1971 Michigan State Spartans football team

The '''1971 Michigan State Spartans football team''' was an [[American football]] team that represented [[Michigan State University]] as a member of the [[Big Ten Conference]] during the [[1971 Big Ten Conference football season|1971 football season]]. In their 18th year under head coach [[Duffy Daugherty]], the Spartans compiled a 6–5 record (3–4 in conference games), tied for third place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 225 to 169. In three games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 4 [[1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] and No. 2 [[1971 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]] and defeated No. 9 [[1971 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]].{{cite web|title=1971 Michigan State Spartans Roster|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=April 21, 2026|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1971-roster.html}}{{cite web|title=2015 Michigan State Football Media Guide|publisher=Michigan State University|page=146|access-date=July 4, 2016|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-135-186-histor.pdf|archive-date=March 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317023433/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-135-186-histor.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The '''1971 Michigan State Spartans football team''' was an [[American football]] team that represented [[Michigan State University]] as a member of the [[Big Ten Conference]] during the [[1971 Big Ten Conference football season|1971 football season]]. In their 18th year under head coach [[Duffy Daugherty]], the Spartans compiled a 6–5 record (3–4 in conference games), tied for third place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 225 to 169. In three games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 4 [[1971 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] and No. 2 [[1971 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]] and defeated No. 9 [[1971 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]].{{cite web|title=1971 Michigan State Spartans Roster|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=April 21, 2026|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1971-roster.html}}{{cite web|title=2015 Michigan State Football Media Guide|publisher=Michigan State University|page=146|access-date=July 4, 2016|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-135-186-histor.pdf|archive-date=March 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317023433/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-135-186-histor.pdf|url-status=dead}}

On offense, the Spartans gained an average of 232.6 rushing yards and 98.0 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 171.5 rushing yards and 108.1 passing yards per game.

On offense, the Spartans gained an average of 232.6 rushing yards and 98.0 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 171.5 rushing yards and 108.1 passing yards per game. The individual statistical leaders included quarterback [[Mike Rasmussen]] with 642 passing yards, halfback [[Eric Allen (wide receiver)|Eric Allen]] with 1,494 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, and wide receiver [[Billy Joe DuPree]] with 25 receptions and 414 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1971 Michigan State Spartans Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=April 21, 2026|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1971.html}} Allen also led the Big Ten in both rushing yards and touchdowns and was selected as the team's most valuable player.

The team's individual statistical leaders included quarterback [[Mike Rasmussen]] with 642 passing yards, halfback [[Eric Allen (wide receiver)|Eric Allen]] with 1,494 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, and wide receiver [[Billy Joe DuPree]] with 25 receptions and 414 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1971 Michigan State Spartans Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=April 21, 2026|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1971.html}} Allen also led the Big Ten in both rushing yards and touchdowns and was selected as the team's most valuable player.

Four Spartans were selected by either the [[Associated Press]] (AP) or the [[United Press International]] (UPI) as first-team players on the [[1971 All-Big Ten Conference football team]]: Eric Allen at running back (AP-1, UPI-1); offensive guard [[Joe DeLamielleure]] (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive tackle [[Ron Curl]] (AP-1, UPI-1); and defensive back [[Brad Van Pelt]] (AP-1, UPI-1).{{cite news|title=All Big Ten Selected|newspaper=Daily Illini|date=November 24, 1971|url=http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=DIL19711124.1.16&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------#}}{{cite news|title=Unbeaten Michigan Dominate UPI Team Picked by Coaches: Ohio State Places 7 On All-Big Ten Teams|newspaper=The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH|date=November 25, 1971|page=9D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/79039790/?terms=Daigneau%2Bferguson%2Bkingsriter%2B%22united%2Bpress%22}}

Four Spartans were selected by either the [[Associated Press]] (AP) or the [[United Press International]] (UPI) as first-team players on the [[1971 All-Big Ten Conference football team]]: Eric Allen at running back (AP-1, UPI-1); offensive guard [[Joe DeLamielleure]] (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive tackle [[Ron Curl]] (AP-1, UPI-1); and defensive back [[Brad Van Pelt]] (AP-1, UPI-1).{{cite news|title=All Big Ten Selected|newspaper=Daily Illini|date=November 24, 1971|url=http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=DIL19711124.1.16&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------#}}{{cite news|title=Unbeaten Michigan Dominate UPI Team Picked by Coaches: Ohio State Places 7 On All-Big Ten Teams|newspaper=The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH|date=November 25, 1971|page=9D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/79039790/?terms=Daigneau%2Bferguson%2Bkingsriter%2B%22united%2Bpress%22}}