The 2001 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Bobby Williams, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 7âÂÂ5 with a mark of 3âÂÂ5 in conference play, tying for eighth place in the Big Ten. Michigan State was invited to the Silicon Valley Football Classic, where the Spartans defeated Fresno State. The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
The controversial final play of the home game against Michigan on November 3 led to a change in the official timekeeping policy of the Big Ten Conference. Beginning in 2002, a neutral official appointed by the Big Ten keeps track of the game time on the field.
Note: The Missouri game originally scheduled for September 15 was rescheduled to December 1 because of the September 11 attacks.