1966 Michigan State Spartans football team

1966 Michigan State Spartans football
1966 Michigan State Spartans football
National champion (Football Research); Co-national champion (Helms, NFF, Poling); Big Ten champion
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 2
AP	No. 2
Record	9–0–1 (7–0 Big Ten)
Head coach	Duffy Daugherty (13th season);
MVP	George Webster
Captain	Clinton Jones, George Webster
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium
	Seasons ← 1965 1967 →

1966 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e	Conf.					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 2 Michigan State $	7	–	0	–	0	9	–	0	–	1
No. 7 Purdue	6	–	1	–	0	9	–	2	–	0
Michigan	4	–	3	–	0	6	–	4	–	0
Illinois	4	–	3	–	0	4	–	6	–	0
Minnesota	3	–	3	–	1	4	–	5	–	1
Ohio State	3	–	4	–	0	4	–	5	–	0
Northwestern	2	–	4	–	1	3	–	6	–	1
Wisconsin	2	–	4	–	1	3	–	6	–	1
Indiana	1	–	5	–	1	1	–	8	–	1
Iowa	1	–	6	–	0	2	–	8	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1966 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the 1966 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 13th season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled a 9–0–1 record (7–0 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 293 to 99, won the Big Ten championship, and were ranked No. 2 in the final AP and UPI polls. They played to a 10–10 tie against No. 1 Notre Dame. While the AP and UPI polls recognized Notre Dame as national champion, the College Football Researchers Association selected Michigan State as national champion, and the Helms Athletic Foundation, National Football Foundation (NFF), and Poling System selected the Irish and Spartans as co-national champions.^[1]^: 113^[2]

The Spartans gained an average of 230.5 rushing yards and 124.4 passing yards per game, while holding opponents to an average of 51.4 rushing yards and 157.9 passing yards. The team's individual statistical leaders included halfback Clinton Jones (784 rushing yards), end Gene Washington (27 receptions for 677 yards), and quarterback Jimmy Raye (1,100 passing yards).^[3]

Three Spartans were consensus first-team All-Americans: Jones; defensive end Bubba Smith; and defensive back George Webster. End Gene Washinton and fullback Bob Apisa also received first-team All-America honors. Smith, Webster, and Washington were later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Four Spartans were among the first eight players picked in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft: Smith (first); Jones (second); Webster (fifth); and Washington (eighth).

Big Ten rules barred the same team from representing the conference in the Rose Bowl in consecutive seasons and barred teams from appearing in any bowl game other than the Rose Bowl. Accordingly, Michigan State was ineligible to play in the Rose Bowl or any other bowl game. The former rule was rescinded in 1972 and the latter in 1975.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 17	NC State*	No. 2	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 28–10	55,418	^[4]^[5]
September 24	Penn State*	No. 1	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry)	W 42–8	65,763	^[6]
October 1	at Illinois	No. 1	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	W 26–10	57,747	^[7]
October 8	Michigan	No. 1	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry)	W 20–7	78,833	^[8]
October 15	at Ohio State	No. 1	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	W 11–8	84,282	^[9]
October 22	No. 9 Purdue	No. 2	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 41–20	78,004	^[10]
October 29	at Northwestern	No. 2	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL	W 22–0	44,304	^[11]
November 5	Iowa	No. 2	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 56–7	68,711	^[12]
November 12	at Indiana	No. 2	Seventeenth Street Stadium Bloomington, IN (rivalry)	W 37–19	30,096	^[13]
November 19	No. 1 Notre Dame*	No. 2	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (rivalry)	T 10–10	80,011	^[14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[15]

Rankings

Game summaries

NC State

Penn State

At Illinois

Michigan

Michigan at Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolverines	0	0	0	7	7
• No. 1 Spartans	7	0	0	13	20

Date: October 8
Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
Game attendance: 78,833

^[16]

At Ohio State

Michigan State at Ohio State

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Spartans	0	0	3	8	11
Buckeyes	2	0	0	6	8

Date: October 15
Location: Ohio Stadium
Game attendance: 84,282
Game weather: Rain, wind SE 20-35, 69 °F (21 °C)

Purdue

Purdue at Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 9 Boilermakers	0	0	7	13	20
• No. 2 Spartans	7	14	14	6	41

Date: October 22
Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
Game attendance: 70,014
TV announcers: ABC

^[17]

At Northwestern

Iowa

At Indiana

Notre Dame

Notre Dame at Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
No.1 Fighting Irish	0	7	0	3	10
No. 2 Spartans	0	10	0	0	10

Date: November 19
Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
TV announcers (ABC): Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson

The 1966 Michigan State vs. Notre Dame football game ("The Game of the Century") remains one of the greatest, and most controversial, games in college football history.^[18] The game was played in Michigan State's Spartan Stadium on November 19, 1966. Michigan State entered the contest 9–0 and ranked No. 2, while Notre Dame entered the contest 8–0 and ranked No. 1. Notre Dame elected not to try to score on its final series, thus the game ended in a 10–10 tie. Notre Dame retained its No. 1 ranking in the AP and UPI polls.^[19]

Personnel

1966 Michigan State Spartans football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
FB	`45`	Robert Apisa	Jr
RB		Rich Berlinski
WR		Al Brenner
RB	`25`	Regis Cavender	So
OL		Tony Conti
QB		Bill Feraco
WR		Maurice Haynes
WR		Ken Heft
RB	`26`	Clinton Jones	Sr
RB	`34`	Dwight Lee	Jr
OL		Mitchell Pruiett
OT	`57`	Joe Przybycki	Jr
OL		Ron Ranieri
QB	`16`	James Raye	Jr
OL		Lawrence Smith
OL		Dave Techlin
WR	`84`	Gene Washington	Sr
RB		Frank Waters
QB		Charlie Wedemeyer
OL		Jerry West

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB		Sterling Armstrong
DL	`61`	Charles Bailey	So
DL		George Chatlos
DL	`55`	Pat Gallinagh
DB		Drake Garrett
LB		Ron Goovert
DL		Phil Hoag
DB		Jerry Jones
DL		Nick Jordan
S		Jess Phillips	Jr
DE		Jeff Richardson	Sr
DL	`95`	Bubba Smith	Sr
DB	`20`	James Summers	Sr
DB	`41`	Charlie Thornhill	Sr
LB	`90`	George Webster	Sr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`42`	Dick Kenney	Sr

Head coach

Duffy Daugherty

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Team members in the NFL

In the 1967 NFL/AFL draft, four of the top eight picks in the draft were players from Michigan State.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL franchise
Bubba Smith	Defensive end	1	1	Baltimore Colts
Clinton Jones	Running back	1	2	Minnesota Vikings
George Webster	Linebacker	1	5	Houston Oilers
Gene Washington	Wide receiver	1	8	Minnesota Vikings
Jeff Richardson	Defensive end	6	146	New York Jets
James Summers	Defensive back	9	217	Denver Broncos
Charlie Thornhill	Defensive back	9	232	Boston Patriots
Dick Kenney	Kicker	14	358	Philadelphia Eagles

^[20]

References

^ 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
^ "Past Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I FBS) National Champions (formerly called Division I-A)". ncaa.org. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
^ "1966 Michigan State Spartans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
^ Bob Hoerner (September 18, 1966). "Spartans Answer Duffy's Questions: Raye, Apisa, Both Lines Play Well in 28-10 Triumph". Lansing State Journal. p. H1 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Jones, Apisa, Raye spark MSU, 28–10". Battle Creek Enquirer. September 18, 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Bob Hoerner (September 25, 1966). "Spartans Give Penn State Grid Lesson". Lansing State Journal. pp. F1, F3 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Roy Damer (October 2, 1966). "Battling Illini Beaten: Michigan State Thwarts Upset Bid, 26-10". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, 3 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
^ Bob Hoerner (October 9, 1966). "Spartans Find Enough Finesse to Win: Michigan Gives State Battle Before Yielding, 20 to 7". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G4 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Bob Hoerner (October 16, 1966). "Spartans Survive Buckeye Upset Scare". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G2 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Bob Hoerner (October 23, 1966). "Spartans' Balance Overcomes Griese: State Runs, Passes Over Purdue, 41-20". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G2 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Bob Hoerner (October 30, 1966). "State Finds New Weapon In Win Over Wildcats: Spartans Control Football". Lansing State Journal. pp. E1, E3 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Bob Hoerner (November 6, 1966). "Clinton Jones Zooms In State's 56-7 Romp: Halfback's 268 Yards Sets Big 10 Mark". Lansing State Journal. pp. F1, F2 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Dave Overpeck (November 13, 1966). "MSU Wins Big 10; Raps I.U., 37-19". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 1, 4 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
^ Bob Hoerner (November 20, 1966). "Deadlock Fails to Settle National Title: No. ? Irish, No. ? State Tie, 10-10". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G2 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Football Statistics Summary for 1966". msuspartans.com. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
^ Jack Saylor (October 9, 1966). "Spartans Explode on U-M: Finish Strong in 20–7 Romp". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 7C – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Spartans Win Easily Over Purdue, 41-20." Palm Beach Post. 1966 Oct 23.
^ Celzic, Mike (1992). The Biggest Game of Them All: Notre Dame, Michigan State and the Fall of 1966. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-75817-2.
^ Jenkins, Dan (November 28, 1966). "An Upside-Down Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
^ "1967 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

[2018ncaabook-1] 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.

[FBS_Past_National_Champions-2] "Past Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I FBS) National Champions (formerly called Division I-A)". ncaa.org. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2009.

[3] "1966 Michigan State Spartans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 6, 2025.

[4] Bob Hoerner (September 18, 1966). "Spartans Answer Duffy's Questions: Raye, Apisa, Both Lines Play Well in 28-10 Triumph". Lansing State Journal. p. H1 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] "Jones, Apisa, Raye spark MSU, 28–10". Battle Creek Enquirer. September 18, 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] Bob Hoerner (September 25, 1966). "Spartans Give Penn State Grid Lesson". Lansing State Journal. pp. F1, F3 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] Roy Damer (October 2, 1966). "Battling Illini Beaten: Michigan State Thwarts Upset Bid, 26-10". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, 3 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.

[8] Bob Hoerner (October 9, 1966). "Spartans Find Enough Finesse to Win: Michigan Gives State Battle Before Yielding, 20 to 7". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G4 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] Bob Hoerner (October 16, 1966). "Spartans Survive Buckeye Upset Scare". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G2 – via Newspapers.com.

[10] Bob Hoerner (October 23, 1966). "Spartans' Balance Overcomes Griese: State Runs, Passes Over Purdue, 41-20". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G2 – via Newspapers.com.

[11] Bob Hoerner (October 30, 1966). "State Finds New Weapon In Win Over Wildcats: Spartans Control Football". Lansing State Journal. pp. E1, E3 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] Bob Hoerner (November 6, 1966). "Clinton Jones Zooms In State's 56-7 Romp: Halfback's 268 Yards Sets Big 10 Mark". Lansing State Journal. pp. F1, F2 – via Newspapers.com.

[13] Dave Overpeck (November 13, 1966). "MSU Wins Big 10; Raps I.U., 37-19". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 1, 4 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.

[14] Bob Hoerner (November 20, 1966). "Deadlock Fails to Settle National Title: No. ? Irish, No. ? State Tie, 10-10". Lansing State Journal. pp. G1, G2 – via Newspapers.com.

[Schedule-15] "Football Statistics Summary for 1966". msuspartans.com. Retrieved August 21, 2013.

[16] Jack Saylor (October 9, 1966). "Spartans Explode on U-M: Finish Strong in 20–7 Romp". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1C, 7C – via Newspapers.com.

[17] "Spartans Win Easily Over Purdue, 41-20." Palm Beach Post. 1966 Oct 23.

[18] Celzic, Mike (1992). The Biggest Game of Them All: Notre Dame, Michigan State and the Fall of 1966. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-75817-2.

[19] Jenkins, Dan (November 28, 1966). "An Upside-Down Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 17, 2019.

[20] "1967 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

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v t e Michigan State Spartans football
Venues	Old College Field (1902–1922) Spartan Stadium (1923–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Indiana Michigan Notre Dame Penn State
Culture & lore	Sparty "Victory for MSU" Marching band Zeke the Wonder Dog 1966 "Game of the Century" 2001 Michigan game 2006 Northwestern game Trouble With the Snap
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold

v t e College football national champions (poll era)
1936–1949	1936: Minnesota (AP) 1937: Pittsburgh 1938: TCU 1939: Texas A&M 1940: Minnesota 1941: Minnesota 1942: Ohio State 1943: Notre Dame 1944: Army 1945: Army (AP) / Oklahoma A&M (AFCA) 1946: Notre Dame 1947: Notre Dame 1948: Michigan 1949: Notre Dame
1950s	1950: Oklahoma (AP, Coaches) 1951: Tennessee 1952: Michigan State 1953: Maryland 1954: Ohio State (AP) / UCLA (FWAA, Coaches) 1955: Oklahoma 1956: Oklahoma 1957: Auburn (AP) / Ohio State (Coaches, FWAA) 1958: LSU (AP, Coaches) / Iowa (FWAA) 1959: Syracuse (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF)
1960s	1960: Minnesota (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ole Miss (FWAA) 1961: Alabama (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ohio State (FWAA) 1962: USC 1963: Texas 1964: Alabama (AP, Coaches) / Arkansas (FWAA) / Notre Dame (NFF) 1965: Alabama (AP, FWAA) / Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF) 1966: Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) / Michigan State (NFF) 1967: USC 1968: Ohio State 1969: Texas
1970s	1970: Nebraska (AP, FWAA) / Texas (NFF, Coaches) / Ohio State (NFF) 1971: Nebraska 1972: USC 1973: Notre Dame (AP, FWAA, NFF) / Alabama (Coaches) 1974: Oklahoma (AP) / USC (FWAA, NFF, Coaches) 1975: Oklahoma 1976: Pittsburgh 1977: Notre Dame 1978: Alabama (AP, FWAA, NFF) / USC (Coaches) 1979: Alabama
1980–1991	1980: Georgia 1981: Clemson 1982: Penn State 1983: Miami (FL) 1984: BYU 1985: Oklahoma 1986: Penn State 1987: Miami (FL) 1988: Notre Dame 1989: Miami (FL) 1990: Colorado (AP, FWAA, NFF, USAT/CNN) / Georgia Tech (Coaches) 1991: Miami (FL) (AP) / Washington (Coaches, FWAA, UPI/NFF)

v t e Big Ten Conference football champions
Western Conference	Wisconsin (1896) Wisconsin (1897) Michigan (1898) Chicago (1899) Iowa & Minnesota (1900) Michigan & Wisconsin (1901) Michigan (1902) Michigan, Minnesota, & Northwestern (1903) Michigan & Minnesota (1904) Chicago (1905) Michigan, Minnesota, & Wisconsin (1906) Chicago (1907) Chicago (1908) Minnesota (1909) Illinois & Minnesota (1910) Minnesota (1911) Wisconsin (1912) Chicago (1913) Illinois (1914) Illinois & Minnesota (1915) Ohio State (1916)
Big Ten	Ohio State (1917) Illinois, Michigan, & Purdue (1918) Illinois (1919) Ohio State (1920) Iowa (1921) Chicago, Iowa, & Michigan (1922) Illinois & Michigan (1923) Chicago (1924) Michigan (1925) Michigan & Northwestern (1926) Illinois & Minnesota (1927) Illinois (1928) Purdue (1929) Michigan & Northwestern (1930) Purdue, Michigan & Northwestern (1931) Michigan & Purdue (1932) Michigan & Minnesota (1933) Minnesota (1934) Minnesota & Ohio State (1935) Northwestern (1936) Minnesota (1937) Minnesota (1938) Ohio State (1939) Minnesota (1940) Minnesota (1941) Ohio State (1942) Michigan & Purdue (1943) Ohio State (1944) Indiana (1945)
Big Nine	Illinois (1946) Michigan (1947) Michigan (1948) Michigan & Ohio State (1949)
Big Ten	Michigan (1950) Illinois (1951) Purdue & Wisconsin (1952) Illinois & Michigan State (1953) Ohio State (1954) Ohio State (1955) Iowa (1956) Ohio State (1957) Iowa (1958) Wisconsin (1959) Minnesota & Iowa (1960) Ohio State (1961) Wisconsin (1962) Illinois (1963) Michigan (1964) Michigan State (1965) Michigan State (1966) Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue (1967) Ohio State (1968) Michigan & Ohio State (1969) Ohio State (1970) Michigan (1971) Michigan & Ohio State (1972) Michigan & Ohio State (1973) Michigan & Ohio State (1974) Ohio State (1975) Michigan & Ohio State (1976) Michigan & Ohio State (1977) Michigan & Michigan State (1978) Ohio State (1979) Michigan (1980) Iowa & Ohio State (1981) Michigan (1982) Illinois (1983) Ohio State (1984) Iowa (1985) Michigan & Ohio State (1986) Michigan State (1987) Michigan (1988) Michigan (1989) Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, & Michigan State (1990) Michigan (1991) Michigan (1992) Ohio State & Wisconsin (1993) Penn State (1994) Northwestern (1995) Ohio State & Northwestern (1996) Michigan (1997) Michigan, Ohio State, & Wisconsin (1998) Wisconsin (1999) Michigan, Northwestern, & Purdue (2000) Illinois (2001) Ohio State & Iowa (2002) Michigan (2003) Iowa & Michigan (2004) Ohio State & Penn State (2005) Ohio State (2006) Ohio State (2007) Ohio State & Penn State (2008) Ohio State (2009) Michigan State & Wisconsin (2010) Wisconsin (2011) Wisconsin (2012) Michigan State (2013) Ohio State (2014) Michigan State (2015) Penn State (2016) Ohio State (2017) Ohio State (2018) Ohio State (2019) Ohio State (2020) Michigan (2021) Michigan (2022) Michigan (2023) Oregon (2024)
National championships in bold