2010 Michigan State Spartans football team
| 2010 Michigan State Spartans football | |
|---|---|
Big Ten co-champion | |
Capital One Bowl, L 7–49 vs. Alabama | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 14 |
| AP | No. 14 |
| Record | 11–2 (7–1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Don Treadwell (4th season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Pat Narduzzi (4th season) |
| Captain | Aaron Bates Kirk Cousins Greg Jones |
| Home stadium | Spartan Stadium (Capacity: 75,005) |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14 Michigan State + | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 Wisconsin $+ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Penn State | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 1 | – | 7 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5 Ohio State† % | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2010 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 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their fourth season under head coach Mark Dantonio, the Spartans compiled an 11–2 record (7–1 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 383 to 290, and tied for the Big Ten championship. They lost to Alabama in the 2011 Capital One Bowl and were ranked No. 14 in the final AP and Coaches Polls.
In the hours following the Spartans' September 18, 2010 victory over Notre Dame, Dantonio suffered a heart attack for which he was hospitalized, and received a coronary stent. His recovery was complicated by the subsequent development of a blood clot in his leg. While he recovered, offensive coordinator Don Treadwell stepped in as acting head coach, leading the Spartans against Northern Colorado and Wisconsin. Dantonio resumed his head coaching duties for the sixth game of the season against Michigan, although he coached that game and the next week's game against Illinois from the press box instead of the head coach's traditional place on the sidelines. He returned to the sidelines for MSU's road win against Northwestern.
The team's statistical leaders included:
- Quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 226 of 338 passes (66.9%) for 2,825 yards, 20 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 150.7 quarterback rating.
- Running back Edwin Baker tallied 1,201 rushing yards on 207 carries for an average of 5.8 yards per carry.
- Wide receiver Mark Dell caught 51 passes for 788 yards.
- Linebacker Greg Jones led the team with 106 tackles, including 49 solo tackles and 57 assists.
- Placekicker Dan Conroy led the team in scoring with 87 points on 45 extra points and 14 field goals.
The following players received first-team honors on the 2010 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Jones (Coaches-1, Media-1); Conroy (Coaches-1, Media-1); punter Asron Bates (Coaches-2, Media-1); and Baker (Media-1).
The team played its home games in Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.