The Spartans are the football team of Michigan State University in East Lansing. They compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA and play in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference.
Michigan State claims 6 national championships, the most recent dating back to 1966, and 11 conference championships. The Spartans began as a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), competing in that conference from 1896 to 1906. After a long spell as an independent team from 1907 to 1952, the Spartans joined the Big Ten Conference in 1953 and have remained there ever since. Of their 11 conference titles, 2 were won in the MIAA and 9 in the Big Ten.
Michigan State has produced many outstanding football players, with 14 Spartan players and coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and 3 players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Spartans play their home games at Spartan Stadium, which has a capacity of 75,005.
