1966 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1966 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1966 college football season.

Regular season
The 1966 Michigan State Spartans football vs. Notre Dame football game ("The Game of the Century") remains one of the greatest, and most controversial, games in college football history. The game was played in Michigan State's Spartan Stadium on November 19th, 1966. Michigan State entered the contest 9-0 and ranked #2, while Notre Dame entered the contest 8-0 and ranked #1. Notre Dame elected not to try for the endzone on the final series, thus the game ended in a 10-10 tie with both schools receiving national champion selections. Notre Dame claimed the AP and Coaches selections and earned a consensus title with a majority of selectors, while Michigan State was selected as the Football Research poll national champion and the Helms Foundation co-champion.

Rivalries

 * Michigan State defeated Michigan to claim the Paul Bunyan Trophy
 * The Spartans tied Notre Dame, and neither team claimed the Megaphone Trophy
 * In the game for the Old Brass Spittoon, Michigan State defeated Indiana

Team members in the NFL

 * In the 1967 NFL Draft, four of the top eight picks in the draft were players from Michigan State.