 Despite the loss, the Spartans shared the national championship with Alabama.Michigan State was selected national champion by UPI/coaches, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FB News, Helms, Litkenhous, NFF, Poling, Sagarin, and Sagarin (ELO-Chess) and also co-national champion by FW.Both Alabama and Michigan State were Consensus National Champions for the season.