When the University of Chicago eliminated its football program after 1939,[9] and withdrew from the Western Conference (now the Big Ten) in 1946, Michigan State president John A. Hannah lobbied to take its place.

[10][11][12][13] After joining the conference, head coach Clarence L. "Biggie" Munn led the 1953 Spartan football team to the Rose Bowl, beating UCLA 28–20.

[14] Two years later, successor coach Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty carried the 1955 team to a second Rose Bowl and again defeated UCLA, 17–14.

Beginning play in 1884, the Spartans have made the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship 5 times, advancing to the College World Series once, in 1954, with a third-place finish.

Six Spartans have been named First Team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association - Tom Yewcic, C, 1954; Rob Ellis, OF, 1971; Ron Pruitt, C, 1972; Al Weston, OF, 1977; Kirk Gibson, OF, 1978; and Bob Malek, OF, 2002.

[17] In 1979, Earvin "Magic" Johnson,[18] along with Greg Kelser,[19] Jay Vincent[20] and Mike Brkovich, carried the MSU team to a 75–64 win against the Larry Bird-led Indiana State Sycamores.

In 2000, three players from Flint, Michigan, Morris Peterson,[21] Charlie Bell[22] and Mateen Cleaves,[23] carried the team to its second national title.

[28] Spartans formerly or currently in the NBA include Adreian Payne, Deyonta Davis, Bryn Forbes, Denzel Valentine, Maurice Ager, Alan Anderson, Charlie Bell, Shannon Brown, Mateen Cleaves, Paul Davis, Terry Furlow, Jamie Feick, Draymond Green, Johnny Green, Gary Harris, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Greg Kelser, Mike Peplowski, Morris Peterson, Zach Randolph, Shawn Respert, Jason Richardson, Scott Skiles, Steve Smith, Eric Snow, Sam Vincent, Jay Vincent, and Kevin Willis.

MSU also has a fairly successful women's basketball team, with its greatest accomplishment being a national runner-up finish to Baylor in 2005.

The Spartans have made one National Championship game, one Final Four, one Elite Eight, three Sweet Sixteens, and appeared in 15 NCAA/AIAW Tournaments.

[30] During that time, the Spartans had a roster of impressive players, including Lynn Chandnois, Dorne Dibble, Meredith Assaly, and Don McAulliffe.

In 1951, the Spartans finished the season undefeated, and performed the same feat the following year in addition to the nation's longest winning streak of 24 games.

After the 1953 season Biggie Munn, the legendary Spartan coach, turned the team over to his protégé and future legend Duffy Daugherty.

[36] Michigan State's rivalry game against Notre Dame, with whom they compete for the Megaphone Trophy was played every year until 2013.

Notable MSU alumni who have played in the National Football League include Morten Andersen,[37] Plaxico Burress,[38] Andre Rison,[39] Derrick Mason,[40] Muhsin Muhammad,[41] T. J. Duckett,[42] Flozell Adams,[43] Julian Peterson,[44] Herb Haygood, Charles Rogers,[45] Jim Miller,[46] Earl Morrall,[47] Wayne Fontes,[48] Bubba Smith,[49] Tony Banks,[50] Percy Snow,[51] Rob Fredrickson, Jeff Smoker, Tony Mandarich, Lorenzo White, Hank Bullough, Drew Stanton,[52] Devin Thomas, Tupe Peko, Domata Peko, Chris Morris, Greg Montgomery, Paul Edinger, Javon Ringer, Chris L. Rucker, Chris Baker, Sedrick Irvin, Eric Smith, Greg Jones, Brian Hoyer, Garrett Celek, Jack Conklin, Shilique Calhoun, Bennie Fowler, Will Gholston, Keith Mumphery, Max Bullough, Donavon Clark, Joel Heath, Jeremy Langford, Darqueze Dennard, Dion Sims, Tony Lippett, Lawrence Thomas, Kellen Davis, Trae Waynes, Jerel Worthy, Connor Cook, Aaron Burbridge, Kirk Cousins, Le'Veon Bell, and Kenneth Walker III.

Michigan State also experienced success in the IC4A, at New York's Van Cortlandt Park, winning 15 team titles (1933–1937, 1949, 1953, 1956–1960, 1962, 1963 and 1968).

Michigan State hosted the inaugural NCAA cross country championships in 1938 and every year thereafter through 1964 (except a one-year vacation in 1943 due to war).

After joining MSU in 2004, Drenth led the men's cross country team to an NCAA Championship bid during the 2004 season.

The women's cross country team also advanced to the NCAA Championship Meet after winning the Great Lakes Regional race.

In the 2013–2014 campaign, the Big Ten Conference debuted Division I ice hockey, (Michigan State formerly competed in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association with Big Ten sister schools University of Michigan (U-M) and the Ohio State University).

On April 7, 2007, the Michigan State Spartans won their third Collegiate Championship by beating the Boston College Eagles 3–1.

[74] The current head coach is Sharonda McDonald-Kelley Wrestling was one of the earliest sports formed at the Michigan Agricultural College, being established in 1886.

Former Michigan State players in Major League Baseball include Kirk Gibson,[81] Steve Garvey,[82] Robin Roberts[83] and Mark Mulder.

The Spartans also have a men's soccer team, which won two national championships, in 1967 and 1968, sharing titles with Saint Louis and Maryland respectively.

[85] The men's soccer team battles Michigan annually in the Big Bear Trophy game, a series in which the Spartans lead against their in-state rival.

During her first year at Michigan State, George led her team to a 12–18 record, including a 5–15, ninth-place finish in the conference standings.

[92] The Big Ten title would elude the Spartans until 2005, when arguably, the best team ever assembled, took home the rings in stellar fashion.

Not only did the Spartans win the Big Ten Championship in 2005, but they captured two other titles along the way and rose all the way to #5 in the U.S. Casey Lubahn coaches the men's golf team.

[94] Spartan women golfers won individual collegiate national championships on two occasions: Joyce Kazmierski in 1966 and Bonnie Lauer in 1973.

[104] On October 1, 1999, the University opened its new Athletics Hall of Fame, in the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center.