Michigan State Football: Top 30 games in school history
7. MSU vs. Michigan (2001)
Clockgate. Everyone who is anyone watched this game back in 2001 and remembers just how intense the rivalry got when the Spartans squared off against the No. 6 Michigan Wolverines back in 2001. It was Bobby Williams’ second year at the helm and he was faced with one of the biggest decisions of his young coaching career.
Right after a 3rd-and-goal in which Jeff Smoker rolled to his right, looked for an open receiver and was tackled with about 12 seconds left at the two-yard-line, the veteran quarterback had to get his team lined up as quick as he could and he spiked the ball with one second left on the clock.
Michigan faithful will tell you the clock should have run out, but with such a little fraction between the snap and the spike, you wouldn’t be able to really tell the difference on a stop watch. Well, that’s neither here nor there, but the game was on the line, Michigan State down 24-20 and one play left in Williams’ arsenal.
Smoker took the final snap of the game and rolled to his right yet again, looked back to his left and saw a couple of Michigan defenders in his face. He tossed the ball up to the perfect spot where T.J. Duckett was waiting for it. The Spartans won the game on a last-second touchdown pass from Smoker to Duckett that will be watched on repeat forever and ever.
Next: 6. MSU vs. Michigan (2015)