The 2002 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. This was the third and final season for head coach Bobby Williams, who was replaced after the Michigan game by interim head coach Morris Watts.
The Spartans were coming off of a 7–5 season which ended with a victory in the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic over the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Schedule[]
Date
|
Time
|
Opponent#
|
Rank#
|
Site
|
TV
|
Result
|
Attendance
|
August 31*
|
3:30 PM
|
Eastern Michigan
|
#18
|
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI
|
ESPN+
|
W 56–7
|
73,927
|
September 7*
|
1:05 PM
|
Rice
|
#15
|
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI
|
|
W 27–10
|
74,014
|
September 14*
|
12:00 PM
|
California
|
#15
|
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI
|
ESPN2
|
L 22–46
|
72,634
|
September 21*
|
3:30 PM
|
#12 Notre Dame
|
|
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI (Megaphone Trophy)
|
ABC
|
L 17–21
|
75,182
|
September 28
|
1:05 PM
|
Northwestern
|
|
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI
|
|
W 39–24
|
74,215
|
October 12
|
12:00 PM
|
at #17 Iowa
|
|
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA
|
ESPN
|
L 16–44
|
70,397
|
October 19†
|
12:00 PM
|
Minnesota
|
|
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI
|
ESPN+
|
L 7–28
|
74,232
|
October 26
|
7:00 PM
|
Wisconsin
|
|
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI
|
ESPN2
|
L 24–42
|
74,504
|
November 2
|
12:00 PM
|
at #15 Michigan
|
|
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy)
|
ESPN2
|
L 3–49
|
111,542
|
November 9
|
1:00 PM
|
at Indiana
|
|
Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN (Old Brass Spittoon)
|
|
W 56–21
|
29,253
|
November 16
|
12:00 PM
|
Purdue
|
|
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI
|
ESPN+
|
L 42–45
|
72,828
|
November 23
|
3:30 PM
|
at #15 Penn State
|
|
Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA (Land Grant Trophy)
|
ABC
|
L 7–61
|
108,755
|
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.
|
Rankings[]
Ranking movement
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week. NR: Not Ranked. RV: Receiving votes.
Poll |
Pre |
Wk 1 |
Wk 2 |
Wk 3 |
Wk 4 |
Wk 5 |
Wk 6 |
Wk 7 |
Wk 8 |
Wk 9 |
Wk 10 |
Wk 11 |
Wk 12 |
Wk 13 |
Wk 14 |
Final
|
AP
|
18
|
18
|
15
|
15
|
RV
|
RV
|
RV
|
RV
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
Coaches
|
18
|
17
|
15
|
15
|
RV
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
Harris
|
Not released
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
|
BCS
|
Not released
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
NR
|
|
2003 NFL Draft[]
The following players were selected in the 2003 NFL Draft.
References[]
External links[]