| Year: | 2023 |
| Team: | Michigan State Spartans |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Division: | East Division |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 4–8 |
| Conf Record: | 2–7 |
| Head Coach: | Mel Tucker |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Hc Games: | first 2 games |
| Head Coach2: | Harlon Barnett (interim) |
| Oc Year: | 4th |
| Off Scheme: | Multiple |
| Def Coach: | Scottie Hazelton |
| Dc Year: | 4th |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 |
| Stadium: | Spartan Stadium |
| Uniform: | Michigan_spartans_football_unif.png |
The 2023 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Michigan State Spartans football team drew an average home attendance of 70,211 in 2023.[1]
The Spartans were led by Mel Tucker through the first two games of the season; Tucker was suspended without pay on September 10 and was fired for cause on September 27 following disclosures relating to alleged sexual harassment.[2] Defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett was appointed interim head coach, and former head coach Mark Dantonio agreed to return as the team's associate head coach.[3]
The Spartans finished the season 4–8, 2–7 in Big Ten play to finish in sixth place in the East division. They failed to qualify for a bowl game for the third time in four years.
On November 26, the school named Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith the team's new head coach.[4]
See also: 2023 Central Michigan Chippewas football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSU -14.5 | 45.5 |
See also: 2023 Richmond Spiders football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSU -29.5 | 44.5 |
See also: 2023 Washington Huskies football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| UW -16 | 57.5 |
See also: 2023 Maryland Terrapins football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMD -7.5 | 52.5 |
See also: 2023 Iowa Hawkeyes football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| UI -11.5 | 36.5 |
See also: 2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| RU -4.5 | 39.5 |
See also: 2023 Michigan Wolverines football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| UM -24.5 | 48 |
See also: 2023 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMN -7 | 40.5 |
See also: 2023 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEB -3 | 34.5 |
See also: 2023 Ohio State Buckeyes football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSU -32.5 | 48 |
See also: 2023 Indiana Hoosiers football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| IND -3.5 | 47 |
See also: 2023 Penn State Nittany Lions football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSU -20 | 42.5 |
| Mel Tucker | Head coach – removed after 2 games | 4th | |
| Chris Kapilovic | Assistant head coach/offensive line/run game coordinator | 4th | |
| Jay Johnson | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks | 4th | |
| Scottie Hazelton | Defensive coordinator | 4th | |
| Ted Gilmore | Tight ends | 4th | |
| Courtney Hawkins | Wide receivers | 4th | |
| Harlon Barnett | Secondary/interim head coach week 2 through end of season | 15th | |
| Ross Els | Special Teams/linebackers | 4th | |
| Effrem Reed | Running backs | 2nd | |
| Diron Reynolds | Defensive line | 1st | |
| Jim Salgado | Cornerbacks | 1st |
On January 4, defensive line coach Marco Coleman left MSU to join his alma mater, Georgia Tech, as their defensive line coach.[5] On January 25, the school named Stanford defensive line coach Diron Reynolds the team's new defensive line coach.[6] On March 4, pass rush specialist coach Brandon Jordan left to take a job with the Seattle Seahawks.[7] On March 16, the school named former Buffalo Bills safeties coach Jim Salgado as the new cornerbacks coach.[8]
On April 30, the final day to declare for the transfer portal, two-year starting quarterback Payton Thorne announced he was entering the portal.[9] Wide receiver Keon Coleman also announced he would transfer.[10]
| Payton Thorne | QB | Auburn | |
| Keon Coleman | WR | Florida State | |
| Jack Stone | K | Baylor | |
| Michael Fletcher | DE | Appalachian State | |
| Jalen Hunt | DT | Houston | |
| Dashaun Mallory | DT | Arizona State | |
| Chase Carter | DE | ||
| Kobe Myers | LB | ||
| Elijah Collins | RB | Oklahoma State | |
| Carson Casteel | LB | Vanderbilt | |
| Jeff Pietrowski | DE | Wisconsin | |
| Tate Hallock | DB | Western Michigan | |
| Germie Bernard | WR | Washington | |
| Terry Lockett | WR | Eastern Michigan | |
| Cade McDonald | WR | Miami (OH) | |
| Hamp Fay | TE/QB | Oklahoma | |
| AJ Kirk | DB | Jones College (MS) | |
| Itayvion 'Tank' Brown | DE |
| Ademola Faleye | TE | Norfolk State | |
| Jaylan Franklin | TE | Wisconsin | |
| Semar Melvin | CB | Wisconsin | |
| Jonathan Kim | K | North Carolina | |
| Nathan Carter | RB | UConn | |
| Jarrett Jackson | DL | Florida State | |
| Aaron Alexander | LB | UMass | |
| Jaren Mangham | RB | South Florida | |
| Dre Butler | DE | Liberty | |
| Tunmise Adeleye | DL | Texas A&M | |
| Tyneil Hopper | TE | Boise State | |
| Mason Arnold | LS | Ohio State | |
| Michael O'Shaughnessy | P | Ohio State | |
| Armorion Smith | S | Cincinnati | |
| Jalen Sami | DT | Colorado | |
| Alante Brown | WR | Nebraska | |
| Terry Roberts | CB | Iowa |
Following the conclusion of the season, several players declared for the NFL draft. Three players were selected in the draft.[12]
| 2 | 50 | Green Bay Packers | Jayden Reed | WR | |
| 6 | 192 | New England Patriots | Bryce Baringer | P | |
| 6 | 214 | New England Patriots | Ameer Speed | CB |