# 1998 Michigan State Spartans football team

The 1998 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University in the Big Ten Conference during the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Head coach Nick Saban was in his fourth season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans went 6–6 overall and 4–4 in conference play. The team did not play a bowl game following the 1998 regular season.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 4:00 p.m. | No. 15 Colorado State* | No. 23 | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI (BCA Classic) | ESPN2 | L 16–23 | 68,624 |
| September 5 | 3:30 p.m. | at Oregon* | No. 23 | Autzen StadiumEugene, OR | ABC | L 14–48 | 43,634 |
| September 12 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 10 Notre Dame* | | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI (Megaphone Trophy) | ABC | W 45–23 | 74,267 |
| September 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at Michigan | | Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy) | ABC | L 17–29 | 111,238 |
| October 3 | 1:00 p.m. | Central Michigan* | | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI | | W 38–7 | 70,905 |
| October 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Indiana | | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI (Old Brass Spittoon) | ESPN | W 38–31 $^{2OT}$ | 73,425 |
| October 24 | 12:00 p.m. | at Minnesota | | Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeMinneapolis, MN | ESPN+ | L 18–19 | 41,327 |
| October 31 | 12:00 p.m. | Northwestern | | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI | ESPN2 | W 29–5 | 67,473 |
| November 7 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 1 Ohio State | | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH | ABC | W 28–24 | 93,595 |
| November 14 | 12:00 p.m. | Purdue | | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI | ESPN+ | L 24–25 | 69,010 |
| November 21 | 1:00 p.m. | Illinois | | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI | | W 41–9 | 67,285 |
| November 28 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 23 Penn State | | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA (Land Grant Trophy) | ABC | L 28–51 | 96,358 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP / Coaches Polls released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches Poll | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Coaching staff

* Nick Saban – Head Coach
* Gary Tranquill – Offensive Coordinator/quarterbacks coach
* Bobby Williams – Running backs coach
* Charlie Baggett – Wide receivers coach
* Mike Cummings – Tight ends coach/special teams coordinator
* Pat Ruel – Offensive line coach
* Chris Cosh – Defensive Coordinator
* Todd Grantham – Defensive line coach
* Bill Sheridan – Linebackers coach
* Mark Dantonio – Defensive backs coach

## 1999 NFL draft

The following players were selected in the 1999 NFL draft.
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL team |
| Dimitrius Underwood | 1 | 29 | Defensive End | Minnesota Vikings |
| Sedrick Irvin | 4 | 103 | Running Back | Detroit Lions |