Michigan State Spartans Football

Michigan State University's Spartans college football team has played in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Big Ten Conference since 1953. The team immediately won a conference title and the Rose Bowl in its first Big Ten season, and has won or shared six national championships and nine conference titles in all.

Michigan State will play the Georgia Bulldogs in the Capital One Bowl on January 1, 2009.ESPN.com: 2008-09 Bowl Schedule Following the Spartans 9-3 record in 2008, the team revised head coach Mark Dantonio's contract, increasing it be over $500,000 a year and adding a $2 million bonus should he stay through 2016.ESPN.com: Michigan State Reworks Dantonio's Deal

Michigan State is known as a breeding ground for future National Football League standouts. Former Spartans who have excelled in the pros include receivers Gene Washington (1964-1966) and Andre Rison (1985-1988), quarterback Earl Morrall (1953-1955), defensive lineman (and eventual actor) Bubba Smith (1964-1966), and the NFL's all-time leading scorer, kicker Morten Andersen (1978-1981).

• Flozell Adams (Offensive Tackle)
• Chris Baker (Tight End)
• Ervin Baldwin (Defensive End)
• Plaxico Burress (Wide Receiver)
• Kyle Cook (Center)
• Kellen Davis (Tight End)
• T.J. Duckett (Running Back)
• Brandon Fields (Punter)
• David Herron (Linebacker)
• Renaldo Hill (Safety)
• Mark Ingram (Wide receiver)
• Derrick Mason (Wide Receiver)
• Brandon McKinney (Defensive Tackle)
• Chris Morris (Center)
• Muhsin Muhammad (Wide Receiver)
• Domata Peko (Defensive Tackle)
• Julian Peterson (Linebacker)
• Clifton Ryan (Defensive Lineman)
• Josh Shaw (Defensive Tackle)
• Eric Smith (Safety)
• Robaire Smith (Defensive End)
• Drew Stanton (Quarterback)
• Devin Thomas (Wide Receiver)
• Kevin Vickerson (Defensive Tackle)