Programs / History / Michigan State
MSU

FBS PROGRAM EXPLORER

Michigan State

latest conference era: Big Ten

Loaded Seasons57
Latest Season2026
Peak Power2022 | +19.4
Best Finish#6 in 2014
Program Explorer

Program arc

Win rate shows the results layer. End-of-season power shows the strength layer. A serious history page needs both.

Bars: win rate Line: public power vs average team
100% 50% 0% PWR +19.4 PWR +4.4 2017: 10-3, margin +59, power +12.1, resume 95 / 100, final rank #262018: 7-6, margin +20, power +10.6, resume 80 / 100, final rank #362019: 7-6, margin -2, power +9.9, resume 66 / 100, final rank #402020: 2-5, margin -120, power +4.4, resume 39 / 100, final rank #392021: 11-2, margin +85, power +16.6, resume 99 / 100, final rank #322022: 5-7, margin -36, power +19.4, resume 81 / 100, final rank #662023: 4-8, margin -149, power +16.6, resume 69 / 100, final rank #892024: 5-7, margin -81, power +16.6, resume 78 / 100, final rank #962025: 4-8, margin -64, power +18.9, resume 85 / 100, final rank #712026: 2-6, margin -47, power +14.7, resume 90 / 100, final rank #126 2017: 10-3, margin +59, power +12.1, resume 95 / 100, final rank #26+12.12018: 7-6, margin +20, power +10.6, resume 80 / 100, final rank #36+10.62019: 7-6, margin -2, power +9.9, resume 66 / 100, final rank #40+9.92020: 2-5, margin -120, power +4.4, resume 39 / 100, final rank #39+4.42021: 11-2, margin +85, power +16.6, resume 99 / 100, final rank #32+16.62022: 5-7, margin -36, power +19.4, resume 81 / 100, final rank #66+19.42023: 4-8, margin -149, power +16.6, resume 69 / 100, final rank #89+16.62024: 5-7, margin -81, power +16.6, resume 78 / 100, final rank #96+16.62025: 4-8, margin -64, power +18.9, resume 85 / 100, final rank #71+18.92026: 2-6, margin -47, power +14.7, resume 90 / 100, final rank #126+14.7 201710-320187-620197-620202-5202111-220225-720234-820245-720254-820262-6

Historical snapshot

A fast read on what this program usually is, what its peak looks like, and how the latest season compares.

Loaded Seasons 57

The number of fully modeled seasons currently attached to this program.

Program Baseline +17.4

A recent multi-year closing-power average. This is the kind of anchor that should matter in preseason priors.

Current Vs. Baseline −2.7

How the current season's closing power stacks up against the program's recent standard.

Gap To Peak 4.7

How far the current season finished below the strongest loaded team in program history.

Peak Loaded Season 2022 | +19.4

The strongest closing power this program has posted in the loaded archive.

Best Power Since Last beaten in 2025

The last season that closed stronger was 2025.

Best Resume Since Since 2021

This is the program's best resume season since 2021.

Best Finish 2014 | #6

The highest loaded all-level board finish currently attached to this program.

Best Resume Season 2015 | 99 / 100

The strongest body-of-work season currently attached to this program in the loaded archive.

Current Season Standing Resume #9 | Power #8

Where the current season sits inside this program's loaded history on the two main scales.

Program Percentile Resume 65th | Power 70th

A cleaner fan-facing answer to the question: is this near the top of the program's arc or just another solid year?

Best Record 2013 | 13-1

The cleanest results season in the loaded archive, regardless of whether it was also the strongest by power.

Current context

The premium fan question is not only "how good is this team?" It is "how good is this season relative to the program I know?"

Current board #126 Where the latest loaded season sits on today's all-level board.
Latest season 2026 2-6
Program baseline +17.4 Recent multi-year closing-power standard.
Gap to peak 4.7 How far the latest season sits below the program's strongest loaded team.

Program signals

The clearest historical takeaways, written for scan speed.

Strongest Loaded Team

2022 Season

Ended at power +19.4, record 5-7, and final loaded-board rank #66.

Best Loaded Resume

2015 Season

Resume 99 / 100 with 12 wins and a 86% win rate.

Best Record

13-1

The cleanest loaded season by results came in 2013, with a margin of +226.

Roughest Loaded Season

1982 Season

2-9 with power -- and margin -40.

Best resume season

2015 | 99 / 100

Latest versus standard

−2.7

Season explorer

Every loaded season, with conference era attached to the correct year and filters built for the questions fans actually ask.

57 seasons visible
Season Conference Lens Record Final Rank End Power End Resume Margin Season Page
2026 Big TenFBS CurrentThis season anchors the current board. 2-6 #126 +14.7 90 −47 Open team page
2025 Big TenFBS Above recent levelClosed well above the program's recent baseline. 4-8 #71 +18.9 85 −64 Program view
2024 Big TenFBS In range 5-7 #96 +16.6 78 −81 Program view
2023 Big TenFBS In range 4-8 #89 +16.6 69 −149 Program view
2022 Big TenFBS Peak powerStrongest loaded closing power for the program. 5-7 #66 +19.4 81 −36 Program view
2021 Big TenFBS In range 11-2 #32 +16.6 99 +85 Program view
2020 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 2-5 #39 +4.4 39 −120 Program view
2019 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 7-6 #40 +9.9 66 −2 Program view
2018 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 7-6 #36 +10.6 80 +20 Program view
2017 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 10-3 #26 +12.1 95 +59 Program view
2016 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 3-9 #35 +10.5 27 −44 Program view
2015 Big TenFBS Best resumeBest body-of-work season in the loaded archive. 12-2 #22 +13.3 99 +113 Program view
2014 Big TenFBS Best finishHighest loaded final board finish. 11-2 #6 +17.5 98 +279 Program view
2013 Big TenFBS Best recordCleanest win-loss season in the loaded archive. 13-1 #14 +16.4 99 +226 Program view
2012 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 7-6 #19 +12.1 69 +48 Program view
2011 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 11-3 #20 +13.8 96 +177 Program view
2010 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 11-2 #43 +10.7 96 +93 Program view
2009 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 6-7 #62 +8.1 52 +44 Program view
2008 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 9-4 #48 +10.4 92 +39 Program view
2007 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 7-6 #41 +11.7 78 +84 Program view
2006 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 4-8 #59 +9.2 30 −39 Program view
2005 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 5-6 #33 +11.3 67 +56 Program view
2004 Big TenFBS Below recent levelClosed well below the program's recent baseline, which is not the same as a bad season. 5-7 #23 +11.3 54 +27 Program view
2003 Big TenFBS In range 8-5 #-- -- -- +70 Program view
2002 Big TenFBS In range 4-8 #-- -- -- −82 Program view
2001 Big TenFBS In range 7-5 #-- -- -- +63 Program view
2000 Big TenFBS In range 5-6 #-- -- -- −36 Program view
1999 Big TenFBS In range 10-2 #-- -- -- +133 Program view
1998 Big TenFBS In range 6-6 #-- -- -- +42 Program view
1997 Big TenFBS In range 7-5 #-- -- -- +105 Program view
1996 Big TenFBS In range 6-6 #-- -- -- +56 Program view
1995 Big TenFBS In range 6-5 #-- -- -- −51 Program view
1994 Big TenFBS In range 5-6 #-- -- -- +13 Program view
1993 Big TenFBS In range 6-6 #-- -- -- −12 Program view
1992 Big TenFBS In range 5-6 #-- -- -- −23 Program view
1991 Big TenFBS In range 3-8 #-- -- -- −110 Program view
1990 Big TenFBS In range 8-3 #-- -- -- +89 Program view
1989 Big TenFBS In range 8-4 #-- -- -- +193 Program view
1988 Big TenFBS In range 6-5 #-- -- -- +92 Program view
1987 Big TenFBS In range 9-2 #-- -- -- +108 Program view
1986 Big TenFBS In range 6-5 #-- -- -- +88 Program view
1985 Big TenFBS In range 7-5 #-- -- -- +39 Program view
1984 Big TenFBS In range 6-6 #-- -- -- −10 Program view
1983 Big TenFBS In range 4-6 #-- -- -- −71 Program view
1982 Big TenFBS In range 2-9 #-- -- -- −40 Program view
1981 Big TenFBS In range 5-6 #-- -- -- +14 Program view
1980 Big TenFBS In range 3-8 #-- -- -- −58 Program view
1979 Big TenFBS In range 5-6 #-- -- -- −13 Program view
1978 Big TenFBS In range 8-3 #-- -- -- +241 Program view
1977 Big TenFBS In range 7-3 #-- -- -- +98 Program view
1976 Big TenFBS In range 4-6 #-- -- -- −42 Program view
1975 Big TenFBS In range 7-4 #-- -- -- +55 Program view
1974 Big TenFBS In range 7-3 #-- -- -- +74 Program view
1973 Big TenFBS In range 5-6 #-- -- -- −50 Program view
1972 Big TenFBS In range 5-5 #-- -- -- +2 Program view
1971 Big TenFBS In range 6-5 #-- -- -- +56 Program view
1970 Big TenFBS In range 4-6 #-- -- -- −25 Program view