1957 Michigan State Spartans football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1957

| team = Michigan State Spartans

| sport = football

| image = 1957-MichiganState-Spartans-mediaguide.jpg

| image_size = 240px

| conference = Big Ten Conference

| short_conf = Big Ten

| CoachRank = 3

| APRank = 3

| record = 8–1

| conf_record = 5–1

| head_coach = Duffy Daugherty

| hc_year = 4th

| mvp = Dan Currie

| captain = Patrick F. Burke

| stadium = Spartan Stadium

| champion = National champion (Dunkel)

}}

The 1957 Michigan State Spartans football team was an American football team that represented Michigan State University in the 1957 Big Ten Conference football season. In their fourth season under head coach Duffy Daugherty, the Spartans compiled an 8–1 record (5–1 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 264 to 75, finished in second place in the Big Ten Conference, and were ranked No. 3 in both the final AP and UPI polls.{{cite news|title=2016 Football Media Guide|publisher=Michigan State University|pages=146, 155|access-date=June 18, 2017|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-history-145-19.pdf|archive-date=January 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117203046/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/msu-media-guide-history-145-19.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=1957 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=June 18, 2017|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1957-schedule.html}} Michigan State was named national champion by Dunkel System, an NCAA-designated major selector.{{cite book | url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf | title=2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records | publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association | date=August 2018 | access-date=December 11, 2018 |page=113}}

The 1957 Spartans won all three of their annual rivalry games, defeating Indiana (54–0), Notre Dame (34–6), and Michigan (35–6). In non-conference play, the Spartans also defeated California (19–0) and Kansas State (27–9).

The Spartans gained averaged 263.0 rushing yards and 120.9 passing yards per game, while holding opponents to 117.2 rushing yards and 74.3 passing yards per game.{{cite web|title=1957 Michigan State Spartans Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=March 6, 2025|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan-state/1957.html}} The team's individual statistical leaders included:

Quarterback Jim Ninowski completed 45 of 79 passes (57.0%) for 718 yards with six touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 150.8 quarterback rating.
Fullback Walt Kowalczyk rushed for 545 yards on 101 carries (5.4 yards per carry) and scored nine rushing touchdowns.
Dave Kaiser caught 19 passes for 267 yards.

Six Spartans were selected as first-team players on the 1957 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Ninowski (AP-1, UP-1); Kowalczyk (AP-1, UP-1); center Dan Currie (AP-1, UP-1); tackle Pat Burke (AP-1, UP-1); end Sam Williams (UP-1); and guard Ellison Kelly (UP-1).{{cite news|title=Coaches' All-Big Ten Team|newspaper=The Sandusky Register|date=November 30, 1957|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/4857383/?terms=currie%2Bpace%2Bkarras%2Bninowski%2Bcoaches}}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1957

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 28

| w/l = w

| rank = 4

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 54–0

| attend = 52,162

| source = {{cite news|title=State Unleashes Powerful Attack to Numb Indiana in Opener, 54-0|newspaper=Lansing state Journal|author=George S. Alderton|date=September 29, 1957|page=59, 64|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-state-unleashes-po/167393479/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 5

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank = 2

| opponent = California

| site_stadium = California Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Berkeley, CA

| score = 19–0

| attend = 40,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Spartans Blank Fired-Up Bears: Hustling Cal Real Tough In 19-0 Loss|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|author=Emmons Byrne|date=October 6, 1957|pages=57, 61|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-spartans-blank-fired-up/167395881/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 12

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 2

| opponent = Michigan

| opprank = 6

| site_stadium = Michigan Stadium

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 35–6

| attend = 101,001

| source = {{cite news|title=Spartans Brush Off M, 35-6|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Tommy Devine|date=October 13, 1957|page=E1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38681341/spartans_brush_off_m_356/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 19

| w/l = l

| rank = 1

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 13–20

| attend = 64,950

| source = {{cite news|title=Top-Ranked Spartans Spilled By Purdue's 'Spoilermakers'|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|author=George S. Alderton|date=October 20, 1957|pages=57, 61|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-top-ranked-spartan/167395443/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 26

| w/l = w

| homecoming = y

| rank = 8

| opponent = Illinois

| opprank = 16

| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 19–14

| attend = 64,353

| source = {{cite news|title=Kowalczyk's Late Touchdown Gives Spartans 19-14 Victory|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|author=George S. Alderton|date=October 27, 1957|page=59|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-kowalczyks-late-t/167394987/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 2

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 6

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Camp Randall Stadium

| site_cityst = Madison, WI

| score = 21–7

| attend = 49,826

| source = {{cite news|title=Michigan State Shackles Wisconsin, 21-7: Spartans Keep Title, Rose Bowl Hopes Alive|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|author=Henry J. McCormick|date=November 3, 1957|pages=1, 4 (sports)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-michigan-state-s/167396236/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 9

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 4

| opponent = Notre Dame

| opprank = 15

| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 34–6

| attend = 75,391

| source = {{cite news|title=Spartans Jolt Irish, 34-6|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|author=George S. Alderton|date=November 10, 1957|pages=59, 62|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-spartans-jolt-iris/167394566/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 16

| w/l = w

| rank = 4

| opponent = Minnesota

| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 42–13

| attend = 65,718

| source = {{cite news|title=Spartans Outclass Minnesota, 42 to 13|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|author=George S. Alderton|date=November 17, 1957|pages=59, 62|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-spartans-outclass/167396544/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 23

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 1

| opponent = Kansas State

| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 27–9

| attend = 35,989

| source = {{cite news|title=Spartan Giant Awakes, Wins, 27-9|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|author=George S. Alderton|date=November 24, 1957|page=57|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-spartan-giant-awak/167394243/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

References

Michigan State

Category:Michigan State Spartans football seasons

Michigan State Spartans football