Michigan State Football: Top 30 games in school history
23. MSU vs. Michigan (2009)
Looking to win their second game in a row against the Wolverines, Michigan State went into the 2009 contest as the underdog. The Spartans had begun the season just 1-3 after three straight losses to Central Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin — all were decided by one score.
Michigan State had two freshman feature backs in Larry Caper and Edwin Baker while the 4-0 Wolverines were led by Tate Forcier — a quarterback who got way too much praise for early-season success.
The Spartans looked like the better team throughout the game, and they were, mounting a 20-6 lead with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter, but unlike a Dantonio-coached team, they squandered the two-touchdown lead and went into overtime with Michigan, tied at 20.
Forcier’s third-down pass in the first overtime was deflected by the Spartans and caught by a diving Chris L. Rucker to give Michigan State the ball with a chance to win on just a field goal.
Caper had other plans.
The freshman running back took the handoff which was going to be used to set up Brett Swenson with an easy field goal and he took it 25 yards to the house, breaking tackles along the way.
Next: 22. MSU vs. Ohio State (2013)