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2012 Michigan State Spartans football
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Champions
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionLegends Division
2012 record7–6 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coachMark Dantonio (6th season)
Offensive coordinatorDan Roushar (2nd season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorPat Narduzzi (6th season)
Base defense4-3
CaptainMax Bullough
CaptainAndrew Maxwell
CaptainChris Norman
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium (c. 75,005 natural grass)
Seasons
← 2011
2013 →
2012 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Legends
#25 Nebraska xy   7 1         10 4  
#24 Michigan   6 2         8 5  
#17 Northwestern   5 3         10 3  
Michigan State   3 5         7 6  
Minnesota   2 6         6 7  
Iowa   2 6         4 8  
Leaders
#3 Ohio State* x   8 0         12 0  
Penn State*   6 2         8 4  
Wisconsin y   4 4         8 6  
Purdue   3 5         6 7  
Indiana   2 6         4 8  
Illinois   0 8         2 10  
Championship: Wisconsin 70, Nebraska 31
† – BCS representative as champion
x – Division champion/co-champions
y – Championship game participant
  • Ohio State and Penn State ineligible for conference championship game and post-season bowl games due to NCAA sanctions
    As of January 8, 2013 • Rankings from AP Poll

The 2012 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the Legends Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan State played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan and were led by sixth year head coach Mark Dantonio. They finished the season 7–6, 3–5 in Big Ten play to finish in fourth place in the Legends Division. They were invited to the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl where they defeated TCU.

Before the season[]

Previous season[]

2012 NFL Draft[]

Round Pick# Team Player Position
2 51 Green Bay Packers Jerel Worthy Defensive Tackle
4 102 Washington Redskins Kirk Cousins Quarterback
4 121 Houston Texans Keshawn Martin Wide Receiver
6 180 San Francisco 49ers Trenton Robinson Safety
6 183 Miami Dolphins B.J. Cunningham Wide Receiver
7 250 San Diego Chargers Edwin Baker Running Back

Transfers in[]

DeAnthony Arnett, sophomore wide receiver, University of Tennessee

Transfers out[]

  • Matt Giampapa, long snapper, transferred to the University of Tennessee
  • Matt Ramondo, defensive tackle, transferred to New Mexico State University

Returning players[]

Michigan State returns 9 of 11 starters (losing defensive tackle Jerel Worthy and safety Trenton Robinson, in addition to DT Kevin Pickleman, a spot starter) from the nationally-ranked 2011 defense, and returns 6 starters on offense, having to replace QB Kirk Cousins, WR B.J. Cunningham, RB Edwin Baker, WR Keith Nichol, OG Joel Foreman, and WR Keshawn Martin. Overall, MSU suffered very little roster attrition. The entire special teams unit remains intact, except for starting long snapper Matt Giampapa, who left the program during the summer for personal reasons. Redshirt freshman DT Matt Ramondo transferred to New Mexico State during the summer before the season.

Early NFL departures[]

Edwin Baker RB
Jerel Worthy DT

Recruiting class[]

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