The 1949 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State College as an independent the 1949 college football season. In their third season under head coach Clarence Munn, the Spartans compiled a 6–3 record and were ranked No. 19 in the final AP Poll. The 1949 Spartans lost their annual rivalry games against Notre Dame by a 34 to 21 score and against Michigan by a 7 to 3 score. In intersectional play, the Spartans beat Maryland (14–7), William & Mary (42-13), Penn State (24–0), Temple (62–14), and Arizona (75–0), but lost to Oregon State (25–20).