The football team at Michigan State University began life under the decidedly less warlike appellation of the Michigan State Aggies, trading the plowshares for swords in the late 1920s when they became the Michigan State Spartans. While this was in part due to the university changing names itself, perhaps there was also a recognition of the need for more ferocity to compete with down their cross-state rivals, the Michigan Wolverines. It was a brave choice, if, much like the stand of the Spartans at Thermopylae, ultimately futile, with the Wolverines going on to become perhaps the greatest college football team of all time. And yet comparisons do something of a disservice to the Spartans, who are by all measures a very good team as well. 

The Spartans boast an impressive 730–487–44 all-time record (for a .596 winning percentage) and, despite playing most of their history in the Big Ten Conference against the Wolverines and other powerful teams, 9 Big Ten conference titles, and 6 national titles. Although the team’s Bowl record looks less impressive at 14-16, this has swung around in recent years with 7 wins out of their last 9 Bowl games, including triumphs in the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Peach Bowl. Spartans fans love to embrace the role of the underdog, steadfastly refusing to surrender their state. Thousands flock to Spartans games to enjoy the pregame action of parties, tailgating, and camaraderie, with hundreds lining the Spartan Walk to cheering “Go Green! Go White!” as the players and coaches walk past the Spartan Statue into the stadium prior to the game. Things really get heated as kickoff approaches and the stadium announcer shares the weather forecast and (no matter what it is) announces “It's a beautiful day for football!” The Hollywood film 300 (about ancient Sparta fighting the Persians at Thermopylae) also made an inevitable impact as well, with a clip of King Leonidas shouting “Spartans, what is your profession?” projected on the big screen whenever the opponent is on third down. The fans respond "Ha-Ooh!" and hold their fists aloft like spears. Actor Gerard Butler, who played Leonidas in the film, actually attended a game in 2010 to rev up the crowd with some of the Spartan King’s most inspiring lines.

Michigan State Spartans Rivalries

Spartans vs. Wolverines might sound these days like a cheap knockoff contrived in a Disney studio, but this rivalry is anything but child’s play. The two Michigan schools have gone at it with steel and claw in every sport for well over a century, with the football rivalry in particular providing an endless list of fisticuffs, insults, dramatic victories, and off-field shenanigans throughout the years. The Wolverines lead the all-time series 73-38-5, though a Spartans revival was allegedly sparked in 2007, after Wolverines running back Mike Hart called the Spartans “little brothers” who they might sometimes let win just to be nice. The Spartans went on to win 7 of their next 8 encounters (and to date have won 10 out of the last 16). Format changes to college football from 2024 onward mean that it is possible that the two teams could potentially meet twice per season. Talk about fuel for the fire! The Spartans’ other main foes are no mugs either, as they have big historical rivalries against the storied Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Indiana Hoosiers, and the Penn State Nittany Lions. 

Finding Michigan State Spartans Football Tickets

With so much drama on the field (and in the stands), it is perhaps unsurprising that the Michigan State Spartans are a huge draw in this football-mad state. While this makes for an unforgettable game day experience, finding a ticket to a Spartans game can be a challenge, especially for Bowl games, key conference matchups, or games against rival schools (see above), especially Michigan! To discover all the most affordable Michigan State Spartans tickets, check the TicketX listings right now and use our handy stadium seating chart to compare prices and locations.