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, 17–16.
Before the 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
Undrafted free agents TeamPlayerPositionMiami DolphinsArthur Ray Jr.Offensive guardWashington RedskinsKeith NicholWide receiverNew York JetsBrian LinthicumTight endSan Francisco 49ersGarrett CelekTight endSt. Louis RamsTodd AndersonFullback / 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
Schedule Big Ten 2012 TV Schedule , Matt Sarz Sports, retrieved April 12, 2012
Game summaries
Boise State
The Spartans overcame several large mistakes in the passing game with their top-flight defense and the efforts of Le'Veon Bell, who had 210 yards rushing on 44 carries and 56 receiving yards. MSU held Boise State to just 37 yards rushing, and scored the game-winning touchdown with 8 minutes left. Michigan State retook possession with 6:32 remaining after a failed attempt to convert a 4th down by the Broncos. The Spartans successfully ran out the remainder of the time on their ensuing possession, eventually taking a knee at the goal line to ensure the victory.
Central Michigan
Part of its Celebrate the State campaign, Michigan State traveled to Mt. Pleasant for the rare occurrence of a power conference team traveling to the stadium of a small-conference school. Michigan State held a 14–0 lead as the second quarter wound down, but they scored 10 points in the final minute of the half, heading to the locker room up 24–0. The Spartans carried a shutout into the final two minutes, when second-string quarterback Connor Cook threw an interception that Jason Wilson returned for a touchdown. Central Michigan failed to score an offensive touchdown, as Boise State had the week before against MSU.
Notre Dame
MSU was defeated by the Notre Dame at home in East Lansing. Le'veon Bell was held to 77 yards of offense. At the end of the night, Michigan State had accumulated 50 yards of offense against the Fighting Irish. On the other hand, Notre Dame managed 122 yards rushing and 300 yards total against the Spartan defense. In addition, the offensive line of Michigan State gave up 5 sacks to Notre Dame in the Irish win. This loss broke the Spartans' 15-home game winning streak.
Eastern Michigan
The Spartans came from behind in the second half to defeat the Eagles in a game that featured a career-high 253 yards rushing from Michigan State's top running back Le'Veon Bell.
Ohio State
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Michigan State played host to undefeated Ohio State, who were looking for revenge for last year's loss. The Buckeyes marched down the field on their opening drive and scored to take a 7–0 lead. Michigan State struck back with a Dan Conroy field goal to make it 7–3 early in the first quarter. Ohio State blocked a punt later in the 2nd quarter, but it proved to be in vain as Braxton Miller threw an interception afterwards. The rest of the 2nd quarter was a defense battle, with no one scoring and Michigan State kicker Dan Conroy missing a field goal, which proved to be the deciding points. Michigan State kicked another field early in the 3rd quarter to make it 7–6. Ohio State made a nice drive afterwards but would eventually settle for a Drew Basil field goal to make it 10–6. Later in the 3rd, Andrew Maxwell passed to Keith Mumphrey on a play action pass in which Mumphrey plowed through four OSU defenders to give the Spartans a 13–10 lead, their first of the game. Ohio State would reply with a throw to Devin Smith for a 63-yard touchdown to give the Buckeyes a 17–13 lead. Michigan State would later kick a field goal to make it 17–16, after taking over the ball on a Braxton Miller fumble. The referees initially ruled Miller down, and, in doing so, denied the Spartans what looked to be a probable touchdown. Ohio State would eventually run the clock out to give Urban Meyer his first Big Ten win.
Indiana
The Spartans, who won the previous meeting by 52 points, entered the game as 14.5 point favorites. However, the Hoosiers took a 7–0 lead on a 75-yard opening drive, and were up 17–0 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter, having limited MSU to no first downs. The Spartans immediately responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive, forcing an Indiana three-and-out, and a 65-yard touchdown drive, bringing the score back to 17–14. Indiana countered with their own 75-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 16-yard touchdown pass. A Michigan State penalty after the score allowed the Hoosiers to kick off from the 50-yard line. They surprised the Spartans with an onside kick, and took over at the Michigan State 34. After a deep throw was broken up by a defensive pass interference, the Hoosiers were moved into MSU's red zone. A 14-yard completion to the 6-yard line put the Hoosiers in prime position to add another seven points, but the Spartans made a goal line stand, only allowing Indiana to get a field goal. The Spartans ensuing drive was a three-and-out, but they punted to Indiana's 6-yard line. With only 29 seconds left, Indiana ran a two-yard run play and let the clock run out on the half. At half time, the score was Michigan State 14, Indiana 27.
Michigan State received the opening kick off of the second half, which went out of bounds. The Spartans were able to advance to Indiana's 29-yard line, but their drive ended with a 46-yard field goal. The rest of the quarter was a defensive struggle; Michigan State only had one more first down, while Indiana had two (one off a penalty). The Spartans gained the ball at their own 29-yard line with 14:10 remaining in the fourth quarter, and launched a 6-minute and 21 second touchdown drive. Three incomplete passes by Hoosier quarterback Cameron Coffman led Indiana to punt. The Spartans took over the ball on their own 49-yard line with 7:29 remaining. With an incomplete pass, a 15-yard run, and a 36-yard touchdown pass, the Spartans took a 31–27 lead with 6:35 remaining. While the Hoosiers were limited to a three-and-out, the ensuing punt was fumbled by Spartan returner Nick Hill. He was able to recover it, however, and in the scrum that followed the fumble, Indiana TE Ted Bolser was ejected. The Spartans were at the 50-yard line with 5:59 remaining, but they ran the ball and let the clock wind down. They were able to get three first downs, the last of which needed to be measured with the chains. With 28 seconds remaining, MSU ran for 1 yard on fourth down, securing the victory.
While the Spartans gave up almost 300 yards in the first half, they held Indiana to only 37 yards in the second. Spartan quarterback Andrew Maxwell threw for 290 yards, while Coffman threw for 282. Spartan running back Le'Veon Bell ran for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns, freshman Spartan receiver Aaron Burbridge caught 8 passes for 134 yards, and Shane Wynn led the Hoosiers with 12 receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown. The Spartans gave up 115 yards of penalties to Indiana's 36, but still outgained the Hoosiers in net yards, 410 to 317. Neither team committed a turnover, although both teams fumbled and recovered. The Old Brass Spittoon stuck with Michigan State, who last lost to Indiana in 2006. This game was Indiana's Homecoming game. With the loss, Hoosier coach Kevin Wilson remained without a head coaching victory in Big 10 play.
Iowa
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Michigan State begins a brutal 4-game stretch of Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nebraska at home against the Hawkeyes in a series that has consistently featured tight games. In the previous meeting, Michigan State dominated Iowa in Kinnick Stadium, avenging the Spartans' blowout in the same stadium in the 2010 game. Coming into the game, Iowa was undefeated in Big 10 play, but had lost to mutual opponent Central Michigan University. The Iowa offensive line came into the game having not surrendered a sack since the first game of the season. The day of the game brought a steady downpour and 40 degree temperatures to East Lansing.
The first quarter opened up with a Michigan State kickoff. However, the Hawkeyes turned it over on an interception five plays into the drive, and the Spartans ran the ball in with four consecutive runs by Le'Veon Bell, putting the Spartans up 7–0. The rest of the quarter consisted of the two teams exchanging punts, with neither team earning a first down again until the Spartans did so on the last play of the quarter. The Spartans drove to Iowa's 7-yard line on their next possession, but opted to kick a field goal on a 4th and 1. On the ensuing kickoff, Iowa Junior Jordan Cotton returned the ball for an 82-yard touchdown; however, a block in the back penalty committed against Michigan State's punter resulted in the ball being placed at the Michigan State 47. The Hawkeye drive did make it to the MSU red zone, but a goal line stand forced Iowa to settle for a field goal. On a last minute drive, the Spartans were sent into confusion as they had a first down with 7 seconds remaining; parts of the kicking team and the offense ran on the field, and Spartan quarterback Andrew Maxwell ran off. With no one under center to take the snap, the remaining seconds of the half ticked away.