Michigan State Football: Top 10 games of the Mark Dantonio Era

Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson (20) dives into the end zone for a game winning touchdown as the clock runs out in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Michigan State 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

2. Michigan (2015)

It’s really hard to top this one. Not only was it the most miraculous final play in college football history, but it was against arch-rival Michigan in the Big House.

When Jim Harbaugh took the head coaching position at Michigan over the offseason, Michigan State fans had to hear all about how the Wolverines were going to take over the Big Ten and the Spartans’ reign was over. To be fair, Michigan State had heard the same when Brady Hoke and Rich Rodriguez took the job, but this was a little different.

Harbaugh came with a proven track record and left his NFL job — or was run out of town — to become the head coach of his alma mater.

Michigan began the season 5-1 with a lone loss coming to one of the top 10 teams in the country and the Wolverines had gone from unranked to No. 12 in the country in just over a month’s time. It was all but over, if you listened to the media. Michigan was going to just demolish the Spartans for the first time since 2012.

That couldn’t have been more wrong.

Both teams played a great game and it was relatively evenly matched, despite the Spartans out-gaining the Wolverines by about 150 yards and doubling Michigan’s first downs. It was one of the best games of the college football season and it looked as if Harbaugh would prevail — the worst nightmare for Spartan fans who would have to go a year listening to how MSU’s run is over.

With 10 seconds left and Michigan up 23-21, all the Wolverines had to do was punt the ball and the game was over. The Spartans decided to put an all-out block on, rushing 11 guys, and it was clear Michigan punter Blake O’Neill was feeling the pressure.

The ball was snapped, then dropped by O’Neill. He picked it up and tried to kick the ball with three Spartans in his face already and lobbed it to Jalen Watts-Jackson who then took it to the house for a game-winning score as time expired.

Never in a million years did I think an ending like this would have happened.

Next: 1. Stanford (2014)