter

  • IOWA - S Shaw 7-yard run (Bromert kick)

Illinois

See also: 1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
Michigan State Spartans at Illinois Fighting Illini
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan State 7 6 6827
Illinois 7 0 7721

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

  • Date: October 14, 1995
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 65,653
  • Box Score
Game information
First quarter
  • MSU - S. Greene 16-yard run (Gardner kick)
  • ILL - Douthard 1-yard run (Scheuplein kick)

Second quarter

  • MSU - S. Greene 3-yard run (kick failed)

Third quarter

  • ILL - Holcombe - 25-yard run (Scheuplein kick)
  • MSU - S. Greene 3-yard run (Gardner kick)

Fourth quarter

  • MSU - S. Greene 1-yard run (S. Greene run)
  • ILL - Dulick 14-yard pass from J. Johnson (Scheuplein kick)

Minnesota

See also: 1995 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan State Spartans
Period 1 2 34Total
Minnesota 7 10 14031
Michigan State 14 7 01334

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

  • Date: October 21, 1995
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 70,123
  • Box Score
Game information
First quarter
  • MIN - 10:23-Atwell 58 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick)
  • MSU - 6:39-Renaud 9 run (Gardner kick)
  • MSU - 0:25-Renaud 18 run (Gardner kick)

Second quarter

  • MIN - 11:56-Chalberg 45 FG
  • MSU - 6:52-Carter 33 pass from Banks (Gardner kick)
  • MIN - 3:45-Duerr 1 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick)

Third quarter

  • MIN - 4:12-Thelwell 8 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick)
  • MIN - 2:33-Thelwell 21 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick)

Fourth quarter

  • MSU - 14:11-Gardner 27 FG
  • MSU - 9:55-Mason 65 pass from Banks (Gardner kick)
  • MSU - 4:50-Gardner 24 FG

Wisconsin

See also: 1995 Wisconsin Badgers football team
Michigan State Spartans at Wisconsin Badgers
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan State 7 0 0714
Wisconsin 7 17 14745

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

  • Date: October 28, 1995
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 78,447
  • Box Score
Game information

Michigan

See also: 1995 Michigan Wolverines football team
Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan 3 0 81425
Michigan State 0 14 01428

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

  • Date: November 4, 1995
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 74,667
  • Box Score
Game information
First quarter
  • UM - Hamilton 35-yard field goal

Second quarter

  • MSU - Mason 70-yard punt return (Gardner kick)
  • MSU - Greene 7-yard run (Gardner kick)

Third quarter

  • UM - W. Carr 3-yard run (Campbell pass from Griese)

Fourth quarter

  • UM - Biakabutuka 5-yard run (Hamilton kick)
  • MSU - Greene 1-yard run (Gardner kick)
  • UM - Hayes 22-yard pass from Griese (Hamilton kick)
  • MSU - Carter 25-yard pass from Banks (Gardner kick)

Indiana

See also: 1995 Indiana Hoosiers football team and Indiana–Michigan State football rivalry
Michigan State Spartans at Indiana Hoosiers
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan State 21 0 10031
Indiana 7 0 6013

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

  • Date: November 11, 1995
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 24,027
  • Box Score
Game information
First quarter
  • MSU - Renaud 59-yard run (Gardner kick)
  • MSU - Greene 76-yard punt return (Gardner kick)
  • IND - Smith 5-yard run (Horn kick)
  • MSU - Mason 87-yard kickoff return (Gardner kick)

Second quarter

  • No scoring

Third quarter

  • MSU - Gardner 23-yard field goal
  • IND - Eloms 31-yard interception return (kick failed)
  • MSU - Chapman 4-yard pass from Banks (Gardner kick)

Fourth quarter

  • No scoring

Penn State

See also: 1995 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan State Spartans
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 0 7 31424
Michigan State 0 10 01020

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

  • Date: November 25, 1995
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 66,189
  • Box Score
Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring

Second quarter

  • PSU - Milne 1-yard run (Conway kick)
  • MSU - Gardner 32-yard field goal
  • MSU - Greene 3-yard run (Gardner kick)

Third quarter

  • PSU - Conway 42-yard field goal

Fourth quarter

  • MSU - Greene 16-yard run (Gardner kick)
  • PSU - Engram 53-yard pass from Richardson (Conway kick)
  • MSU - Gardner 28-yard field goal
  • PSU - Engram 4-yard pass from Richardson (Conway kick)

1995 Independence Bowl

See also: 1995 LSU Tigers football team
Michigan State Spartans vs. LSU Tigers
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan State 7 17 0226
LSU 7 14 21345

at Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana

  • Date: December 29, 1995
  • Game attendance: 48,835
  • Box Score
Game information

1996 NFL Draft

The following players were selected in the 1996 NFL Draft.

Player Round Pick Position NFL Team
Tony Banks 2 42 Quarterback St. Louis Rams
Muhsin Muhammad 2 43 Wide receiver Carolina Panthers
Scott Greene 6 193 Running back Carolina Panthers

References

  1. ^ "LSU wallops Michigan State". The State. December 30, 1995. Retrieved February 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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