The 2015 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan State played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan and were led by ninth-year head coach Mark Dantonio. They finished the season 12–2, 7–1 in Big Ten play to share the East Division championship with Ohio State. Due to their head-to-head win over Ohio State, they represented the East Division in the Big Ten Championship Game where they defeated West Division champion Iowa to become Big Ten Champions. They finished the season No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings and were selected to play in the CFP Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl Classic where they lost to No. 2 Alabama.
The season was one of the most successful in school history. The Spartans defeated in-state rival Michigan in Ann Arbor after a fumbled snap by Wolverine punter Blake O'Neill was picked up by Jalen Watts-Jackson and returned for a touchdown in the final ten seconds to give Michigan State a 27–23 win. The Spartans defeated Ohio State on the road in Columbus, playing without Connor Cook and relying on the arms of backup QBs Damion Terry and Tyler O'Connor. Michael Geiger would make a 41-yard field goal as time expired to give the Spartans a 17–14 win and to win the East Division. Michigan State would win its third Big Ten Championship in six years after defeating Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, 16–13. The Spartans were selected to play in the College Football Playoff, where they were shutout by eventual National Champion Alabama, 38–0, finishing with a 12-2 record and achieving their fifth 11-win season in six years.
Offseason
2015 NFL draft Four members of the 2014 Spartan football team were selected in the 2015 NFL draft Round Pick# Team Player Position 1 11 Minnesota Vikings Trae Waynes Cornerback 4 106 Chicago Bears Jeremy Langford Running back 5 156 Miami Dolphins Tony Lippett Wide receiver 5 175 Houston Texans Keith Mumphery Wide receiver
In addition, five other Spartans were signed as undrafted free agents: Team Player PositionHouston Texans Kurtis Drummond SafetySan Francisco 49ers Marcus Rush Defensive endSan Francisco 49ers Mylan Hicks CornerbackPhiladelphia Eagles Andrew Gleichert Tight endNew York Jets Taiwan Jones Linebacker Michigan State remained one of only five teams to have had a player selected in each draft since the AFL/NFL merger.
Coaching staff Name Position Joined staff Mark Dantonio Head coach 2007 Harlon Barnett Assistant head coach / co-defensive coordinator / defensive backs 2007 Dave Warner Co-offensive coordinator / running backs 2007 Jim Bollman Co-offensive coordinator / tight ends 2013 Mike Tressel Co-defensive coordinator / linebackers 2007 Brad Salem Quarterbacks / recruiting coordinator 2010 Terrence Samuel Wide receivers 2011 Mark Staten Offensive line 2007 Ron Burton Defensive line 2013 Mark Snyder Linebackers / special teams 2015
Roster 2015 Michigan State Spartans FootballQuarterback 6 Damion Terry – Sophomore 7 Tyler O’Connor – Junior 11 Colar Kuhns – Freshman 14 Brian Lewerke – Freshman 16 Tommy Vento – Senior 18 Connor Cook – Senior
Tailback 3 LJ Scott – Freshman 22 Delton Williams – Junior 24 Gerald Holmes – Sophomore 28 Madre London – Freshman 32 Nick Tompkins – Junior 35 Philip-Michael Williams – Senior
Wide receiver 5 DeAnthony Arnett – Senior 12 R.J. Shelton – Junior 13 Robert Aiello – Sophomore 15 Brandon Sowards – Freshman 16 Aaron Burbridge – Senior 17 Trey Kilgore – Sophomore 19 AJ Troup – Senior 21 Davis Lewandowski – Freshman 22 Paul Andrie – Junior 25 Darrell Stewart Jr. – Freshman 26 Austin Wolfe – Sophomore 33 Frank Epitropoulos – Junior 34 Brock Makaric – Sophomore 36 Sinclair Farinholt – Freshman 84 Felton Davis III – Freshman 85 MacGarrett Kings Jr. – Senior 86 Matt Macksood – Junior 87 Edward Barksdale III – Junior 88 Monty Madaris – Junior
Tight end 11 Jamal Lyles – Junior 80 Dylan Chmura – Sophomore 81 Matt Sokol – Freshman 82 Josiah Price – Junior 83 Paul Lang – Senior 97 Nathan Conrad – Freshman Fullback 37 Trevon Pendleton – Senior 40 Collin Lucas – Freshman 47 David Fennell – Junior
Offensive lineman 51 Kyonta Stallworth – OT – Freshman 55 Miguel Machado – OL – Junior 57 Collin Caflisch – OL – Freshman 58 Devyn Salmon – C – Sophomore 59 David Beedle – OT – Freshman 60 Casey Schreiner – OL – Freshman 61 Cole Chewins – OT – Freshman 63 Noah Listermann – OT – Freshman 64 Brandon Clemons – OG – Senior 66 Jack Allen – C – Senior 65 Brian Allen – OL – Sophomore 67 Bryce Wilker – OL – Freshman 68 Jeremy Schram – OL – Freshman 70 Tyler Higby – OL – Freshman 71 Chase Gianacakos – OL – Freshman 73 Dennis Finley – OL – Sophomore 74 Jack Conklin – OT – Junior 75 Benny McGowan – OG – Junior 76 Donavon Clark – OL – Senior 77 Nick Padla – OL – Freshman 79 Kodi Kieler – OL – Junior
Defensive line 4 Malik McDowell – DL – Sophomore 8 Lawrence Thomas – DL – Senior 32 Cassius Peat – DL – Freshman 41 Gerald Owens – DL – Freshman 51 Dillon Alexander – DE – Freshman 56 Enoch Smith Jr. – DL – Freshman 72 Craig Evans – DT – Freshman 85 Evan Jones – DE – Junior 89 Shilique Calhoun – DE – Senior 91 Robert Bowers – DE – Freshman 92 Joel Heath – DL – Senior 93 Damon Knox – DL – Senior 94 Montez Sweat – DE – Freshman 97 Justice Alexander – DE – Freshman 98 Demetrius Cooper – DE – Sophomore 99 Raequan Williams – DL – Freshman Linebacker 5 Andrew Dowell – Freshman 17 Tyriq Thompson – Freshman 18 Michael Topolinski – Senior 23 Chris Frey – Sophomore 30 Riley Bullough – Junior 31 T.J. Harrell – Freshman 33 Jon Reschke – Sophomore 34 Drake Martinez – Sophomore 38 Byron Bullough – Freshman 43 Ed Davis – Senior 45 Darien Harris – Senior 48 Kenny Willekes – Freshman 49 Shane Jones – Sophomore 50 Sean Harrington – Sophomore
Defensive backs 2 Darian Hicks – CB – Junior 6 Kaleel Gaines – CB – Freshman 7 Demetrious Cox – DB – Junior 9 Montae Nicholson – S – Sophomore 10 Matt Morrissey – S – Freshman 13 Vayante Copeland – CB – Freshman 14 Chris Laneaux – S – Senior 15 Tyson Smith – CB – Freshman 19 Josh Butler – CB – Freshman 20 Jalen Watts-Jackson – DB – Freshman 26 RJ Williamson – S – Senior 27 Khari Willis – S – Freshman 28 David Dowell – DB – Freshman 29 Mark Meyers – S – Junior 35 Nick Krumm – DB – Freshman 36 Arjen Colquhoun – CB – Senior 39 Jermaine Edmondson – CB – Junior 42 Zac Leimbach – S – Junior 44 Grayson Miller – S – Freshman
Specialists 4 Michael Geiger – K – Junior 24 Brett Scanlon – K – Junior 25 Jake Hartbarger – P – Freshman 52 Taybor Pepper – SNP – Senior 99 Kevin Cronin – K – Junior
Schedule
Source
Game summaries
At Western Michigan
Sources:
Statistics MSU WMU First downs 26 22 Total yards 452 383 Rushing yards 196 18 Passing yards 256 365 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 28:19 31:41 Team Category Player Statistics Michigan State Passing Connor Cook 15/31, 256 yards, 2 TD Rushing L. J. Scott 13 rushes, 77 yards Receiving Aaron Burbridge 4 receptions, 117 yards Western Michigan Passing Zach Terrell 33/50, 365 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jarvion Franklin 8 rushes, 23 yards Receiving Corey Davis 10 receptions, 154 yards, TD
The Spartans began the 2015 campaign with a rare road game against MAC foe Western Michigan. The last time MSU and Western played, the Spartans required a couple of defensive touchdowns to put the Broncos away in the home opener of the 2013 season, a year in which they won the Big Ten outright and won the Rose Bowl.
After Montae Nicholson intercepted a Zach Terrell pass in Western territory, giving the Spartans excellent field position, the Spartans scored first on a 24-yard Madre London touchdown run. Western Michigan return man and cornerback Darius Phillips returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to tie things up. After another Madre London touchdown run, the Spartans took a 13–7 lead after a failed two-point conversion. Michigan State scored another touchdown on their next possession as Connor Cook found Josiah Price on a nine-yard pass to swell the Spartans' lead to 20–7. Both teams scored in the second quarter, with Michigan State taking a 27–10 lead into halftime.
The Spartans put the nail in the coffin on the opening drive of the second half after a 21-yard pass from Connor Cook to DeAnthony Arnett gave MSU a 24-point lead. Western scored two late touchdowns, but a Vayante Copeland interception in the end zone late in the game put an end to the Broncos' comeback attempt.
Michigan State won, 37–24, winning their seventh straight season opener, improving their record against Western Michigan to 12–2 and their overall record against the Michigan directional colleges to 28–5. The Spartans moved to 1–0 on the season.
No. 7 Oregon
Sources:
Statistics ORE MSU First downs 26 21 Total yards 432 389 Rushing yards 123 197 Passing yards 309 192 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:34 33:26 Team Category Player Statistics Oregon Passing Vernon Adams 22/39, 309 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Royce Freeman 24 rushes, 92 yards, TD Receiving Bralon Addison 7 receptions, 138 yards Michigan State Passing Connor Cook 20/32, 192 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Madre London 18 rushes, 103 yards Receiving Aaron Burbridge 8 receptions, 101 yards, TD
Following their defeat of Western Michigan in the season opener, the Spartans played host to the Oregon Ducks. This was the first Spartan home game featuring two top-10-ranked teams since the 1966 Notre Dame–Michigan State game. This was also a rematch from the year before, where the game was played at Oregon. In that game, despite having a 27–18 lead late in the third quarter, Michigan State fell to the Ducks, 46–27, thanks to the effort of Ducks QB and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Oregon fell to Ohio State in the National Championship game, making Michigan State's only two losses that season come by the hands of the two teams who played for the national championship.
The Ducks struck first after a 13-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a two-yard Royce Freeman touchdown run. The Spartans answered immediately, as Josiah Price caught a 12-yard pass from Connor Cook, following a 62-yard run from Madre London, to tie the game at 7 apiece. The offenses cooled off after what was looking like the beginning of a shootout. Both offenses traded punts, with Oregon's punter Ian Wheeler giving Michigan State great field position after a shanked 25-yard punt. However, Michigan State were unable to capitalize off of this blunder as Michael Geiger missed a 28-yard field goal. Despite that, Ducks QB Vernon Adams threw an interception two plays later to Montae Nicholson. Six plays later, Connor Cook found Aaron Burbridge over the middle, with Burbridge breaking several tackles on his way to the end zone for a 17-yard catch and run touchdown. Michigan State held a 14–7 lead early in the second quarter. On the ensuing Duck possession, Oregon drove to the Spartan one-yard line before the Michigan State defense made a goal-line stand on both third and fourth down, causing the Ducks to turn the ball over on downs. Neither team scored the remainder of the half, with Vernon Adams and Connor Cook both throwing interceptions. Michigan State took a 14–7 lead into halftime.