The 2022 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans were led by third-year head coach Mel Tucker. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
The Spartans opened the season ranked No. 15 in the AP poll. After winning the first two games of the season, the Spartans lost four consecutive games against Washington, Minnesota, Maryland, and Ohio State. They rebounded with a double-overtime victory over Wisconsin. However, the Spartans lost three of their final five games, including to rival Michigan, to end the season. They finished the season 5–7, 3–6 in Big Ten play to finish in fifth place in the East division. They failed to qualify for a bowl game for the second time in three years.
Previous season
The Spartans finished the 2021 season 11–2, 7–2 in Big Ten play to finish in third place in the East division, and ranked No. 10 in the College Football Playoff. MSU was selected to participate in the Peach Bowl on December 30, the school's first New Year's Six bowl game since 2015. The Spartans defeated Pittsburgh 31–21 in the Peach Bowl.
Running back Kenneth Walker III was a consensus All-American and became the first Spartan to win the Walter Camp and Doak Walker awards. Walker led the Spartans and was second in the country with 1,636 rushing yards. MSU had the nation's worst passing defense, allowing 337.7 yards per game.
On November 24, 2021, the school announced that they had signed Tucker to a 10-year, $95 million contract extension, allegedly all through donor money, amid speculations of Tucker being sought after for other college and NFL coaching positions.
Offseason
2022 NFL draft
Consensus All-American running back Kenneth Walker III, offensive lineman Kevin Jarvis, and wide receiver Jalen Nailor declared for the NFL draft. After breaking its 80-year streak of having players taken in the NFL draft the previous year, four MSU players were drafted in the 2022 NFL draft.
Several other undrafted players signed free agent contracts with NFL teams:
Jacub Panasiuk, defensive end, Washington Commanders
Kevin Jarvis, offensive lineman, Detroit Lions
Coaching changes
On December 4, 2021, cornerbacks coach Travares Tillman took the defensive backs coaching position at his alma mater, Georgia Tech. On December 24, running backs coach William Peagler left MSU to become the tight ends coach at Florida. On January 13, 2022, the school named Effrem Reed. who had previously served as an offensive analyst with the Spartans, the new running backs coach. On January 15, the school officially named Brandon Jordan as a pass rush specialist coach. On January 16, it was announced that defensive line coach Ron Burton was leaving the school after eight years with the Spartans. On February 8, the school named Georgia Tech assistant Marco Coleman the new defensive line coach.
Returning players
Leading receiver Jayden Reed announced he would return for another season at MSU. MSU captain and leading tackler, safety Xavier Henderson, also announced he would return for the 2022 season.
Transfers
Outgoing
Source
Incoming
Source
Recruiting
Personnel
Players
Coaching staff
Schedule
On January 12, the Big Ten released the full, revised schedules for the conference.
Rankings
Game summaries
Western Michigan
In the first game of the season, the Spartans, ranked No. 15 (AP) in the country, faced Western Michigan at Spartan Stadium. The game marked the first time that MSU starting quarterback Payton Thorne would face his father, Jeff Thorne, the new offensive coordinator for the Broncos.