Michigan State Football: Top 30 games in school history

Dec 30, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the 100th Rose Bowl logo helmet at press conference at LA Hotel Downtown. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

4. MSU vs. UCLA (1956)

Back during a time in which it was still surprising to see African American football players, this contest featured two of the more integrated teams in the country. Michigan State had seven African American players and UCLA had six.

According to the TV ratings during that season, the Michigan State vs. UCLA Rose Bowl contest had the highest rating of all the bowl games during the postseason. It was watched by more than a third of the country who owned TV sets — which may not have been that many people at the time.

Playing against the defending nation champion who had an undefeated season in 1954, the Spartans were looking like the underdog in the 1956 Rose Bowl. The game was close throughout and the Spartans took the first lead in the fourth quarter before UCLA tied it up at 14 shortly after.

In the final seconds of the game, new kicker Dave Kaiser nailed a 41-yard field goal to win the game for Michigan State, 17-14. The Spartans finished the season as Rose Bowl champs and were also crowned national champions, the third in five years. Michigan State was known as a power at that point and the Spartans were earning some major national respect.

Next: 3. MSU vs. Michigan (1990)