EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State Athletics and Fox Sports College Properties announced today a new partnership with TCF Bank to rebrand the statewide Spartan Sports Network as the TCF Bank Spartan Media Network. In addition, long-term extensions were announced with the three flagship stations that anchor the network: Detroit’s WJR 760-AM, Lansing’s WVFN 730/WJIM 1240-AM and 94.9 WMMQ-FM, and new to the TCF Bank Spartan Media Network, WBFX 101.3/WMAX 96.1-FM in Grand Rapids.
“We are excited to have TCF Bank on board to provide Michigan State fans with the programming they have come to count on as they follow the Spartans,” said Fox Sports College Properties Vice President and General Manager Kris Kassel. “The TCF Bank Spartan Media Network will be a critical connection between the massive and loyal Spartan fan base and the teams they love.”
“We are proud to share our brand name with such a well-respected media organization and continue to give Michigan State fans access to this valuable programming. TCF believes in investing in our communities and this is a great way to show our support for the Spartans,” said Lana Slygh, Senior Vice President of Marketing at TCF Bank.
In addition to the game day broadcasts across football, basketball, hockey and other sports, coaches shows featuring head coaches Mel Tucker, Tom Izzo, Suzy Merchant and Danton Cole, along with daily shows such as the Michigan Sports Brief, and a daily vignette series featuring Tucker and Izzo will air across the network, providing fans with up-to-the-minute information on the Spartans. The TCF Bank Spartan Media Network produces nearly 1,000 hours of programming annually for Michigan State fans and all sports fans throughout the State of Michigan.
As a special addition to the programming lineup, the network will air a series of classic Spartan games on Saturdays this fall, presented by Delta Dental of Michigan, beginning on Saturday, Sept. 5 with a replay of the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game win over Ohio State.
“We want to thank Delta Dental for their continuing support of the Spartans and college football fans everywhere. At this time when so many aspects of our daily lives have been turned upside down, we hope that Spartan fans will gain some sense of comfort and normalcy from being able to tune into Spartan football during the fall and relive some of the great moments of all time,” said Kassel.
Programming for the 2020-21 seasons will kick off on Aug. 31 with the Michigan Sports Brief and the daily Mel Tucker vignette across the 30-plus station network. The first edition of the Mel Tucker Radio Show will air on Thursday, Sept. 3 across the network. The full affiliate list will be announced and provided on MSUSpartans.com. The TCF Bank Spartan Media Network is the largest and most expansive radio network in the State of Michigan and extends its programming nationally and worldwide via partnerships with SiriusXM and TuneIn radio.
“In addition to our partnership with TCF Bank, we are thrilled to solidify our positions in our three largest markets through long-term extensions with our broadcast partners in Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing. Fans will continue to reap the benefits of the commitment these broadcasters offer to live sports programming and the fans in their local communities,” said Kassel. “This network has built a tradition on quality programming that covers every inch of the State of Michigan. We are excited to continue to deliver on that tradition, anchored by three tremendous partners in our largest in-state markets.”
Air Date
| Game | Game Date | Game Summary | |
| 9/5/2020 | MSU vs Ohio State | 12/7/2013 | 2013 Big Ten Championship Game |
| 9/12/2020 | MSU vs Notre Dame | 9/18/2010 | OT Win – “Little Giants” Play |
| 9/19/2020 | MSU vs Michigan | 10/9/1993 | Spartans knock off No. 9 Michigan |
| 9/26/2020 | MSU at Ohio State | 11/21/2015 | Geiger 41-yard FG game winner on final play |
| 10/3/2020 | MSU vs Wisconsin | 10/22/2011 | “Rocket” Play |
| 10/10/2020 | MSU vs Baylor | 1/1/2015 | Biggest comeback in MSU bowl game history |
| 10/17/2020 | MSU at Michigan | 10/17/2015 | :10 Game – Five-year anniversary |
| 10/24/2020 | MSU vs Wisconsin | 11/13/2004 | Spartans beat No. 4 Wisconsin |
| 10/31/2020 | MSU vs Michigan | 11/2/2013 | Spartans hold Michigan to minus-48 rushing yards |
| 11/7/2020 | MSU vs Iowa | 12/5/2015 | 2015 Big Ten Championship Game |
| 11/14/2020 | MSU vs Michigan | 11/3/2001 | T.J. Duckett scores game-winning TD on final play |
| 11/21/2020 | MSU vs Stanford | 1/1/2014 | Spartans beat Stanford in the 100th Rose Bowl Game |
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