Michigan State Football: Top 10 quarterbacks in school history
7. Bill Burke (1996-99)
Nick Saban isn’t necessarily known as a coach who churns out solid quarterback talent as his teams are usually based around the run, but Bill Burke put together a couple of solid seasons as the starter in 1998 and 1999, even earning the team’s most improved offensive player award in his first year as the first-stringer.
In 1998, Burke passed for 2,595 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while leading the Spartans to a 6-6 overall record and finishing in sixth place in the Big Ten. His most impressive career win came in that season, too, as he led the Spartans to a 28-24 victory over the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, providing them with their only loss of the year.
Every top starting quarterback has an iconic victory, and that happened to be Burke’s. Michigan State, however, missed out on a bowl game that season.
The 1999 season was his best, however, as Michigan State finished 10-2 after a Citrus Bowl win over Florida and the Spartans finished No. 7 in the final AP and Coaches Poll. That season proved to be the last double-digit win campaign until 2010 under Mark Dantonio.
Burke finished his career with 5,463 yards (8th), 46 touchdowns (4th), 416 completions (9th) and 766 attempts (8th) all while going 16-8 as a starter.
Next: 6. Ed Smith (1976-78)