Michigan State Football: Top 30 games in school history
10. MSU vs. Wisconsin (2011)
Hail Mary throws are rarely successful — unless you’re the Green Bay Packers playing against the Detroit Lions — but luck was on Michigan State’s side against the No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers.
Four seconds remained on the clock in regulation and Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins had one last shot at the end zone in him. If the Spartans failed to score a touchdown on the heave, so what, an overtime was looming against one of the best teams in the country.
Cousins took the snap, rolled out to his right to avoid the three-man rush, stepped up and chucked a 55-yard spiral toward the goal-line with about eight players from both teams waiting for the pass to drop somewhere so it could either be knocked down or caught for the win.
The ball caromed off B.J. Cunningham’s helmet and landed perfectly into the hands of former quarterback Keith Nichol who had converted to wide receiver after Cousins beat him out for the starting job. Nichol had the ball at the one-yard-line and needed an extra push to get over the line and into the end zone.
Nichol fought two or three Wisconsin defenders for position and it was ruled down at the one with no time left. The play went to the booth for a review and came back as a touchdown. Spartan Stadium got louder than I can ever remember in a matter of seconds.
Next: 9. MSU vs. Northwestern (2006)