Michigan State Football: 10 most memorable plays of Mark Dantonio era

Jan 1, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Kyler Elsworth (41) poses with a rose in his mouth after the 100th Rose Bowl against the Stanford Cardinal. Michigan State defeated Stanford 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

4. Kyler Elsworth Rose Bowl stop

How can the Spartans’ game-winning stop in the 2014 Rose Bowl not take the cake? Well, that just means there are three plays that are more memorable on this list — and that’s still up for debate, I would love to be told I’m wrong for making this play No. 4.

Filling in for the suspended Max Bullough at Mike linebacker, former walk-on Kyler Elsworth had some big shoes to fill. When I say big shoes, I mean Max was the leader of the defense and this happened to be the Spartans’ biggest game under Dantonio.

Playing in the Rose Bowl for the first time in over two decades was a big deal for this team and Elsworth just wanted to be serviceable enough to where MSU could have the best chance to win and no poor play could be blamed on him.

With Stanford driving and the Spartans up by four with under two minutes left, a 4th-and-1 play was about to decide the fate of both teams. If Stanford picks up the first down, they had a chance to keep driving and possibly score the game-winning TD, but a stop would mean a Spartan victory.

The play couldn’t have been more predictable, and Elsworth trusted his gut, jumped over the pile of linemen and made an unbelievable game-winning tackle against Stanford to give MSU the coveted Rose Bowl trophy.

Next: 3. 'Little Giants' against Notre Dame