EAST LANSING -- Michigan State stands at No. 7 in the country in spring football game attendance, an indicator Spartans' fans are dialed in to the program.

Ohio State leads the nation in spring attendance, with 100,189 announced at Ohio Stadium on April 16 -- 92,500 of those fans buying $5 tickets, with students and children under 6 attending for free.

Michigan State, like Ohio State, set a school record for spring game attendance -- drawing an announced crowd of 51,000 on Saturday at Spartan Stadium. Attendance and parking was free in East Lansing.

The Spartans drew better for its spring game than did Michigan (35,000) and several other Big Ten schools. But the MSU attendance was behind Ohio State, Nebraska and Penn State within the Big Ten.

Coach Mark Dantonio credited the winningest class in MSU history for the record turnout that witnessed the White team defeat the Green team in a split-squad scrimmage, 14-11.

"We had 51,000-plus come to the spring game (Saturday), and that's really because of what you've accomplished," Dantonio said at Sunday's team banquet at Breslin Center. "People come to watch winners, because that's the way the world is, and you've set that standard in terms of what you've been able to accomplish."

Michigan State football is enjoying its most successful run in the modern era, with three straight top-6 finishes, two Big Ten titles the past three seasons and an unprecedented seven wins in the past eight games against rival Michigan.

The Spartans held a free youth football clinic prior to the spring game, with their players participating as instructors.

The Wolverines saw their spring football game attendance drop from 60,000 in 2015 to an estimated 35,000 this year.

Georgia led the SEC with a crowd of 93,000, some believe in part due to hiring rapper Ludaris to perform an abbreviated concert.

Here's a look at spring football game attendances from around the country in 2016, according to Google:



Top 10 spring game attendances, 2016

Ohio State - 100,189

Georgia - 93,000

Alabama - 76,212

Nebraska - 72,992

Tennessee - 67,027

Penn State - 65,000

Michigan State - 51,000

Clemson - 50,000

Florida State - 49,913

Florida - 46,000

Big Ten

Ohio State - 100,189

Nebraska - 72,992

Penn State - 65,000

Michigan State - 51,000

Michigan - 35,000

Iowa - 18,460

Rutgers - 14,177

Wisconsin - 9,181

Purdue - 5,050

Illinois 5,000

Indiana - No attendance report

Maryland - No attendance report

Minnesota - No attendance report

Northwestern - No attendance report

SEC

Georgia 93,000 (concert by Ludacris)

Alabama 76,212

Tennessee 67,027

Auburn 45,723

Florida 46,000

South Carolina 32,916

Arkansas 30,546

Kentucky 28,441

Texas A&M 27,412

Missouri 25,000

LSU 21,000

Mississippi State 15,717

ACC

Clemson 50,000

Florida State 49,913

Virginia Tech 44,700

Louisville 16,221

Miami 15,000

Pittsburgh 8,033

Virginia 5,000

Syracuse 4,037

Wake Forest 2,100

Big 12

Oklahoma 42,436

Iowa State 15,089

Kansas State 14,643

West Virginia 6,000

Independents

Notre Dame 28,061

BYU 18,000

American

UCF 23,147

Memphis 10,000

East Carolina 7,322

UConn 5,500

SMU 5,000

USF 5,000

Temple 3,500

Houston 3,462

Conference-USA

Charlotte 9,599

Western Kentucky 5,000

Louisiana Tech 4,500

Old Dominion 4,500

UTSA 2,500

Pac-12

USC 23,000

Utah 6,300

Colorado 5,100

Washington State 4,129

Stanford 2,500

Arizona State 2,100

California 2,000

Mountain West

Boise State 6,100

Colorado State 5,200

UNLV 2,800

Wyoming 1,502

Nevada 600

Air Force 500

MAC

Central Michigan 3,054

Western Michigan 2,950

Buffalo 500



Sun Belt

Arkansas State 2,500

Georgia Southern 2,500

Georgia State 2,000

Louisiana-Monroe 1,224

