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2023 Michigan State Spartans football team

2023 Michigan State Spartans football
Big Ten Conference
East Division
0–8, 4 wins vacated (0–7, 2 wins vacated Big Ten)
Mel Tucker (4th season; first 2 games)Harlon Barnett (interim)
Jay Johnson (4th season)
Multiple
Scottie Hazelton (4th season)
4–3
Spartan Stadium

The 2023 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Michigan State Spartans football team drew an average home attendance of 70,211 in 2023.

The Spartans were led by Mel Tucker through the first two games of the season; Tucker was suspended without pay on September 10 and was fired for cause on September 27 following disclosures relating to alleged sexual harassment. Defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett was appointed interim head coach, and former head coach Mark Dantonio agreed to return as the team's associate head coach.

The Spartans finished the season 4–8, 2–7 in Big Ten play to finish in sixth place in the East division. They failed to qualify for a bowl game for the third time in four years. In a 49-0 defeat, the Spartans would also suffer their worst home loss in program history to rival Michigan. On November 12, 2025, the 4 wins were vacated as a result of an NCAA settlement over recruiting violations during Mel Tucker's tenure.

On November 26, the school named Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith the team's new head coach.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
.mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}September 17:00 p.m.Central Michigan*Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MIFS1W 31–7 (vacated)73,216
September 93:30 p.m.Richmond*Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MIBTNW 45–14 (vacated)70,049
September 165:00 p.m.No. 8 Washington*Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MIPeacockL 7–4170,528
September 233:30 p.m.MarylandSpartan StadiumEast Lansing, MINBCL 9–3170,131
September 307:30 p.m.at IowaKinnick StadiumIowa City, IANBCL 16–2669,250
October 1412:00 p.m.at RutgersSHI StadiumPiscataway, NJBTNL 24–2752,879
October 217:30 p.m.No. 2 MichiganSpartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI (rivalry)NBCL 0–4974,206
October 283:30 p.m.at MinnesotaHuntington Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MNBTNL 12–2747,392
November 412:00 p.m.NebraskaSpartan StadiumEast Lansing, MIFS1W 20–17 (vacated)63,134
November 117:30 p.m.at No. 1 Ohio StateOhio StadiumColumbus, OHNBCL 3–38105,137
November 1812:00 p.m.at IndianaMemorial StadiumBloomington, IN (rivalry)BTNW 24–21 (vacated)40,666
November 247:30 p.m.vs. No. 11 Penn StateFord FieldDetroit, MI (rivalry)NBCL 0–4251,927
*Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after October 31)All times are in Eastern timeSource:
StatisticsCentral MichiganMichigan State
First downs1920
Plays–yards67–21964–406
Rushes–yards41–12325–127
Passing yards96279
Passing: comp–att–int12–24–118–32–0
Time of possession34:2625:34
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingBert Emanuel Jr.11/17, 87 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingBert Emanuel Jr.17 carries, 41 yards
ReceivingMitchel Collier3 receptions, 30 yards
PassingNoah Kim18/31, 279 yards, 2 TD
RushingNathan Carter18 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJaron Glover3 receptions, 75 yards
StatisticsRichmond (FCS)Michigan State
First downs1121
Plays–yards54–19361–465
Rushes–yards29–7538–162
Passing yards118303
Passing: comp–att–int18–25–019–23–0
Time of possession29:4930:11
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingKyle Wickersham16/22, 102 yards
RushingOwen Laughlin1 carries, 20 yards
ReceivingJerry Garcia JR.4 receptions, 34 yards
PassingNoah Kim18/22, 292 yards, 3 TD
RushingNathan Carter19 carries, 111 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingTre Mosley5 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
StatisticsWashingtonMichigan State
First downs2615
Plays–yards72–71362–261
Rushes–yards33–17727–53
Passing yards536208
Passing: comp–att–int29–39–114–35–1
Time of possession35:3224:28
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingMichael Penix Jr.27/35, 473 yards, 4 TD
RushingTybo Rogers15 carries, 74 yards
ReceivingRome Odunze8 receptions, 180 yards
PassingNoah Kim12/31, 136 yards, 1 INT
RushingNathan Carter17 carries, 48 yards
ReceivingChristian Fitzpatrick1 reception, 61 yards
StatisticsMarylandMichigan State
First downs1925
Plays–yards67–36276–376
Rushes–yards31–13931–102
Passing yards223274
Passing: comp–att–int21–36–126–45–3
Time of possession28:3031:29
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingTaulia Tagovailoa21/36, 223 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingColby McDonald5 carries, 38 yards
ReceivingTai Felton3 receptions, 67 yards
PassingNoah Kim18/32, 190 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
RushingNathan Carter19 carries, 97 yards
ReceivingMontorie Foster Jr.6 receptions, 67 yards
StatisticsMichigan StateIowa
First downs2014
Plays–yards76–34959–222
Rushes–yards32–15627–61
Passing yards193161
Passing: comp–att–int25–44–314–32–1
Time of possession33:4026:02
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingNoah Kim25/44, 193 yards, 3 INT
RushingNathan Carter20 carries, 108 yards
ReceivingMontorie Foster Jr.8 receptions, 79 yards
PassingDeacon Hill11/27, 115 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingLeshon Williams12 carries, 38 yards
ReceivingErick All4 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD
StatisticsMichigan StateRutgers
First downs2220
Plays–yards68–24765–306
Rushes–yards40–11337–125
Passing yards134181
Passing: comp–att–int18–29–013–28–2
Time of possession29:1645:44
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingKatin Houser18/29, 133 yards, 2 TD
RushingNathan Carter20 carries, 52 yards
ReceivingMontorie Foster Jr.5 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD
PassingGavin Wimsatt13/28, 181 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
RushingKyle Monangai24 carries, 148 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingChristian Dremel6 receptions, 80 yards
StatisticsMichiganMichigan State
First downs2810
Plays–yards69–47758–190
Rushes–yards34-12029-49
Passing yards357133
Passing: comp–att–int28-35-016-29-2
Time of possession32:5220:18
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingJ. J. McCarthy21/27, 287 yards, 4 TD
RushingBlake Corum15 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingA. J. Barner8 receptions, 99 yards, 1 TD
PassingKatin Houser12/22, 101 yards, 1 INT
RushingNathan Carter17 carries, 36 yards
ReceivingMaliq Carr2 receptions, 32 yards
StatisticsMichigan StateMinnesota
First downs1523
Plays–yards55–29972–400
Rushes–yards21–10950–200
Passing yards190200
Passing: comp–att–int20–34–114–22–1
Time of possession23:4536:15
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingKatin Houser12/22, 117 yards
RushingSam Leavitt6 carries, 52 yards
ReceivingMontorie Foster Jr.4 receptions, 55 yards
PassingAthan Kaliakmanis14/22, 200 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJordan Nubin40 carries, 204 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingDaniel Jackson7 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD
StatisticsNebraskaMichigan State
First downs1811
Plays–yards69–28355–295
Rushes–yards41–15431–63
Passing yards129232
Passing: comp–att–int12–28–215–23–0
Time of possession31:3128:29
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingHeinrich Haarberg12/28, 129 yards, 2 INT
RushingEmmett Johnson13 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingThomas Fidone II3 receptions, 43 yards
PassingKatin Houser13/20, 165 yards, 1 TD
RushingNathan Carter15 carries, 50 yards
ReceivingMontorie Foster Jr.4 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD
StatisticsMichigan StateOhio State
First downs1125
Plays–yards54–18266–530
Rushes–yards29–9432–177
Passing yards88353
Passing: comp–att–int13–25–026–34–0
Time of possession28:4831:12
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingKatin Houser12/24, 92 yards
RushingNathan Carter11 carries, 52 yards
ReceivingChristian Fitzpatrick2 receptions, 23 yards
PassingKyle McCord24/31, 335 yards, 3 TD
RushingTreVeyon Henderson13 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMarvin Harrison Jr.7 receptions, 149 yards, 2 TD
StatisticsMichigan StateIndiana
First downs2123
Plays–yards72–35179–412
Rushes–yards31–6045–220
Passing yards291192
Passing: comp–att–int26–41–219–34–0
Time of possession30:2029:18
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingKatin Houser26/41, 245 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RushingNathan Carter11 carries, 42 yards
ReceivingMaliq Carr9 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TD
PassingBrendan Sorsby19/34, 192 yards, 2 TD
RushingTrent Howland19 carries, 77 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDonaven Mcculley3 receptions, 72 yards
StatisticsPenn StateMichigan State
First downs235
Plays–yards67–58648–53
Rushes–yards39–28327– -35
Passing yards30388
Passing: comp–att–int19–28–012–21–1
Time of possession36:0123:59
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
PassingDrew Allar17/26, 292 yards, 2 TD
RushingKaytron Allen15 carries, 137 yards
ReceivingNicholas Singleton2 receptions, 68 yards
PassingKatin Houser11/19, 87 yards, 1 INT
RushingNathan Carter8 carries, 39 yards
ReceivingMontorie Foster Jr.2 receptions, 35 yards
NamePositionSeason
Mel TuckerHead coach – removed after 2 games4th
Chris KapilovicAssistant head coach/offensive line/run game coordinator4th
Jay JohnsonOffensive coordinator/quarterbacks4th
Scottie HazeltonDefensive coordinator4th
Ted GilmoreTight ends4th
Courtney HawkinsWide receivers4th
Harlon BarnettSecondary/interim head coach week 2 through end of season15th
Ross ElsSpecial Teams/linebackers4th
Effrem ReedRunning backs2nd
Diron ReynoldsDefensive line1st
Jim SalgadoCornerbacks1st

On January 4, defensive line coach Marco Coleman left MSU to join his alma mater, Georgia Tech, as their defensive line coach. On January 25, the school named Stanford defensive line coach Diron Reynolds the team's new defensive line coach. On March 4, pass rush specialist coach Brandon Jordan left to take a job with the Seattle Seahawks. On March 16, the school named former Buffalo Bills safeties coach Jim Salgado as the new cornerbacks coach.

On April 30, the final day to declare for the transfer portal, two-year starting quarterback Payton Thorne announced he was entering the portal. Wide receiver Keon Coleman also announced he would transfer.

NamePos.New School
Payton ThorneQBAuburn
Keon ColemanWRFlorida State
Jack StoneKBaylor
Michael FletcherDEAppalachian State
Jalen HuntDTHouston
Dashaun MalloryDTArizona State
Chase CarterDEIncarnate Word
Kobe MyersLB
Elijah CollinsRBOklahoma State
Carson CasteelLBVanderbilt
Jeff PietrowskiDEWisconsin
Tate HallockDBWestern Michigan
Germie BernardWRWashington
Terry LockettWREastern Michigan
Cade McDonaldWRMiami (OH)
Hamp FayTE/QBOklahoma
AJ KirkDBJones College (MS)
Itayvion 'Tank' BrownDE

Source

NamePos.Former School
Ademola FaleyeTENorfolk State
Jaylan FranklinTEWisconsin
Semar MelvinCBWisconsin
Jonathan KimKNorth Carolina
Nathan CarterRBUConn
Jarrett JacksonDLFlorida State
Aaron AlexanderLBUMass
Jaren ManghamRBSouth Florida
Dre ButlerDELiberty
Tunmise AdeleyeDLTexas A&M
Tyneil HopperTEBoise State
Mason ArnoldLSOhio State
Michael O'ShaughnessyPOhio State
Armorion SmithSCincinnati
Jalen SamiDTColorado
Alante BrownWRNebraska
Terry RobertsCBIowa

Source

Following the conclusion of the season, several players declared for the NFL draft. Three players were selected in the draft.

RoundPickTeamPlayerPosition
250Green Bay PackersJayden ReedWR
6192New England PatriotsBryce BaringerP
6214New England PatriotsAmeer SpeedCB

Several other undrafted players signed free agent contracts with NFL teams:

  • Jarrett Horst, offensive lineman, Miami Dolphins
  • Jacob Slade, defensive lineman, Arizona Cardinals
  • Kendell Brooks, safety, Arizona Cardinals
  • Xavier Henderson, safety, Washington Commanders
  • Ben VanSumeren, linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles
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