2020 Michigan State Spartans football team

2020 Michigan State Spartans football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Division	East Division
Record	2–5 (2–5 Big Ten)
Head coach	Mel Tucker (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Jay Johnson (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Scottie Hazelton (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium
Uniform
Seasons ← 2019 2021 →

2020 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
No. 2 Ohio State xy$^		5	–	0					7	–	1
No. 12 Indiana		6	–	1					6	–	2
Penn State		4	–	5					4	–	5
Maryland		2	–	3					2	–	3
Rutgers		3	–	6					3	–	6
Michigan		2	–	4					2	–	4
Michigan State		2	–	5					2	–	5
West Division
No. 10 Northwestern xy		6	–	1					7	–	2
No. 16 Iowa		6	–	2					6	–	2
Wisconsin		3	–	3					4	–	3
Minnesota		3	–	4					3	–	4
Nebraska		3	–	5					3	–	5
Purdue		2	–	4					2	–	4
Illinois		2	–	6					2	–	6
Championship: Ohio State 22, Northwestern 10
^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Note: Due to COVID-19, the Big Ten suspended the season on August 11, but later decided to begin play on October 24. In addition to the title game that was played on December 19, the conference seeded all remaining teams for "championship week" games.[1] Rankings from AP Poll.

The 2020 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans competed as members of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. This was the program's first season under head coach Mel Tucker.

In a limited season, which was initially canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being reinstated, the Spartans compiled a 2–5 record, all in conference games. On December 20, the program announced that it would not participate in any bowl game.^[2]

The Spartans finished the 2019 season 7–6, 4–5 in Big Ten play to finish in fifth place in the East Division. The Spartans received a bid to the 2019 Pinstripe Bowl where they defeated Wake Forest 27–21.^[3]

On February 4, 2020, the school announced that head coach Mark Dantonio had retired and Mike Tressel would be taking over as interim head coach for the Spartans.^[4] Tressel was previously the team's defensive coordinator.^[5] On February 12, the school announced the hiring of Colorado head coach Mel Tucker as the university's 25th head football coach.^[6][7]

MSU kept its streak of 80 years of having at least one player drafted in the NFL Draft when cornerback Josiah Scott was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Round	Pick	Team	Player	Position
4	31	Jacksonville Jaguars	Josiah Scott	Cornerback
7	11	Minnesota Vikings	Kenny Willekes	Defensive End

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

• Cody White, Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs^[8]
• Brian Lewerke, Quarterback, New England Patriots^[9]
• Raequan Williams, Defensive tackle, Philadelphia Eagles^[10]
• Joe Bachie, Linebacker New Orleans Saints^[11]
• Mike Panasiuk, Defensive tackle, Las Vegas Raiders^[12]
• Darrell Stewart Jr., Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers^[13]
• Tyler Higby, Offensive Line, Minnesota Vikings^[14]

After Dantonio abruptly retired in March, new head coach Mel Tucker took approximately 10 days to assemble his assistants for the season.^[15] Tucker brought with him from his Colorado staff offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic, running backs coach William Peagler, and special teams coordinator Ross Els.^[15] Former Spartan wide receiver Courtney Hawkins was named the wide receivers coach, Ted Gilmore the tight ends coach, and Scottie Hazelton the defensive coordinator.^[15] Former MSU defensive coach Harlon Barnett returned to coach the secondary after spending two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Florida State.^[16] Ron Burton (defensive line) and Mike Tressel (safeties) were the only holdovers from Dantonio's staff.^[15]

US college sports recruiting information for 2020 recruits
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Ricky White WR	Marietta, GA	Marietta	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	165 lb (75 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Dallas Fincher OG	Grand Rapids, MI	East Kentwood	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	274 lb (124 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Terry Lockett WR	Minneapolis, MN	Minnehaha Academy	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	165 lb (75 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Ian Stewart WR	Rockwood, MI	Oscar A. Carlson	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	200 lb (91 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Tommy Guajardo TE	Dearborn, MI	Dearborn	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	230 lb (100 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Simeon Barrow Jr. WDE	Grovetown, GA	Grovetown	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	252 lb (114 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Avery Dunn WDE	Cleveland, OH	Shaker Heights	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	216 lb (98 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Montorie Foster WR	Lakewood, OH	St. Edward	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	175 lb (79 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Chris Mayfield SDE	Hilliard, OH	Hilliard Bradley	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	250 lb (110 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Noah Kim PRO	Chantilly, VA	Westfield	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	180 lb (82 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Jeff Pietrowski WDE	Lakewood, OH	St. Edward	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	235 lb (107 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Cole DeMarzo OLB	Hilton Head Island, SC	Hilton Head	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	200 lb (91 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Jasiyah Robinson SDE	Groveport, OH	Groveport Madison	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	222 lb (101 kg)	Jan 22, 2020
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Donovan Eaglin SDE	Manvel, TX	Manvel HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Jan 29, 2020
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Nolan Rossback (Transfer Illinois) LS	Hudsonville, MI	{{{highschool}}}	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	215 lb (98 kg)
	Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Scout". Scout.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020. "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.

Although the Big Ten Conference has not held an official preseason poll since 2010, Cleveland.com has polled sports journalists representing all member schools as a de facto preseason media poll since 2011. For the 2020 poll, Michigan State was projected to finish in fifth in the East Division.^[17]

Media poll (East Division)
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Ohio State	237 (33)
2	Penn State	204 (1)
3	Michigan	169
4	Indiana	134
5	Michigan State	94
6	Maryland	76
7	Rutgers	38

On July 9, 2020, the Big Ten announced that member teams will only play conference games in effort to reduce issues related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.^[18] On July 24, the school announced that the entire team, which had returned to campus for voluntary workouts, was being placed on a 14-day quarantine after two staff members and one player tested positive for COVID-19.^[19]

On August 11, 2020, the Big Ten canceled the college football season for the fall of 2020 due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.^[20][21][22] On September 16, the conference reversed course and announced that a season would be played. Teams would begin play on October 24.^[23][24] On September 19, the conference announced an eight-game schedule.^[25]

One game, against Maryland, was canceled due to the school's COVID-19 outbreak.^[26] A scheduled rematch on December 19 as part of the Big Ten Champions Week was also canceled due to continued COVID-19 issues at Maryland.^[27]

2020 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 2 Julian Barnett So WR 4 C. J. Hayes  Jr WR 5 Jayden Reed Jr QB 6 Theo Day  So WR 7 Ricky White Fr WR 8 Jalen Nailor Jr QB 10 Payton Thorne So QB 12 Rocky Lombardi  Jr WR 13 Laress Nelson Sr QB 14 Noah Kim Fr WR 17 Tre Mosley So WR 18 Tre'Von Morgan So WR 20 Emmanuel Flowers  Jr QB 23 Eli McLean  So RB 24 Elijah Collins  So RB 26 Brandon Wright So RB 34 Anthony Williams Jr. So RB 36 Noah Sargent  Sr RB 39 Alante Thomas  Sr TE 40 Jonathan Brys  Jr FB 41 Reid Burton  Sr FB 49 Max Rosenthal  Jr OT 55 Jordan Reid Sr G 56 Matt Carrick  Jr OL 58 Spencer Brown So OL 59 Nick Samac So OT 62 Luke Campbell  Sr OL 64 Matt Allen  Sr OL 66 Blake Bueter  Jr OL 67 J.D. Duplain So OT 68 Dan Vanopstall  So OL 69 Tommy Liesveld  Sr OL 71 James Ohonba  So OL 72 Damon Kaylor So OL 73 Jacob Isaia  So OL 74 Jack Henrichs  Jr G 75 Kevin Jarvis Sr OT 76 A. J. Arcuri  Sr OL 77 Dimitri Douglas  So OT 79 Mustafa Khaleefah  Jr WR 80 Jalen Allen  So WR 82 Javez Alexander  So WR 83 Montorie Foster Jr. Fr WR 85 Cade McDonald So TE 86 Parks Gissinger  So WR 87 Jahz Watts  Jr TE 88 Trenton Gillison  So TE 89 Matt Dotson Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class S 3 Xavier Henderson Jr DE 5 Michael Fletcher So S 7 Michael Dowell  So CB 8 Chris Jackson  So S 9 Dominique Long Sr LB 13 Marcel Lewis So CB 14 Davion Williams  So CB 18 Kalon Gervin  So LB 21 Chase Kline  So DB 23 Andre Welch Sr CB 24 Tre Person Sr S 28 Tate Hallock So CB 29 Shakur Brown  Jr LB 30 Tanner Hallock  Jr LB 31 Edward Warinner  So DB 32 Corey Pryor  Sr LB 33 Jeslord Boateng  So LB 34 Antjuan Simmons Sr LB 37 Dante Razzano  Sr LB 38 Luke Fulton So LB 41 Charles Willekes So DE 42 Brent Mossburg  Jr S 43 Jack Mandryk  Jr DE 44 Adam Berghorst So LB 45 Noah Harvey  Jr S 49 David Kruse  So LB 53 Peter Fisk  Sr DE 55 Zach Slade  So DL 57 Evan Brunning So LB 58 Terry O'Connor  So DT 64 Jacob Slade  So DL 86 Drew Beesley  Sr DL 89 Jalen Hunt So DE 91 Jack Camper  Jr DE 92 DeAri Todd  Jr DT 93 Naquan Jones  Sr DT 94 Dashaun Mallory  So DE 96 Jacub Panasiuk Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 4 Matt Coghlin  Sr LS 51 Jude Pedrozo So K, P 92 Evan Morris So K 97 Tyler Hunt  Jr K 98 Cole Hahn  Jr P 99 Bryce Baringer  Jr	Head coach Mel Tucker Coordinators/assistant coaches Scottie Hazelton (assistant head coach / defensive coordinator / linebackers) Jay Johnson (offensive coordinator / quarterbacks) Chris Kapilovic (offensive line) Ron Burton (defensive line) Harlon Barnett (defensive backs) Ted Gilmore (Tight Ends / special teams coordinator) Courtney Hawkins (wide receivers) William Pegler (running backs) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: February 14, 2020

Name	Position	Season
Mel Tucker	Head coach	1st
Jay Johnson	Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks	1st
Chris Kapilovic	Offensive Line/run game coordinator	1st
Ted Gilmore[28]	Tight ends	1st
Courtney Hawkins	Wide receivers	1st
William Pegler[29]	Running backs	1st
Scottie Hazelton	Defensive coordinator	1st
Ron Burton	Defensive line	7th
Harlon Barnett	Defensive backs	12th
Ross Els[29]	Special Teams	1st
Mike Tressel	Linebackers	14th

Michigan State's 2020 schedule originally was planned to begin with a conference home game against Northwestern, followed by three non-conference opponents: the independent BYU Cougars, Toledo of the Mid-American Conference, and finally Miami of the ACC. The non-conference slate was canceled on July 9 due to the Big Ten Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[30]

On August 4, the Big Ten Conference announced the schedule for all Big Ten teams.^[31] In conference play, the Spartans were play all members of the East Division, as well as Northwestern, Iowa, and Minnesota from the West Division. The season was canceled by the conference on August 11, 2020.^[22]

On September 19, the conference changed course and announced a new, revised, eight-game schedule.^[25] A ninth game will be played the week of December 19 where the first place teams in each division will play for the Big Ten Championship, while the remaining teams will play the same-seeded team in the opposite division.^[32]

On November 19, it was announced that the November 21 game against Maryland had been canceled as all team-related activities were paused because of an elevated number of coronavirus cases within the Terrapins' program.^[33] A rescheduled game against Maryland as part of Big Ten Champions Week was also canceled due to COVID-19 issues at Maryland.^[27]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
October 24	12:00 p.m.	Rutgers	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	BTN	L 27–38	0
October 31	12:00 p.m.	at No. 13 Michigan	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy)	FOX	W 27–24	615
November 7	12:00 p.m.	at Iowa	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	ESPN	L 7–49	1,441
November 14	12:00 p.m.	No. 10 Indiana	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Old Brass Spittoon)	ABC	L 0–24	340
November 21	12:00 p.m.	at Maryland	Maryland Stadium College Park, MD	BTN	No Contest	_
November 28	3:30 p.m.	No. 8 Northwestern	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN2	W 29–20	0
December 5	12:00 p.m.	No. 4 Ohio State	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ABC	L 12–52	0
December 12	12:00 p.m.	at Penn State	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (Land Grant Trophy)	ABC	L 24–39	0
December 19	7:30 p.m.	at Maryland	Maryland Stadium College Park, MD (Champions Week)	BTN	No Contest	_
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Final
AP	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
CFP	Not released												—	—	—	—	—	Not released

Radio coverage for all games will be broadcast statewide on the Spartans Sports Network^[34]

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
8–3	Nov 23, 2019	MSU, 27–0

MSU opened the 2020 season at home against Rutgers. Rutgers scored on their first possession, moving 75 yards before Isiah Pacheco rushed for a 12-yard touchdown to give the Scarlet Knights the early 7–0 lead. MSU quickly turned the ball over to Rutgers on their first offensive play as Jayden Reed fumbled and the Knights took over at MSU's 44. The Spartan defense forced a three-and-out, but the offense again turned the ball over as Rocky Lombardi fumbled the ball and Rutgers took over at the MSU four-yard line. A one-yard touchdown run a few plays later put the Knights up 14–0 with just under seven minutes remaining in the quarter. MSU's offense took the ensuing kickoff at mid-field and moved to the Rutgers' 42-yard line. However, MSU turned the ball over again, this time on downs, failing to get the first down on a fourth and three play. After a Rutgers' punt, Lombardi hit Reed on a 50-yard pass to bring MSU within seven points. Another Knights' punt gave MSU the ball with 14 minutes remaining in the second quarter. However, once again, the MSU offense turned the ball over as Lombardi was intercepted and Rutgers took over inside the MSU 30-yard line. Two plays later, a Rutgers' 24-yard touchdown run moved the Knights' lead to 21–7. MSU answered with an 11-play drive that moved into Rutgers territory, but another Jayden Reed fumble gave the ball back to Rutgers with less than eight minutes remaining in the half. MSU took the ball back on an interception by Shakur Brown and MSU notched a field goal to draw within 21–10. With just over three minutes remaining in the half, Rutgers pushed the lead to 28–10 with a three-yard touchdown run. Matt Coghlin hit his second field goal of the game as time expired to make the score 28–13 at the half.

On the first possession of the second half, MSU again turned the ball over on a Jordan Simmons fumble. Rutgers could not capitalize and punted the ball back to MSU. MSU was forced to punt, but a Rutgers fumble on the punt gave MSU the ball at the Rutgers 30. Jalen Nailor scored on the next play, a 30-yard touchdown catch to narrow the lead to 28–20. A Rutgers' fumble on their ensuing possession set MSU up at the 29-yard line. However, the Spartans were again stopped on a fourth down run, turning the ball over on downs. A Rutgers' field goal to start the fourth quarter pushed the Knights' lead to 31–20. The teams exchanged punts before Rutgers put the game out of reach with a 14-yard touchdown pass with just under five minutes remaining in the game. Another Jayden Reed touchdown catch brought the Spartans within 11. A Rutgers' punt preceded another turnover, the seventh in the game, as Lombardi was intercepted with under 40 seconds remaining. The Knights were able to run out the clock as the Spartans fell 38–27.

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
36–71–5	Nov 16, 2019	Mich, 44–10

In their first road game of the season, the Spartans traveled to face their rival, Michigan, for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Despite being a multiple touchdown underdog, the Spartans took the early lead after each team traded punts when Rocky Lombardi hit Ricky White for a 30-yard touchdown pass. However, Michigan quickly responded by scoring on an 11-yard touchdown run following an eight-play drive to tie the game at seven. Each team again was forced to punt on their next two possessions as the game moved to the second quarter. Lombardi put the Spartans up again on a two-yard touchdown pass to Connor Heyward moving the Spartan lead to 14–7. Again, each team traded punts before the Wolverines settled for a field goal with 2:49 remaining in the half. Another exchange of punts left MSU with the ball with less than a minute remaining in the half as they ran out the clock to go to halftime with the three-point lead.

In the second half, Michigan punted on their first possession and the Spartans moved the ball into Wolverine territory on the ensuing possession, but settled for another Matt Coghlin field goal to extend the lead to 17–10. Michigan tied it on their next possession with a one-yard touchdown run to put the score at 17–17. MSU retook the lead on their next possession as Coghlin connected on a 51-yard field goal to move MSU into the lead at 20–17. Following a Michigan punt, MSU moved to the Wolverine 23, but Coghlin missed a 40-yard field goal that would have moved the Spartan lead to six points. Michigan again failed to move the ball and was forced to punt on their next possession. Following the punt, MSU took over at their own eight-yard line with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Spartans, helped by a Ricky White 31 yard reception, moved to the Michigan 13 with just over five minutes remaining. Lombardi then hit Heyward again for a 13-yard touchdown catch and run to push the Spartan lead to 10 at 27–17. The Wolverines scored on their next possession, but the 18-play drive took over four and a half minutes and left less than 40 seconds remaining on the clock while the Spartans held a 27–24 lead. The onside kick was recovered by Heyward and Lombardi gave the Spartans on a fourth down sneak to run out the clock as the Spartans defeated their rivals 27–24. The win moved MSU to 1–1 on the season.

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
22–23–2	Sept 30, 2017	MSU, 17–10

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
48–16–2	Sept 28, 2019	MSU, 40–31

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
38–20	Sep 21, 2019	MSU, 31–10

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
15–33	Oct 5, 2019	OSU, 34–10

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
17–16–1	Oct 26, 2019	PSU, 28–7