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Michigan State record book

The school’s records in every stat, career, season and game, and its record year by year, as Michigan State’s Wikipedia lists give them from the school’s media guide. Names lead to each player’s page where he has one.

Chasing the record

This season’s players already in the school’s top five, as the lists stood when Wikipedia’s editors last updated them.

Retired numbers

  • Clinton Jones1964–⁠1966, retired 2015, Hall of Fame
  • John Hannahretired 1969
  • Percy Snow1986–⁠1989, retired 2013, Hall of Fame
  • Don Coleman1949–⁠1951, retired 1951, Hall of Fame
  • George Webster1964–⁠1966, retired 1967, Hall of Fame
  • Bubba Smith1964–⁠1966, retired 2006, Hall of Fame

Passing

Passing yards

Career

  1. 9,194Connor Cook 2012–⁠15
  2. 9,131Kirk Cousins 2008–⁠11
  3. 8,932Jeff Smoker 2000–⁠03
  4. 8,293Brian Lewerke 2016–⁠19
  5. 6,524Drew Stanton 2003–⁠06

Game

  1. 445Brian Lewerke 2017 vs. Northwestern
  2. 400Bill Burke 1999 vs. Michigan
  3. 400Brian Lewerke 2017 vs. Penn State
  4. 398Connor Cook 2015 vs. Indiana
  5. 376Jeff Smoker 2001 vs. Fresno State

Passing touchdowns

Career

  1. 71Connor Cook 2012–⁠15
  2. 66Kirk Cousins 2008–⁠11
  3. 61Jeff Smoker 2000–⁠03
  4. 49Payton Thorne 2020–⁠22
  5. 47Brian Lewerke 2016–⁠19

Game

  1. 5Drew Stanton 2005 vs. Illinois
  2. 4Brian Lewerke 2017 vs. Northwestern
  3. 4Mike Rasmussen 1970 vs. Indiana
  4. 4Ed Smith 1978 vs. Wisconsin
  5. 4Bill Burke 1998 vs. Central Michigan

Rushing

Rushing yards

Career

  1. 4,887Lorenzo White 1984–⁠87
  2. 4,398Javon Ringer 2005–⁠08
  3. 4,212Tico Duckett 1989–⁠92
  4. 3,749Blake Ezor 1986–⁠89
  5. 3,504Sedrick Irvin 1996–⁠98

Game

  1. 350Eric Allen 1971 vs. Purdue
  2. 292Lorenzo White 1987 vs. Indiana
  3. 286Lorenzo White 1985 vs. Indiana
  4. 282Javon Ringer 2008 vs. Florida Atlantic
  5. 268Clinton Jones 1966 vs. Iowa

Rushing touchdowns

Career

  1. 43Lorenzo White 1984–⁠87
  2. 40Jeremy Langford 2012–⁠14
  3. 39Jehuu Caulcrick 2004–⁠07
  4. 35Sedrick Irvin 1996–⁠98
  5. 34Javon Ringer 2005–⁠08

Game

  1. 6Blake Ezor 1989 vs. Northwestern
  2. 5Javon Ringer 2008 vs. Eastern Michigan
  3. 5Kenneth Walker III 2021 vs. Michigan

Receiving

Receptions

Career

  1. 218B.J. Cunningham 2008–⁠11
  2. 165Aaron Burbridge 2012–⁠15
  3. 150Darrell Stewart Jr. 2016–⁠19
  4. 149Tony Lippett 2011–⁠14
  5. 148Matt Trannon 2003–⁠06

Game

  1. 14Matt Trannon 2006 vs. Eastern Michigan
  2. 13Devin Thomas 2007 vs. Indiana
  3. 13Plaxico Burress 2000 vs. Florida
  4. 12Felton Davis III 2017 vs. Penn State
  5. 12B.J. Cunningham 2011 vs. Notre Dame

Receiving yards

Career

  1. 3,086B.J. Cunningham 2008–⁠11
  2. 2,992Andre Rison 1985–⁠88
  3. 2,821Charles Rogers 2001–⁠02
  4. 2,347Kirk Gibson 1975–⁠78
  5. 2,247Tony Lippett 2011–⁠14

Game

  1. 270Charles Rogers 2001 vs. Fresno State
  2. 255Plaxico Burress 1999 vs. Michigan
  3. 252Andre Rison 1989 vs. Georgia
  4. 221Jalen Nailor 2021 vs. Rutgers
  5. 206Charles Rogers 2001 vs. Wisconsin

Receiving touchdowns

Career

  1. 27Charles Rogers 2001–⁠02
  2. 25B.J. Cunningham 2008–⁠11
  3. 24Kirk Gibson 1975–⁠78
  4. 21Josiah Price 2013–⁠16
  5. 20Plaxico Burress 1998–⁠99

Total offense

Total offense yards

Career

  1. 9,403Connor Cook 2012–⁠15
  2. 9,004Kirk Cousins 2008–⁠11
  3. 8,714Jeff Smoker 2000–⁠03
  4. 8,036Drew Stanton 2003–⁠06
  5. 6,771Payton Thorne 2020–⁠22

Season

  1. 3,421Payton Thorne 2021
  2. 3,415Drew Stanton 2005
  3. 3,352Brian Lewerke 2017
  4. 3,294Connor Cook 2014
  5. 3,279Jeff Smoker 2003

Game

  1. 475Brian Lewerke 2017 vs. Northwestern
  2. 425Brian Lewerke 2017 vs. Penn State
  3. 416Connor Cook 2015 vs. Indiana
  4. 410Drew Stanton 2004 vs. Minnesota
  5. 406Drew Stanton 2004 vs. Hawaii

Touchdowns responsible for

Career

  1. 74Connor Cook 2012–⁠15
  2. 68Jeff Smoker 2000–⁠03
  3. 67Kirk Cousins 2008–⁠11
  4. 57Drew Stanton 2003–⁠06
  5. 55Payton Thorne 2020–⁠22

Season

  1. 31Payton Thorne 2021
  2. 26Drew Stanton 2005
  3. 26Connor Cook 2014
  4. 25Kirk Cousins 2011
  5. 25Brian Lewerke 2017

Defense

Interceptions

Career

  1. 20Lynn Chandnois 1946–⁠49
  2. 18Todd Krumm 1984–⁠87
  3. 16Phil Parker 1982–⁠85
  4. 14Kurt Larson 1985–⁠88
  5. 14John Miller 1985–⁠88

Game

  1. 4John Miller 1987 vs. Michigan

Tackles

Career

  1. 541Dan Bass 1976–⁠79
  2. 473Percy Snow 1986–⁠89
  3. 465Greg Jones 2007–⁠10
  4. 420Ike Reese 1994–⁠97
  5. 395Josh Thornhill 1998–⁠01

Game

  1. 32Dan Bass 1979 vs. Ohio State
  2. 28Don Law 1969 vs. Ohio State
  3. 24Dan Bass 1979 vs. Notre Dame
  4. 23Percy Snow 1989 vs. Illinois
  5. 21Ty Hallock 1992 vs. Minnesota

Sacks

Career

  1. 33.0Larry Bethea 1975–⁠77
  2. 26.0Shilique Calhoun 2012–⁠15
  3. 26.0Kenny Willekes 2017–⁠19
  4. 25.0Julian Peterson 1998–⁠99
  5. 24.0Travis Davis 1986–⁠89

Kicking

Field goals made

Career

  1. 76Matt Coghlin 2017–⁠21
  2. 71Brett Swenson 2006–⁠09
  3. 62Dave Rayner 2001–⁠04
  4. 57John Langeloh 1987–⁠90
  5. 56Michael Geiger 2013–⁠16

Season

  1. 23Dan Conroy 2012
  2. 22Paul Edinger 1998
  3. 22Dave Rayner 2003
  4. 22Dave Rayner 2004
  5. 22Brett Swenson 2008

Game

  1. 6Jonathan Kim 2024 vs. Iowa
  2. 5John Langeloh 1988 vs. Wisconsin
  3. 5Paul Edinger 1998 vs. Northwestern
  4. 5Paul Edinger 1998 vs. Ohio State
  5. 5Liam Boyd 2026 vs. Toledo

Field goal percentage

Career

  1. 82.1%Jonathan Kim 2023–⁠24
  2. 79.3%Paul Edinger 1996–⁠99
  3. 78.0%Brett Swenson 2006–⁠09
  4. 77.5%Dan Conroy 2009–⁠12
  5. 75.0%Martin Connington 2025

Season

  1. 93.8%Michael Geiger 2013
  2. 90.5%Jonathan Kim 2024
  3. 86.4%Brett Swenson 2009
  4. 84.6%Paul Edinger 1998
  5. 81.8%Matt Coghlin 2018

Scoring

Total points

Career

  1. 382Matt Coghlin 2017–⁠21
  2. 377Brett Swenson 2006–⁠09
  3. 357Michael Geiger 2013–⁠16
  4. 334Dave Rayner 2001–⁠04
  5. 308John Langeloh 1987–⁠90

Game

  1. 36Blake Ezor 1989 vs. Northwestern
  2. 30Javon Ringer 2008 vs. Eastern Michigan
  3. 30Kenneth Walker III 2021 vs. Michigan
  4. 26Scott Greene 1995 vs. Illinois
  5. 2418 times 2026 vs. Most recent: Jaziun Patterson, vs. Illinois

Total touchdowns

Career

  1. 43Lorenzo White 1984–⁠87
  2. 42Sedrick Irvin 1996–⁠98
  3. 42Jeremy Langford 2011–⁠14
  4. 40Jehuu Caulcrick 2004–⁠07
  5. 35Javon Ringer 2005–⁠08

Season

  1. 22Javon Ringer 2008
  2. 22Jeremy Langford 2014
  3. 21Jehuu Caulcrick 2007
  4. 19Blake Ezor 1989
  5. 19Jeremy Langford 2013

Game

  1. 6Blake Ezor 1989 vs. Northwestern
  2. 5Javon Ringer 2008 vs. Eastern Michigan
  3. 5Kenneth Walker III 2021 vs. Michigan
  4. 420 times 2026 vs. Most recent:Jaziun Patterson, vs. Illinois

Season by season

129 seasons; 23 differ from our games on file (marked)
SeasonCoachRecordConferenceBowlAP
2025Jonathan Smith4–⁠81–⁠8, T–16th
2024Jonathan Smith0–⁠7 (ours 5–⁠7)0–⁠6, T–12th
2023Mel Tucker0–⁠8 (ours 4–⁠8)0–⁠7, 6th (East)
2022Mel Tucker0–⁠7 (ours 5–⁠7)0–⁠6, 5th (East)
2021Mel Tucker11–⁠27–⁠2, 3rd (East)Peach W9
2020Mel Tucker2–⁠52–⁠5, 7th (East)
2019Mark Dantonio7–⁠64–⁠5, 5th (East)Pinstripe W
2018Mark Dantonio7–⁠65–⁠4, 4th (East)Redbox L
2017Mark Dantonio10–⁠37–⁠2, T–2nd (East)Holiday W15
2016Mark Dantonio3–⁠91–⁠8, 6th (East)
2015Mark Dantonio12–⁠27–⁠1, T–1st (East), conference championsCotton (CFP Semifinal) L6
2014Mark Dantonio11–⁠27–⁠1, 2nd (East)Cotton W5
2013Mark Dantonio13–⁠18–⁠0, 1st (Legends), conference championsRose W3
2012Mark Dantonio7–⁠63–⁠5, 4th (Legends)Buffalo Wild Wings W
2011Mark Dantonio11–⁠37–⁠1, 1st (Legends), division championsOutback W11
2010Mark Dantonio11–⁠27–⁠1, T–1st, conference championsCapital One L14
2009Mark Dantonio6–⁠74–⁠4, T–6thAlamo L
2008Mark Dantonio9–⁠46–⁠2, 3rdCapital One L24
2007Mark Dantonio7–⁠63–⁠5, T–7thChamps Sports L
2006John L. Smith4–⁠81–⁠7, T–10th
2005John L. Smith5–⁠62–⁠6, 9th
2004John L. Smith5–⁠74–⁠4, T–5th
2003John L. Smith8–⁠55–⁠3, T–4thAlamo L
2002Bobby Williams4–⁠82–⁠6, T–8th
2001Bobby Williams7–⁠53–⁠5, T–8thSilicon Valley Classic W
2000Bobby Williams5–⁠62–⁠6, T–9th
1999Nick Saban10–⁠26–⁠2, T–2ndCitrus W7
1998Nick Saban6–⁠64–⁠4, 6th
1997Nick Saban7–⁠54–⁠4, T–6thAloha L
1996Nick Saban6–⁠65–⁠3, T–5thSun L
1995Nick Saban6–⁠5–⁠14–⁠3–⁠1, 5thIndependence L
1994George Perles5–⁠64–⁠4, T–4th
1993George Perles6–⁠64–⁠4, 7thLiberty L
1992George Perles5–⁠65–⁠3, 3rd
1991George Perles3–⁠83–⁠5, T–6th
1990George Perles8–⁠3–⁠16–⁠2, T–1st, conference championsJohn Hancock W16
1989George Perles8–⁠46–⁠2, T–3rdAloha W16
1988George Perles6–⁠5–⁠16–⁠1–⁠1, 2ndGator L
1987George Perles9–⁠2–⁠17–⁠0–⁠1, 1st, conference championsRose W8
1986George Perles6–⁠54–⁠4, T–5th
1985George Perles7–⁠55–⁠3, T–4thHall of Fame Classic L
1984George Perles6–⁠65–⁠4, T–6thCherry L
1983George Perles4–⁠6–⁠12–⁠6–⁠1, 7th
1982Muddy Waters2–⁠92–⁠7, T–8th
1981Muddy Waters5–⁠64–⁠5, T–6th
1980Muddy Waters3–⁠82–⁠6, 9th
1979Darryl Rogers5–⁠63–⁠5, T–7th
1978Darryl Rogers8–⁠37–⁠1, T–1st, conference champions12
1977Darryl Rogers7–⁠3–⁠16–⁠1–⁠1, 3rd
1976Darryl Rogers4–⁠6–⁠13–⁠5, T–7th
1975Denny Stolz7–⁠44–⁠4, T–3rd
1974Denny Stolz7–⁠3–⁠16–⁠1–⁠1, 3rd12
1973Denny Stolz5–⁠64–⁠4, T–4th
1972Duffy Daugherty5–⁠5–⁠15–⁠2–⁠1, 4th
1971Duffy Daugherty6–⁠55–⁠3, T–3rd
1970Duffy Daugherty4–⁠63–⁠4, T–5th
1969Duffy Daugherty4–⁠62–⁠5, 9th
1968Duffy Daugherty5–⁠52–⁠5, 7th
1967Duffy Daugherty3–⁠73–⁠4, T–5th
1966Duffy Daugherty9–⁠0–⁠17–⁠0, 1st, national champions2
1965Duffy Daugherty10–⁠17–⁠0, 1st, national championsRose L2
1964Duffy Daugherty4–⁠53–⁠3, 6th
1963Duffy Daugherty6–⁠2–⁠14–⁠1–⁠1, T–2nd9
1962Duffy Daugherty5–⁠43–⁠3, T–5th
1961Duffy Daugherty7–⁠25–⁠2, 3rd8
1960Duffy Daugherty6–⁠2–⁠14–⁠2, 4th15
1959Duffy Daugherty5–⁠44–⁠2, 2nd
1958Duffy Daugherty3–⁠5–⁠10–⁠5–⁠1, 10th
1957Duffy Daugherty8–⁠15–⁠1, 2nd, national champions3
1956Duffy Daugherty7–⁠24–⁠2, T–4th9
1955Duffy Daugherty9–⁠15–⁠1, 2nd, national championsRose W2
1954Duffy Daugherty3–⁠61–⁠5, T–8th
1953Biggie Munn9–⁠15–⁠1, T–1st, conference championsRose W3
1952Biggie Munn9–⁠0, national champions1
1951Biggie Munn9–⁠0, national champions2
1950Biggie Munn8–⁠18
1949Biggie Munn6–⁠319
1948Biggie Munn6–⁠2–⁠214
1947Biggie Munn7–⁠2
1946Charlie Bachman5–⁠5
1945Charlie Bachman5–⁠3–⁠1
1944Charlie Bachman6–⁠1
1942Charlie Bachman4–⁠3–⁠2
1941Charlie Bachman5–⁠3–⁠1
1940Charlie Bachman3–⁠4–⁠1
1939Charlie Bachman4–⁠4–⁠1
1938Charlie Bachman6–⁠3
1937Charlie Bachman8–⁠2Orange L
1936Charlie Bachman6–⁠1–⁠2
1935Charlie Bachman6–⁠2
1934Charlie Bachman8–⁠1
1933Charlie Bachman4–⁠2–⁠2
1932Jim Crowley7–⁠1
1931Jim Crowley5–⁠3–⁠1
1930Jim Crowley5–⁠1–⁠2
1929Jim Crowley5–⁠3
1928Harry Kipke3–⁠4–⁠1
1927Ralph H. Young4–⁠5
1926Ralph H. Young3–⁠4–⁠1
1925Ralph H. Young3–⁠5
1924Ralph H. Young5–⁠3 (ours 0–⁠2)
1923Ralph H. Young3–⁠5 (ours 0–⁠3)
1922Albert Barron3–⁠5–⁠2 (ours 0–⁠2)
1921Albert Barron3–⁠5 (ours 0–⁠2)
1920George Clark4–⁠6 (ours 0–⁠4)
1919Chester Brewer4–⁠4–⁠1 (ours 0–⁠3)
1918George Gauthier4–⁠3
1917Chester Brewer0–⁠9 (ours 0–⁠4)
1916Frank Sommers4–⁠2–⁠1 (ours 0–⁠2)
1915John Macklin5–⁠1 (ours 1–⁠0)
1914John Macklin5–⁠2 (ours 1–⁠2)
1913John Macklin7–⁠0 (ours 2–⁠0)
1912John Macklin7–⁠1 (ours 0–⁠1)
1911John Macklin5–⁠1 (ours 0–⁠1)
1910Chester Brewer6–⁠1 (ours 0–⁠1)
1909Chester Brewer8–⁠1
1908Chester Brewer6–⁠0–⁠2 (ours 0–⁠0–⁠1)
1907Chester Brewer4–⁠2–⁠1 (ours 0–⁠1)1–⁠0–⁠1, 1st, conference champions
1906Chester Brewer7–⁠2–⁠26–⁠1–⁠1
1905Chester Brewer9–⁠2 (ours 0–⁠2)5–⁠0, 1st, conference champions
1904Chester Brewer8–⁠14–⁠1
1903Chester Brewer6–⁠1–⁠14–⁠0–⁠1, T–1st, conference champions
1902George Denman4–⁠5 (ours 0–⁠2)2–⁠2
1901George Denman3–⁠4–⁠13–⁠2–⁠1
1900Charles O. Bemies1–⁠41–⁠3
1899Charles O. Bemies2–⁠4–⁠1 (ours 0–⁠1)1–⁠2–⁠1
1898Henry Keep4–⁠3 (ours 0–⁠1)4–⁠1
1897Henry Keep4–⁠2–⁠11–⁠1–⁠1
1896No coach1–⁠2–⁠10–⁠1

From Wikipedia’s record book and season list for the program (CC BY-SA), which cite the school’s media guide. Browse every program’s in the data.