Michigan State Spartans Football 2011 Schedule: Game-by-Game Breakdown
If you have yet to move on from the 2011 Capital One Bowl, Spartan fans, now is the time.
Okay, so the 2010 season set a school record for most wins in a single season (11), but the 2011 slate also has potential for perfection.
The question is, how does the new Big Ten alignment affect the Spartans?
Well, for starters, it does help being in the Legends division while the two other co-Big Ten champions from 2010 (Ohio State and Wisconsin) lie in the Leaders division (despite both being on the 2011 schedule).
So how will Sparty fare in the upcoming season? Check it out and weigh in your thoughts because Big Ten football is 12 months a year, baby!
Week 1: Youngstown State Penguins
1 of 12
SERIES RECORD: First meeting
2010 RECORD: YSU 3-8
WHERE: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
PREVIEW: Youngstown State remains a work in progress, while Michigan State is reloading (as opposed to rebuilding).
Don't expect coach Mark Dantonio to take it easy.
FUN FACTS: From 1986-1990 Dantonio served as YSU's defensive coordinator under Jim Tressel.
Also, Tressel coached YSU to four NCAA Div. I-AA National Championship in the 1990s.
Week 2: Florida Atlantic Owls
2 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Michigan State leads 2-0
LAST MEETING: Michigan State won 30-17
2010 RECORD: 4-8
WHERE: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
PREVIEW: In the 2010 meeting Sparty accelerated quickly and then hit the Edwin Baker cruise control button. Expect the same.
FUN FACTS: After winning the Motor City Bowl in 2008, FAU has had two losing seasons.
The difference here is that MSU hasn't won a bowl game since 2001.
Week 3: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
3 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Notre Dame leads 45-28-1
LAST MEETING: Michigan State won 34-31 in OT
2010 REVIEW: Finished 8-5, including a victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the Sun Bowl.
WHERE: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana
PREVIEW: Notre Dame is flying high after winning the Sun Bowl in dominating fashion. Not to mention it has a top 10 recruiting class coming in.
Michigan State is looking to bounce back from the dismal Capital One Bowl appearance.
As usual, this game should be filled with drama and big plays, but the slightest of edges goes to the Irish in 2011.
FUN FACTS: Since the rivalry became "The Battle for the Megaphone Trophy" Notre Dame leads 31-27-1. So that means prior to there being a trophy the Irish had a record of 14-1 over the Spartans.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Week 4: Central Michigan Chippewas
4 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Michigan State leads 4-3
LAST MEETING: Central Michigan won 29-27 in 2009
2010 RECORD: 3-9
WHERE: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
PREVIEW: Much like the YSU matchup, CMU is amidst rebuilding while Sparty is reloading.
Plus, after losing in 2009, Coach Dantonio is out for revenge.
FUN FACT: Current Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly coached the Chippewas from 2004-2006, where he led them to the MAC championship in 2006.
Week 5: Ohio State Buckeyes
5 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Ohio State leads 27-12
LAST MEETING: OSU won 45-7 in 2008
2010 REVIEW: Finished as co-Big Ten champs with a record of 12-1, ranked No. 5 with a victory over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.
WHERE: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
PREVIEW: With five OSU starters ineligible for this game, Sparty has the edge.
But with the game being in the Horseshoe, expect the crowd to keep the Bucks in the game.
FUN FACTS: After coaching together at Youngstown State University from 1986-1990, Dantonio and Tressel reunited at Ohio State from 2001-2003, which included a national championship in 2002.
Week 6: Michigan Wolverines
6 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Michigan leads 67-31-5
LAST MEETING: Michigan State won 34-17 in 2010
2010 REVIEW: Finished with a record of 7-6, including a loss to Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl.
WHERE: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
PREVIEW: With Sparty on the rise, they still remain a step or two ahead of Michigan.
However, with a Michigan man as the new ball coach, expect improvement from the Wolverines in 2011.
FUN FACT: If Sparty manages to win in 2011, it will be their first four-game win streak over Michigan since the 1959-1962 stretch.
Week 7: Wisconsin Badgers
7 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Michigan State leads 28-21
LAST MEETING: Michigan State won 34-24 in 2010
2010 REVIEW: Finished as co-Big Ten champs with a record of 11-2, ranked No. 8 with a loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl.
WHERE: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
PREVIEW: Although it may appear to be a rebuilding year for the Badgers, they should not go overlooked.
Since 1993 Wisconsin has made 16 bowl games (nine straight from 2002-2010) and won 10 of them.
Michigan State will have its hands full, as the Badgers have shown to be very dangerous (just ask Ohio State).
FUN FACTS: Wisconsin has not lost consecutive games to Michigan State since the early 1990s but has never won consecutive games in Spartan Stadium.
Week 8: Nebraska Cornhuskers
8 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Nebraska leads 5-0
LAST MEETING: Nebraska won 17-3 in the 2003 Alamo Bowl
2010 REVIEW: Finished with a record of 10-4 and ranked No. 19 (Lost Big 12 Championship Game and Holiday Bowl).
WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
PREVIEW: Coming off consecutive disappointing losses, the Cornhuskers have a new home in the Big Ten. The question here is how Nebraska will respond if it loses a game or two prior to facing Michigan State.
As for Sparty, the only motivation they need is the fact that their school has yet to defeat Nebraska.
FUN FACT: The last meeting between these schools was Bo Pelini's first year as a college football coach (Nebraska defensive coordinator in 2003).
Week 9: Minnesota Golden Gophers
9 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Michigan State leads 26-17
LAST MEETING: Michigan State won 31-8 in 2010
2010 RECORD: 3-9
WHERE: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
PREVIEW: Sparty won heavy last season, and the same is expected in 2011.
So if the Gophers want to gain some notoriety in the newly aligned Big Ten, a W over Sparty would suffice.
FUN FACT: At one point in this series, the Spartans won 17 straight, which equals the Gophers' overall win total versus Sparty.
Week 10: Iowa Hawkeyes
10 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Iowa leads 22-18-2
LAST MEETING: Iowa won 37-6 in 2010
2010 REVIEW: Finished with a record of 8-5, including a win over Missouri in the Insight Bowl.
WHERE: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
PREVIEW: After the 7-2 start last season, the Hawkeyes lost three of their last four games.
Also look for Sparty to avenge the 2010 loss, but it won't be easy going back to Kinnick Stadium.
FUN FACT: Michigan State has not won at Kinnick Stadium since 1989.
Week 11: Indiana Hoosiers
11 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Michigan State leads 40-15-2
LAST MEETING: Michigan State won 42-29 in 2008
2010 RECORD: 5-7
WHERE: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
PREVIEW: The Hoosiers still remain in the rebuilding process; therefore the Spartans are an easy two or three steps ahead of them.
FUN FACT: Since Mark Dantonio took over as the Spartans head coach in 2007, Michigan State has yet to lose to Indiana.
Week 12: Northwestern Wildcats
12 of 12
SERIES RECORD: Michigan State leads 35-16
LAST MEETING: Michigan State won 35-27 in 2010
2010 REVIEW: Finished with a record of 7-6, including a loss to Texas Tech in the TicketCity Bowl.
WHERE: Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois
PREVIEW: In losing only 12 seniors, Northwestern has a chance to improve from last season.
However, playing a full 60 minutes in EVERY game is needed.
Late-game losses to Purdue and Michigan State are as costly as giving up 24 first-half points to Texas Tech in the bowl game.
FUN FACT: Twice have the Spartans scored over 60 points in the series and once over 70 (1981 and 1989 seasons).
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
