BYU, Michigan State announce football series

PROVO, Utah — Brigham Young University and Michigan State University today announced the schools have agreed to a home-and-home football series in 2016 and 2020. The teams will meet at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan, on Oct 8, 2016, with the second game being played at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Sept. 12, 2020.

“I’m excited about this series with one of the top programs in the Big Ten,” said BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe. “We haven’t played many games in the Great Lakes region and I like scheduling opponents like Michigan State that we’ve never played in football. It’s exciting for Cougar Nation and it’s a great experience for our coaches and players.”

Michigan State was founded in 1855 and began playing football in 1896. The Spartan’s joined the Big Ten for football in 1953. MSU has won or shared a total of six national championships (1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1965 and 1966), captured eight Big Ten titles (1953, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1987, 1990, 2010 and 2013) and participated in 25 bowl games. 

BYU was founded in 1875 and began playing collegiate football in 1922. Over the past 40 seasons, only four FBS programs—Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Florida State—have won more games than BYU. The Cougars have played in 33 bowl games, won 23 conference titles and captured the 1984 national championship.

Kickoff times and broadcast plans for the series will be announced at a later date. For more information on BYU football, visit BYUcougars.com.