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1985 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1985 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1985 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third season under head coach George Perles, the Spartans compiled a 7–5 overall record (5–3 against Big Ten opponents), finished in a tie for fourth place in the Big Ten Conference, and lost to Georgia Tech in the 1985 Hall of Fame Classic.^[1][2]

Six Spartans were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) on the 1984 All-Big Ten Conference football team: running back Lorenzo White (AP-1; UPI-1); offensive guard John Wojciechowski (AP-1); offensive tackle Steve Bogdalek (AP-2); linebacker Shane Bullough (AP-2); defensive back Phil Parker (UPI-1); and punter Greg Montgomery (AP-1).^[3][4]

Schedule[edit]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 14	12:08 p.m.	Arizona State*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI		W 12–3	62,797
September 21	7:46 p.m.	atNotre Dame*	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	ESPN	L 10–27	59,075
September 28	1:00 p.m.	Western Michigan*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI		W 7–3	63,829
October 5	2:42 p.m.	at No. 1Iowa	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	CBS	L 31–35	66,044
October 12	2:42 p.m.	No. 3Michigan	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry)	CBS	L 0–31	78,235
October 19	1:00 p.m.	Illinois	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI		L 17–30	76,438
October 26	12:38 p.m.	atPurdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	TBS	W 28–24	67,660
November 2	12:08 p.m.	Minnesota	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	TBS	W 31–26	63,578
November 9	1:00 p.m.	atIndiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN (rivalry)		W 35–16	24,764
November 16	1:00 p.m.	Northwestern	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI		W 32–0	55,439
November 23	2:05 p.m.	atWisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI		W 41–7	56,854
December 31	8:00 p.m.	vs. Georgia Tech*	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Hall of Fame Classic)	TBS	L 14–17	45,000	[5]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries[edit]

Arizona State[edit]

At Notre Dame[edit]

Western Michigan[edit]

At Iowa[edit]

• Lorenzo White 39 Rush, 229 Yds, 2 TD^[6]

Michigan[edit]

On October 12, 1985, Michigan State lost to Michigan, 31–0, in front of a crowd of 78,235 at Spartan Stadium. The victory was regarded at the time as revenge for the Spartans' 19–7 upset of the Wolverines in 1984. Michigan struck early after Michigan State quarterback Bobby McAllister fumbled the snap on the second play of the game, Andy Moeller recovered the ball on the Spartans' 16-yard line, and Jim Harbaugh threw a touchdown pass to tight end Eric Kattus. Less than two minutes after Michigan's first score, Dieter Heren blocked a Greg Montgomery punt, and Ed Hood recovered the ball in the end zone for Michigan's second touchdown. Harbaugh completed 13 of 23 passes, threw two touchdown passes to Kattus and gave up three interceptions. Jamie Morris rushed for 84 yards on 19 carries. Mike Gillette also kicked a field goal. On defense, Michigan held Lorenzo White (who set a Big Ten record with 2,066 yards in 1985) to a season-low 47 yards on 18 carries. The Wolverines' defense also sacked Bobby McAllister three times, intercepted him once, and held him to 83 passing yards.^[7]

Illinois[edit]

At Purdue[edit]

• Lorenzo White 53 Rush, 244 Yds

Minnesota[edit]

At Indiana[edit]

• Lorenzo White 25 Rush, 286 Yds, 2 TD (played just over a half)

Northwestern[edit]

At Wisconsin[edit]

• Lorenzo White 42 Rush, 223 Yds (set single season Big Ten rushing record)

^[8]

Hall of Fame Classic[edit]

^[9]

Personnel[edit]

References[edit]