The 1965 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1965 Big Ten football season. In their 12th season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 10–1 record (7–0 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 251 to 62. Undefeated in the regular season, the Spartans were ranked No. 1 in the final UPI coaches poll and No. 2 in the final AP writers poll, both of which were released before the bowl games. The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) selected Michigan State and undefeated Alabama as co-national champions. The Spartans concluded the season with a 14–12 loss to No. 5 UCLA in the 1966 Rose Bowl.
Quarterback Steve Juday was selected as the team's most valuable player and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Duffy Daugherty received multiple national coach of the year awards, and defensive back George Webster was a consensus first-team pick on the 1965 All-America college football team. A total of eight Spartans received first-team All-America honors, including defensive end Bubba Smith, linebacker Ron Goovert, middle guard Harold Lucas, and defensive back Dan Japinga. On defense, the Spartans fielded the strongest rush defense in school history, giving up an average of only 45.6 rushing yards per game and holding each of Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame to negative rushing yards.
The team played its home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
Schedule
Game summaries UCLA
On September 18, Michigan State defeated UCLA in its season opener by a 13–3 score before a crowd of 51,279 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. The Spartans' barefoot kicker Dick Kenney scored two field goals and an extra point. Fullback Bob Apisa scored the only touchdown on a 21-yard run in the second quarter.
Penn State
On September 25, Michigan State defeated Penn State by a 23–0 score before a crowd of 46,100 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. A pair of Hawaiians, fullback Bob Apisa and barefoot kicker Dick Kenney, led the Spartans to victory. Apisa tallied 81 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Kenney set a school record with three fields goals (24, 29 and 36 yards) and also converted two extra points for a total of 11 points. Steve Juday completed 10 of 13 passes for 100 yards and also scored on a four-yard touchdown run. It was the first time Penn State was shut out at home since 1955.
Illinois
On October 2, No.9 Michigan State defeated unranked Illinois by a 22–12 score at homecoming in East Lansing. The Spartans got off to a slow start and trailed, 12–9, at the end of three quarters. Illinois tallied on a Jim Grabowski touchdown run, a field goal, and a safety. In the fourth quarter, Michigan State rallied for two touchdowns and held the Illini scoreless. Clinton Jones tallied 89 rushing yards on 16 carries.
Michigan
On October 9, Michigan State won its rivalry game against unranked Michigan by a 24–7 score. The game was played at Michigan Stadium before a crowd of 103,219.
Michigan State opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown plunge by quarterback Steve Juday. Michigan responded with an 57-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, capped by Wally Gabler's one-yard run. The Spartans added a 20-yard field goal by its barefoot kicker, Dick Kenney, and led 9–7 at halftime. Michigan State's first-half scores followed turnovers (a fumble recovery and an interception) by linebacker George Webster.
In the second half, Michigan played without its offensive stars, Jim Detwiler, Carl Ward, and Jack Clancy, each of whom sustained injuries in the game. The Spartans held the Wolverines scoreless, as the Michigan State offense added 15 points on two touchdowns (including a 39-yard run by Samoan fullback Bob Apisa) and a second field goal.
Michigan's running game limited to −38 rushing yards, including −50 yards by quarterback Dick Vidmer. With the run game stymied, Michigan turned to the air, completing 17 of 40 passes for 287 yards. The Spartans intercepted two passes and forced seven fumbles, three resulting in turnovers.
Ohio State
On October 16, No. 4 Michigan State defeated unranked Ohio State by a 32–7 score. The game was played at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing before a crowd of 75,288. It was Woody Hayes' worst defeat in a Big Ten game. The Spartans gained 538 yards (387 rushing, 151 passing) while holding the Buckeyes to 152 yards (minus 22 rushing, 174 passing). The Buckeyes did not convert a single first down by rushing. Two Michigan State backs tallied over 100 rushing yards: Clinton Jones with 132 yards on 16 carries (including an 80-yard run in the first quarter) and Bob Apisa with 114 yards on 17 carries. Gene Washington had six receptions for 83 yards.
Purdue
On October 23, No. 2 Michigan State defeated No. 6 Purdue by a 14–10 score. The game was played at West Lafayette, Indiana, before a homecoming crowd of 62,113. Purdue took a 10–0 lead in the first quarter, as Purdue quarterback Bob Griese threw for a touchdown and kicked a field goal and an extra point. The Boilermakers held the Spartans scoreless through the first three quarters, but the Spartan defense held Purdue scoreless in the second half. Griese, who completed 13 of 23 passes for 113 yards in the first half, completed only two of ten passes in the second half. The Spartans scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for a come-from-behind victory.
Northwestern
On October 30, Michigan State defeated unranked Northwestern by a 49–7 score before a homecoming crowd of 74,215 in East Lansing. Prior to the game, the Spartans were elevated to No. 1 in the AP poll. Their tally of 49 points was the highest by a Michigan State team since 1957. Fullback Bob Apisa ran for three touchdowns and a two-point conversion; his 20 point tied the school scoring record in a Big Ten game. Halfback Clinton Jones also scored two touchdowns. The Spartans gained 322 rushing yards, led by Jones and backup quarterback Jim Raye 99 yards each and Apisa with 76 yards. Quarterback Steve Juday completed nine of 17 passes for 126 yards. On defense, the Spartan held Northwestern to a net of seven rushing yards and 79 passing yards.
Iowa
On November 6, No. 1 Michigan State defeated unranked Iowa, 35–0, in East Lansing. Halfback Clinton Jones rushed for 53 yards on 14 carries and scored four touchdowns; he became the second Michigan State player to tally four touchdowns in a game. (Bud Crane was the first, doing so in 1947.) The Spartans tallied 434 yards of offense with 318 rushing yards and 116 passing yards. Defensive end Bubba Smith knocked down several passes and blocked a punt to set up the Spartans' second touchdown.
Indiana
On November 13, No 1 Michigan State defeated unranked Indiana by a 27–13 score before a crowd at 75,280 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Indiana led, 13–10, at the end of the third quarter. Michigan State scored three times in the fourth quarter (two touchdowns and a field goal) to win by a 27–13 score. Gene Washington caught the game-winning touchdown pass with only 13 seconds remaining in the game. Washington caught six passes for 112 yards and set a Michigan State record with three touchdown receptions. The Spartans out-gained the Hoosiers by a total of 344 yards to 238 yards. Halfback Dwight Lee gained 103 rushing yards on 23 carries, and Steve Juday completed 11 of 22 passes for 150 yards. With the victory, Michigan State won its first undisputed Big Ten championship since 1953.
Notre Dame
On November 20, Michigan State capped an undefeated regular season with a 12–3 victory over No. 4 Notre Dame before a crowd of 59,291 at Notre Dame. The Spartans' defense held Notre Dame to negative 12 yards of total offense, including minus 36 yards rushing. Notre Dame kicked a field goal in the first quarter after recovering a Michigan State fumble at the 19-yard line. On offense, the Spartans tallied 215 rushing yards and 71 passing yards. Clint Jones led the team with 117 rushing yards on 20 carries, including a three-yard touchdown run that put the Spartans in the lead.
UCLA—Rose Bowl
On January 1, 1966, No. 1 Michigan State lost, 14–12, to No. 5 UCLA before a crowd of 100,087 in the 1966 Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California. UCLA took a 14–0 lead on two one-yard touchdown runs by Gary Beban early in the second quarter. UCLA's first touchdown followed a fumbled point that was recovered by the Bruins at the Michigan State seven-yard line. After their first touchdown, the Bruins recovered an on-side kick to set up their second score. The Spartans' comeback effort in the fourth quarter netted two touchdowns, but fell short as two attempts at two-point conversion failed. Quarterback Steve Juday scored the second touchdown with 31 seconds remaining in the game, but Bob Apisa was stopped short of the goal-line on his run for a two-point conversion. The Spartans out-gained the Bruins by 314 yards to 212 yards.
Personnel Roster
Statistics Team statistics On offense, the Spartans gained 2,369 rushing yards (236.9 yards game) and 1,186 passing yards (118.6 yards per game). On defense, they held opponents to only 456 rushing yards (45.6 yards per game) and 1,243 passing yards (124.3 yards per game). Outstanding single-game accomplishments on defense included: The Spartans held Notre Dame to minus 12 yards of total offense, a figure that remains the third best defensive performance by a Michigan State team. They gave up only three first downs in the game.2025 Media Guide, p. 159. They did not allow Ohio State to convert a first down by rushing. The Buckeyes were limited to negative 22 rushing yards in the game. The 32–7 margin was Ohio State's worst defeat in a Big Ten game during the Woody Hayes era. In a 24–7 victory over rival Michigan, the Spartans held the Wolverines to minus 39 rushing yards.
Individual statistics Quarterback Steve Juday completed 89 of 168 passes for 1,173 passing yards, seven touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 117.0 quarterback rating. He also rushed for 170 yards for a team-high 1,343 yards of total offense.
Halfback Clinton Jones led the team in rushing with 788 yards on 164 carries for an average of 4.8 yards per carry. He also led the team in scoring with 72 points on 12 touchdowns. He was also the team's No. 2 receiver with 26 catches for 308 yards.
The team's other top rushers were fullback Bob Apisa with 666 yards and Dwight Lee with 405 yards.
End Gene Washington led the team 40 receptions and 638 receiving yards.
Awards and honors Steve Juday. Senior quarterback Steve Juday from Northville, Michigan, was a team co-captain (sharing the honor with Don Japinga) and received the Governor of Michigan Award as the most valuable player on the 1965 Michigan State football team. He also finished sixth in the 1965 voting for the Heisman Trophy. He was also selected by the Associated Press as the first-team quarterback on its 1965 All-America football team. Juday was also named as a winner of the 1965 Scholar-Athlete Award by the National Football Foundation, and won the Big Ten Medal of Honor as the Michigan State male athlete with the most outstanding athletic and academic achievement.2025 Media Guide, p. 299. He closed his collegiate career as Michigan State's all-time leader in passing yardage and touchdown passes, and was inducted into the Michigan State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.2025 Media Guide, p. 276.