2002 Michigan State Spartans football team

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.

2002 Michigan State Spartans football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	4–8 (2–6 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bobby Williams (3rd season) Morris Watts (interim)
Offensive coordinator	Morris Watts (4th season)
Defensive coordinator	Bill Miller (4th season)
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium (c. 72,027 natural grass)

2002 Big Ten Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 1 Ohio State $#+		8	–	0					14	–	0
No. 8 Iowa %+		8	–	0					11	–	2
No. 9 Michigan		6	–	2					10	–	3
No. 16 Penn State		5	–	3					9	–	4
Purdue		4	–	4					7	–	6
Illinois		4	–	4					5	–	7
Minnesota		3	–	5					8	–	5
Wisconsin		2	–	6					8	–	6
Michigan State		2	–	6					4	–	8
Northwestern		1	–	7					3	–	9
Indiana		1	–	7					3	–	9
# – BCS National Champion $ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative + – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

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	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN+	W 56–7	73,927
September 7	1:05 p.m.	Rice*	No. 15	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI		W 27–10	74,014
September 14	12:00 p.m.	California*	No. 15	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN2	L 22–46	72,634
September 21	3:30 p.m.	No. 12 Notre Dame*		Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Megaphone Trophy)	ABC	L 17–21	75,182
September 28	1:05 p.m.	Northwestern		Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI		W 39–24	74,215
October 12	12:00 p.m.	at No. 17 Iowa		Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	ESPN	L 16–44	70,397
October 19	12:00 p.m.	Minnesota		Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN+	L 7–28	74,232
October 26	7:00 p.m.	Wisconsin		Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN2	L 24–42	74,504
November 2	12:00 p.m.	at No. 15 Michigan		Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy)	ESPN2	L 3–49	111,542
November 9	1:00 p.m.	at Indiana		Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN (Old Brass Spittoon)		W 56–21	29,253
November 16	12:00 p.m.	Purdue		Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN+	L 42–45	72,828
November 23	3:30 p.m.	at No. 15 Penn State		Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (Land Grant Trophy)	ABC	L 7–61	108,755
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings 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 Pos. # Name Class OL 69 Kyle Cook Fr C 51 Chris Morris Fr WR 1 Charles Rogers Jr QB 9 Jeff Smoker Jr QB 5 Drew Stanton Fr G 76 Will Whitticker So	Defense Pos. # Name Class DE 95 Matthias Askew Jr LB 42 Mike Labinjo Jr DE 99 Brandon McKinney Fr LB 55 Matt Ott So DT 97 Kyle Rasmussen Jr DB 36 Eric Smith  Fr LB 44 Ronald Stanley So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 16 Dave Rayner So	Head coach Bobby Williams (fired after Michigan game) Morris Watts – interim head coach (finished last three games) 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 movements
Legend: ██ 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

Main article: 2003 NFL Draft

	Rnd.	Pick No.	NFL team	Player	Pos.	College	Conf.	Notes
	1	2		Charles Rogers	WR