Michigan State Football: Top 30 games in school history
21. MSU vs. Michigan (1978)
Coming off two straight losses and a 1-3 overall record, the Spartans traveled to Ann Arbor to take on the hated rival as Michigan was ranked No. 5 in the country and was a huge favorite to just embarrass Michigan State.
Michigan State got off to a red-hot start and never looked back. The Spartans took a 17-0 lead into halftime thanks to a 13-yard touchdown pass from Eddie Smith to Lonnie Middleton and a Mark Anderson interception that set up a one-yard Middleton run for a score four plays later. That lead at the half was comfortable, but for Schembechler’s Wolverines, anything was possible.
A nice, long 70-yard scoring drive took place on the Wolverines’ first possession of the third quarter and it seemed like Michigan would just jump back into the game and steal the spotlight from the Spartans. That never actually happened, though, as Eddie Smith his Mark Brammer for an 11-yard score to make it 24-7 MSU and the Spartans never let the Wolverines get back in it.
The final score was 24-15 and Michigan walked back into the locker room with its tail between its legs, losing to a 1-3 squad that eventually went on to tie for the Big Ten title, winning seven consecutive games to finish the season 8-3.
Next: 20. MSU vs. Notre Dame (2005)