Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Ranked No. 6 in Preseason Amway Coaches Poll
7/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. â€" Michigan State, which capped off an 11-2 season in 2014 with a dramatic 20-point comeback win over No. 4 Baylor in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic, enters the ninth season of the head coach Mark Dantonio era in 2015 ranked No. 6 in the Preseason Amway Coaches Poll, released Thursday, July 30. It marks MSU's highest preseason ranking in the Coaches Poll since USA TODAY began administering the poll in 1991 (No. 8 in 2014).
MSU was ranked No. 5 in the final 2014 Associated Press and USA TODAY/AmwayCoaches Polls. The Spartans finished ranked among the nation's top five for the second year in a row (No. 3 in both polls in 2013) â€" a program first since 1965-66.
The Spartans were also ranked in the Preseason Coaches Poll in 2014 (No. 8), 2012 (No. 13), 2011 (No. 17), 2002 (No. 18), 2000 (No. 22), 1998 (No. 23) and 1991 (No. 22). Two of MSU's 2015 opponents are ranked in the Preseason Amway Coaches Poll: No. 1 Ohio State and No. 5 Oregon.
Michigan State returns a total of 50 letterwinners and 17 starters in 2015. The Spartans welcome back 25 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's record-breaking offense that set school single-season marks for points (559), scoring average (43.0 ppg.), offensive touchdowns (70), total offense (6,510 yards), rushing touchdowns (44), rushing yards (3,057) and first downs (321). MSU brings back fifth-year senior Connor Cook, who enters his third year as the starting quarterback, to lead the offense. A second-team All-Big Ten selection, Cook led the Big Ten in passing as a junior in 2014 (3,214 yards; 247.2 ypg.) and ranked second in touchdown passes (24).
On defense, the Spartans return 22 letterwinners and seven starters from a unit that ranked in the NCAA FBS Top 10 in total defense (No. 8 at 315.8 ypg.) for the fourth consecutive year. Three of the four starters on the defensive line are back, including two-time second-team All-American Shilique Calhoun at defensive end.
The MSU football team opens preseason practice Saturday, Aug. 8.
