Michigan State Football: Top 30 games in school history

Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Michigan State Spartans place kicker Michael Geiger (4) celebrates after making the game-winning field goal on the final play of the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. The Spartans won 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

19. MSU vs. Ohio State (2015)

Given no chance to go into Columbus and take down the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes who happened to be defending national champs, the Spartans were the ultimate David in the matchup against Goliath in the late-November contest.

Michigan State had been saying all season long how it controlled its own destiny, and this was a prime example of that. Although Cook was a little banged up from the previous game, he had played in bigger situations on brighter stages — even though this looked to be the biggest implication-ridden game of his career.

Rumors were circulating about the senior quarterback not being able to go, but all signs in warm-ups pointed to him playing, but having his throwing limited.

As the first huddle broke on the sidelines, Michigan State’s offenses jogged onto the field, led by Tyler O’Connor. Panic ensued.

The chances of Michigan State winning went from 25 percent to about 0.0001 percent in a matter of seconds. Spartan Nation was on edge and cringed at the thought of O’Connor and Damion Terry, having not played a snap all year before the Maryland game, coming in and trying to lead the Spartans to a win over the 2015 national champs.

All Michigan State had to do was play great defense, and they did just that, allowing O’Connor and Terry to do just enough to get the job done, leading MSU to two scores and getting the ball back late with a chance to melt the clock and get into field goal range.

Getting the ball to the right hash for a 41-yard try, Michael Geiger trotted onto the field with three seconds left looking confident as ever.

Calm, cool and collected, he drilled the field goal, only to find out Urban Meyer had called a timeout to ice him. After the timeout, he was still looking confident and level-headed, drilling the next try as well and running down the field celebrating by flailing his arms in windmill fashion before he could even see it soar through the uprights.

Michigan State needed that to make a run at the College Football Playoff.

Next: 18. MSU vs. Iowa (2015)