American college football season
The 2002 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season . The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan . This was the third and final season for head coach Bobby Williams , who was replaced after the Michigan game by interim head coach Morris Watts .
The Spartans were coming off a 7–5 season which ended with a victory in the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic over the Fresno State Bulldogs . However, the 2002 season turned out to be very different. The Spartans finished 4–8, their worst record since 1994, and second losing season out of the previous three. Michigan State also finished 2–6 in the Big Ten, their 3rd straight losing season in Big Ten play.
Schedule Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance August 31 3:30 p.m. Eastern Michigan * No. 18 ESPN+ W 56–773,927
September 7 1:05 p.m. Rice * No. 15 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI W 27–1074,014
September 14 12:00 p.m. California * No. 15 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN2 L 22–4672,634
September 21 3:30 p.m. No. 12 Notre Dame * ABC L 17–2175,182
September 28 1:05 p.m. Northwestern Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI W 39–2474,215
October 12 12:00 p.m. at No. 17 Iowa ESPN L 16–4470,397
October 19 12:00 p.m. Minnesota Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN+ L 7–2874,232
October 26 7:00 p.m. Wisconsin Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN2 L 24–4274,504
November 2 12:00 p.m. at No. 15 Michigan ESPN2 L 3–49111,542
November 9 1:00 p.m. at Indiana W 56–2129,253
November 16 12:00 p.m. Purdue Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN+ L 42–4572,828
November 23 3:30 p.m. at No. 15 Penn State ABC L 7–61108,755
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
Roster
2002 Michigan State Spartans football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Morris Watts – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach
Reggie Mitchell – Running backs coach/assistant head coach
Don Treadwell – Wide receivers coach
Pat Perles – Tight ends coach
Jeff Stoutland – Offensive line coach
Brad Miller – Defensive coordinator
Brad Lawing – Defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator
Danny Crossman – Special teams coordinator/linebackers coach
Troy Douglas – Defensive backs coach
Matt House – Graduate Assistant
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster Last update: 2020-12-31
Rankings Ranking movementsLegend: ██ 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 Final AP 18 18 15 15 RV RV RV RV — — — — — — — — Coaches 18 17 15 15 RV — — — — — — — — — — — Harris Not released — — — — — — — — Not released BCS Not released — — — — — — — Not released
Draft picks
References
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold