The 1972 Tampa Spartans football team represented the University of Tampa in the 1972 college football season. It was the Spartans' 36th season and competed as a College Division Independent. The team was led by head coach Earle Bruce, in his first year, and played their home games at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. They finished with a record of ten wins and two losses (10–2) and with a victory in the Tangerine Bowl over Kent State. Bruce was hired on February 2, 1972, to serve as the replacement for Bill Fulcher who resigned to become the head coach at Georgia Tech.