The 2024 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium located in East Lansing, Michigan, and were led by first-year head coach Jonathan Smith. The Spartans finished the season 5–7, 3–6 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for 12th place. On November 12, 2025, the 5 wins were vacated as a result of an NCAA settlement over recruiting violations during Mel Tucker's tenure.
Following the removal and eventual firing of head coach Mel Tucker after the first two games of the 2023 season following disclosures relating to alleged sexual harassment, defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett was named the interim coach and former head coach Mark Dantonio agreed to return as the team's associate head coach for the remainder of the season. On November 26, the school named Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith the team's new head coach for the 2024 season.
After beating Prairie View A&M on September 14, the Spartans moved to 3–0 on the season. Smith became the first MSU head coach to start 3–0 in his debut season with the team since Mark Dantonio in 2007. However, the Spartans finished the season by losing seven of the remaining nine games and failing to be eligible for a bowl game for the third consecutive season. This had not occurred since the 2004 through 2006 seasons. The Spartans also lost to a first-year Michigan head coach for the first time since 1948.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries
vs Florida Atlantic
Statistics FAU MSU First downs 19 15 Plays–yards 72–248 61–293 Rushes–yards 47–132 35–179 Passing yards 116 114 Passing: –– 12–25–2 10–24–2 Time of possession 29:19 30:41 Team Category Player Statistics Florida Atlantic Passing Cam Fancher 12/25, 116 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Cam Fancher 25 carries, 67 yards Receiving Omari Hayes 5 receptions, 74 yards Michigan State Passing Aidan Chiles 10/24, 114 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams 9 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD Receiving Michael Masunas 2 receptions, 29 yards
at Maryland
Statistics MSU MD First downs 26 21 Plays–yards 67–493 65–339 Rushes–yards 30–129 31–86 Passing yards 357 264 Passing: –– 24–39–3 26–34–1 Time of possession 27:31 32:29 Team Category Player Statistics Michigan State PassingAidan Chiles24/39, 363 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT RushingNate Carter11 carries, 59 yards ReceivingNick Marsh8 receptions, 194 yards, 1 TD Maryland PassingBilly Edwards Jr.26/34, 253 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT RushingRoman Hemby12 carries, 35 yards ReceivingTai Felton11 receptions, 152 yards, 1 TD
vs Prairie View A&M
Statistics PV MSU First downs 10 22 Plays–yards 44–140 63–458 Rushes–yards 27–17 34–188 Passing yards 123 270 Passing: –– 9–17–1 20–29–0 Time of possession 26:03 33:57 Team Category Player StatisticsPrairie View A&M PassingScooter Adams9/17, 123 yards, 1 INT RushingScooter Adams5 carries, 24 yards ReceivingTre'Jon Spiller7 receptions, 91 yards Michigan State PassingAidan Chiles12/19, 173 yards, 1 TD RushingNate Carter8 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD ReceivingAziah Johnson2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD
at Boston College
Statistics MSU BC First downs 21 16 Plays–yards 68–368 60–292 Rushes–yards 33–127 44–152 Passing yards 241 140 Passing: –– 17–35–3 10–16–0 Time of possession 32:30 27:30 Team Category Player Statistics Michigan State PassingAidan Chiles17/35, 241 yards, 3 INT RushingKay'Ron Lynch-Adams15 carries, 61 yards ReceivingMontorie Foster4 receptions, 87 yards Boston College PassingThomas Castellanos10/16, 140 yards, 1 TD RushingTreshaun Ward14 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD ReceivingLewis Bond6 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD
vs No. 3 Ohio State
Statistics OSU MSU First downs 23 13 Plays–yards 75–483 51–246 Rushes–yards 35–185 26–47 Passing yards 289 199 Passing: –– 26–40–1 16–25–1 Time of possession 35:43 24:17 Team Category Player StatisticsOhio State PassingWill Howard21/31, 244 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT RushingTreVeyon Henderson7 carries, 69 yards ReceivingEmeka Egbuka7 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD Michigan State PassingAidan Chiles13/19, 167 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT RushingKay'Ron Lynch-Adams9 carries, 35 yards ReceivingJaron Glover4 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD
at No. 6 Oregon
Statistics MSU ORE First downs 16 25 Plays–yards 52–250 71–477 Rushes–yards 30–59 37–213 Passing yards 191 264 Passing: –– 15–22–0 21–34–2 Time of possession 29:02 30:58 Team Category Player Statistics Michigan State PassingAidan Chiles10/17, 154 yards RushingKay'Ron Lynch-Adams9 carries, 32 yards, TD ReceivingNick Marsh3 receptions, 58 yards Oregon PassingDillon Gabriel20/32, 257 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT RushingJordan James24 carries, 166 yards, TD ReceivingTez Johnson10 receptions, 84 yards, TD
vs Iowa
Statistics IOWA MSU First downs 12 27 Plays–yards 46–283 70–468 Rushes–yards 23–133 40–212 Passing yards 150 256 Passing: –– 11–23–1 22–30–1 Time of possession 20:16 39:44 Team Category Player StatisticsIowa PassingCade McNamara11/23, 150 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT RushingKaleb Johnson14 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD ReceivingKaleb Johnson4 receptions, 49 yards Michigan State PassingAidan Chiles22/30, 256 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT RushingKay'Ron Lynch-Adams15 carries, 86 yards ReceivingNick Marsh8 receptions, 113 yards
at Michigan (rivalry)
Statistics MSU MICH First downs 18 17 Plays–yards 65–352 51–265 Rushes–yards 42–163 31–119 Passing yards 189 265 Passing: –– 17–23–0 14–20–0 Time of possession 37:05 22:55 Team Category Player Statistics Michigan State PassingAidan Chiles17/23, 189 yards, 1 TD RushingNate Carter19 carries, 118 yards, 1 TD ReceivingNate Carter2 receptions, 56 yards Michigan PassingDavis Warren13/19, 123 yards, 1 TD RushingAlex Orji6 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD ReceivingColston Loveland6 receptions, 67 yards, 2 TD
vs No. 13 Indiana (rivalry)
Statistics IU MSU First downs 20 15 Plays–yards 61–385 63–193 Rushes–yards 32–122 31– -36 Passing yards 263 229 Passing: –– 19–29–0 20–32–2 Time of possession 29:34 30:26 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana PassingKurtis Rourke19/29, 263 yards, 4 TD RushingJustice Ellison9 carries, 32 yards ReceivingKe'Shawn Williams6 receptions, 86 yards Michigan State PassingAidan Chiles16/24, 193 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT RushingAlante Brown2 carries, 16 yards ReceivingNick Marsh5 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
at Illinois
Statistics MSU ILL First downs 18 18 Plays–yards 68–343 63–369 Rushes–yards 28–87 31–138 Passing yards 256 231 Passing: –– 23–40–0 19–32–0 Time of possession 28:32 31:28 Team Category Player Statistics Michigan State PassingAidan Chiles23/40, 256 yards, 2 TD RushingAidan Chiles12 carries, 40 yards ReceivingMontorie Foster Jr.6 receptions, 76 yards Illinois PassingLuke Altmyer19/32, 231 yards, 2 TD RushingJosh McCray9 carries, 61 yards, 3 TD ReceivingPat Bryant4 receptions, 135 yards, 1 TD
vs Purdue
Statistics PUR MSU First downs 19 22 Plays–yards 66–338 69–293 Rushes–yards 19– -4 38–134 Passing yards 342 159 Passing: –– 26–47–1 15–31–0 Time of possession 27:41 32:19 Team Category Player StatisticsPurdue PassingHudson Card26/47, 342 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT RushingDevin Mockobee9 carries, 14 yards, 1 TD ReceivingJahmal Edrine5 receptions, 87 yards Michigan State PassingAidan Chiles15/31, 159 yards, 2 TD RushingKay'Ron Lynch-Adams18 carries, 85 yards ReceivingMontorie Foster Jr.4 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD
vs Rutgers
Statistics RUTG MSU First downs 24 13 Plays–yards 70–365 48–253 Rushes–yards 48–208 24–103 Passing yards 157 150 Passing: –– 13–22–0 13–24–1 Time of possession 35:08 24:52 Team Category Player StatisticsRutgers Passing Athan Kaliakmanis 13/22, 157 yards, TD Rushing Kyle Monangai 31 carries, 129 yards, TD Receiving Ian Strong 5 receptions, 63 yards, TD Michigan State Passing Aidan Chiles 13/23, 150 yards, TD Rushing Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams 9 carries, 69 yards Receiving Jack Velling 5 receptions, 77 yards, TD
Personnel
Roster
Coaching staff Jonathan SmithHead Coach1stKeith BhonaphaAssistant Head Coach/Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs1stBrian LindgrenOffensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach1stJoe RossiDefensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach1stJim MichalczikOffensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator1stBlue AdamsSecondary Coach1stCourtney HawkinsWide Receivers Coach5thDemetrice MartinCornerbacks Coach1stLegi SuiaunoaDefensive Line Coach1stChad WiltCo-Special Teams Coordinator/Rush Ends Coach1stBrian WozniakTight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator1st
References