Mark Dantonio is now a finalist for the 2015 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, handed out by the Football Writers Association of America and the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Dantonio is one of eight finalists for the award alongside Kirk Ferentz of Iowa, Houston coach Tom Herman, Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, Temple's Matt Rhule, Stanford's David Shaw, Bob Stoops of Oklahoma, and Clemson's Dabo Swinney.
Dantonio and the other seven finalists were selected and put on a ballot sent out to all the members of the FWAA.
Members were asked to rank the finalists in terms of which coach they felt was most deserving to win the award. The winner of the voting will be announced on Dec. 16.
Dantonio led MSU to a 12-1 record this season, winning a Big Ten championship and earning a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Dantonio is no stranger to the award, having been named a finalist for it in 2010 and 2013. If Dantonio wins the award, he will be only the second MSU coach to win. Legendary coach Duffy Daugherty won the award in 1965.
The FWAA began handing out the award in 1957, 16 years after the FWAA was formed in 1941. The winning coach will be presented with the honor on Jan. 9, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona at a reception that coincides with College Football Playoff.
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