The 2014 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan State played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan and were led by eighth-year head coach Mark Dantonio. The season marked a new division organization and the Spartans were members of the East Division.
The Spartans finished the season 11–2, 7–1 in Big Ten play to finish in second place in the East Division behind Ohio State who went on win the Inaugural College Football Playoff. Michigan State faced Baylor in the 2015 Cotton Bowl, which was part of the new New Year's Six Bowls, where they overcame a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Baylor 42–41.
Offseason
2014 NFL draft One member of the 2013 Spartan football team was selected in the 2014 NFL draft Round Pick# Team Player Position 1 24 Cincinnati Bengals Darqueze Dennard Corner Back
In addition, eight other former Spartans were taken as undrafted free agents: Team Player PositionCarolina Panthers Denicos Allen LinebackerCincinnati Bengals Isaiah Lewis SafetyCincinnati Bengals Dan France Offensive LineDenver Broncos Bennie Fowler Wide ReceiverHouston Texans Max Bullough LinebackerIndianapolis Colts Tyler Hoover Defensive EndNew Orleans Saints Micajah Reynolds Defensive tackleSan Francisco 49ers Fou Fonoti Offensive Tackle
Michigan State remained one of only six teams to have had a player selected in each draft since the AFL/NFL merger.
Transfers out Ezra Robinson
Noah Jones
Recruiting class
Season
Schedule
Game summaries
Jacksonville State
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The Spartans opened the 2014 season under the lights at Spartan Stadium against FCS opponent Jacksonville State.
The Spartans scored on their first drive, as Tony Lippett caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from a scrambling Connor Cook. During the play, Jacksonville State safety Folo Johnson hit Cook directly on the knee, and Cook was slow to get up, causing an injury scare. However, Cook would return the next drive and throw to a wide open Tony Lippett for a 71-yard touchdown bomb. Through the first 2 possessions, Tony Lippett had 3 receptions for a total of 146 yards, and 2 TDs. Several possessions later, AJ Troup made a spectacular catch in the bottom left-hand corner of the end-zone on a 17-yard pass from Connor Cook to put Michigan State up 21–0 going into the 2nd quarter.
Nick Hill scored on a 17-yard run during the first drive of the 2nd quarter, putting Michigan State ahead 28–0. After getting a stop the next Jacksonville State possession, the Spartans scored again the following drive, this time on another Nick Hill scamper, this time from 8 yards out, effectively putting the nail in the coffin before halftime, 35–0. Michael Geiger would add a 35-yard field goal as the clock expired, putting State ahead 38–0 at the half.
Aside from a Tyler O'Connor 3-yard rushing touchdown and a 9-yard Max Shortell touchdown pass to Markis Merrill (the only points for JSU), there was little to no offense in the second half. Michigan State won the ball game 45–7.
The Spartan defense was dominant all game, only allowing 1 touchdown, recording 4 sacks, and 3 interceptions (Kurtis Drummond, Darian Hicks, and Nick Thompson respectively). The defense also held Jacksonville State to just 22 yards rushing. Tony Lippett finished the game with 4 catches for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns; no Michigan State receiver recorded a 100-yard receiving game the entire previous season. Connor Cook was nearly perfect, completing 12 out of 13 passes for 285 yards and 3 touchdowns (all of which came in the 1st quarter).
Oregon
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Following their 45–7 victory over Jacksonville State, the Spartans would travel to Eugene to face the Oregon Ducks. The last meeting between the 2 teams took place in 1999, when the Spartans defeated the Ducks 27–20 en route to a 10-win season.
The first quarter was a defensive struggle until a Connor Cook pass was intercepted by Ducks defensive back Erick Dargan, who returned the ball 36 yards to the Michigan State 39 yard line. The Oregon offense, led by Heisman Trophy front runner Marcus Mariota, was quick to capitalize, scoring on a 1-yard Thomas Tyner run. The Ducks converted for 2 points to go ahead 8–0. Michigan State would be unable to answer, and Oregon would have the ball to start the 2nd quarter.
Oregon would add to their lead with a Matt Wogan 28-yard field goal, putting them ahead 11–0. The Spartans would respond with a touchdown on their following drive, as Connor Cook and Jeremy Langford methodically led the offense down the field. Cook was 3/4 on the drive for 45 yards and Langford ran the ball 4 times for 31 yards, capping the drive off with a 16-yard run, putting the score at 11–7, Oregon. Oregon would answer immediately, taking only 2 plays to score. Marcus Mariota threw to a wide open Devon Allen for a 70-yard touchdown pass, strengthening their lead to 18–7. Michael Geiger would make a 34-yard field goal to pull State within 8, 18–10. The following Oregon possession ended with Lawrence Thomas and Marcus Rush recording back to back sacks. Michigan State would score on the following possession on a 7-yard pass from Connor Cook to Tony Lippett, to bring the score to 18–17 Oregon. The MSU defense would stand tall on the following Oregon possession, forcing a punt and giving the offense an opportunity to take the lead going into halftime. Connor Cook would lead the offense on a 6 play, 66 yard drive which ended when Cook threw to an open Josiah Price in the back of the end-zone, giving Michigan State a 24–18 lead at the half.
After a Michael Geiger 42-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter, giving them a 27–18 lead, Michigan State would fail to score the remainder of the game; Oregon would score 28 unanswered points. Michigan State had an opportunity to get back into the game late in Oregon territory, but a Connor Cook pass was deflected and intercepted by All-American candidate Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. Tony Lippett finished the game with a career-high 11 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown. The Spartans would lose 46–27, their worst loss since losing to Notre Dame 31–13 during the 2011 season. It was also the most points the Michigan State defense had surrendered since losing 49–7 to Alabama in the 2011 Capital One Bowl.
Eastern Michigan
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Following a bye week, the Spartans played at home for the first time in nearly a month against in-state MAC opponent Eastern Michigan. The previous meeting between the 2 schools was during the 2012 season. Michigan State won 23–7, despite trailing at halftime.
The Spartan defense forced a punt on the opening drive, and Macgarrett Kings gave the Spartan offense good field position after a 43-yard punt return. Several plays later, Connor Cook scored on a 4-yard rushing touchdown to give MSU a 7–0 lead. After another Eastern 3 and out, Michigan State scored again the following possession as Jeremy Langford made a defender miss on his way to the end-zone for a 21-yard touchdown run. Eastern Michigan then fumbled the ball in their own territory and on the very first play for Michigan State, Connor Cook threw to a wide open Tony Lippett for a 21-yard touchdown. The score was 21–0 MSU only 5 minutes into the game. The defense forced Eastern to punt again, and once again, the offense took advantage, as Connor Cook hit Tony Lippett on the run for an 8-yard touchdown pass, giving Michigan State a 28–0 1st quarter lead.
The opening drive of the 2nd quarter was capped off with a 33-yard strike from Tyler O'Connor to AJ Troup, strengthening Michigan State's lead to 35–0. The Spartan defense would not allow Eastern Michigan to move the ball, forcing yet another 3 and out. However, Eastern was finally able to stop the Spartan offense the following drive, after giving up touchdowns on 5 consecutive possessions. Unfortunately, Eagles return man Tyler Allen muffed the ensuing punt, and Michigan State recovered the ball at the Eastern Michigan 7 yard line. Several plays later, Delton Williams would score 1 yard out, putting the Spartans up 42–0. After trading possessions, Eastern Michigan had the ball at their own 15 yard line, when RJ Williamson picked off EMU QB Rob Bolden, with a return of 6 yards. R.J. Shelton would score the following play to increase the Spartan lead to 49. MSU led 49–0 at the half. Michigan State also led Eastern in total yards 320 to 1 at the half.
Michigan State received the ball to start the 2nd half and scored on 9 play, 61 yard drive that ended with a Nick Hill 4 yard touchdown run, giving the Spartans a 56–0 lead. Eastern would finally score their first points the following possession after a Rob Bolden pass to Tyler Allen that went for 43 yards, cutting the State lead to 49. Michigan State would be forced to punt the ball, but turnovers continued to plague Eastern Michigan, as they muffed yet another punt, which was again recovered by the Spartans. Michael Geiger would make a 30-yard field goal to increase the lead to 59–7. Tyler O'Connor would throw an interception from his own end-zone, giving Eastern great field position to start the 4th.
Following the Tyler O'Connor interception, Rob Bolden would find Tyreese Russell for a 9-yard touchdown pass to put the score at 59–14 MSU. After forcing a Michigan State punt, Eastern Michigan would continue to shoot itself in the foot, as they fumbled the ball in their own territory again. The Spartans took advantage and Delton Williams scored his 2nd touchdown of the day from 7 yards out. He would follow that with his 3rd touchdown the next possession, taking it to the end-zone on an 80-yard run. Michigan State would win by the final score of 73–14
This was the first time since 1989 when Michigan State defeated Northwestern 76–14, that Michigan State scored over 70 points in a game. Delton Williams finished with 10 carries for 103 yards and 3 touchdowns, and the Spartans went deep into the depth chart, using 5 different QBs. Eastern Michigan finished the game with 6 turnovers, which included 5 fumbles and 1 interception. They have yet to defeat the Spartans through 10 meetings.
Wyoming
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Succeeding their 59-point victory over Eastern Michigan, the Spartans took on the Wyoming Cowboys of the Mountain West Conference. The previous meeting between the two programs was during the 1977 season.
Wyoming won the coin toss and deferred until the second half. The Spartan offense drove deep into the red-zone, being forced to go for it on fourth down. Connor Cook scored on a 1-yard rush, giving Michigan State a 7–0 lead. The MSU defense would force a punt, and the offense would go back to work, going 69 yards in 10 plays, capping the drive off with a 19-yard touchdown reception by Tony Lippett. Wyoming would answer with a 57-yard touchdown by scat back Shaun Wick, putting the score at 14–7 MSU. Michigan State would not take long to respond, needing only 3 plays to score off of a 33-yard rushing touchdown by Keith Mumphery. Wyoming would fumble on the following possession and MSU would have the ball in Wyoming territory and 21–7 lead going into the 2nd quarter.