1996 Michigan State Spartans football team

1996 Michigan State Spartans football
Sun Bowl vs. Stanford, L, 0–38
Conference	Big Ten Conference
1996 record	6–6 (5–3 Big Ten)
Head coach	Nick Saban (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Gary Tranquill (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Pro Set
Defensive coordinator	Dean Pees (2nd season)
Base defense	4-3
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium (72,027)
Seasons

1996 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
#2/2 Ohio State §		7	–	1					11	–	1
#15/16 Northwestern §		7	–	1					9	–	3
#7/7 Penn State		6	–	2					11	–	2
#18/18 Iowa		6	–	2					9	–	3
#20/20 Michigan		5	–	3					8	–	4
Michigan State		5	–	3					6	–	6
Wisconsin		3	–	5					8	–	5
Purdue		2	–	6					3	–	8
Minnesota		1	–	7					4	–	7
Indiana		1	–	7					3	–	8
Illinois		1	–	7					2	–	9
§ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll

The 1996 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University in the Big Ten Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Head coach Nick Saban was in his second season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans went 6–5 overall and 5–3 in conference play during the regular season. The team played in the Sun Bowl on December 31, 1996 and were defeated 0–38 by Stanford.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	12:30 PM	Purdue	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI	ESPN	W 52–14	72,511
September 7*	12:00 PM	at #1 Nebraska	Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE	ABC	L 14–55	75,590
September 21*	1:00 PM	Louisville	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI		L 20–30	70,311
September 28*	12:30 PM	Eastern Michigan	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI	SCD	W 47–0	69,941
October 5	2:00 PM	at Iowa	Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA		L 30–37	70,397
October 12†	12:00 PM	Illinois	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI	ESPN+	W 42–14	71,639
October 19	4:00 PM	at Minnesota	Metrodome • Minneapolis, MN		W 27–9	45,434
October 26	12:30 PM	Wisconsin	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI	ESPN2	W 30–13	69,217
November 2	12:00 PM	at #9 Michigan	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy)	ABC	L 29–45	106,381
November 9	1:00 PM	Indiana	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI (Old Brass Spittoon)		W 38–15	64,719
November 23	3:30 PM	at #7 Penn State	Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA (Land Grant Trophy)	ABC	L 29–32	96,263
December 31*	2:30 PM	vs. Stanford	Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, TX (Sun Bowl)	CBS	L 0–38	42,271
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

1997 NFL Draft

The following players were selected in the 1997 NFL Draft.

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL Team
Derrick Mason	4	98	Wide Receiver	Tennessee Oilers
Nigea Carter	6	197	Wide Receiver	Tampa Bay Buccaneers