Michigan State Football: Top 10 plays of the regular season

Sep 4, 2015; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver R.J. Shelton (12) gestures to the sidelines during the 2nd half of a game against the Western Michigan Broncos at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

8. R.J. Shelton catch vs. Rutgers

R.J. Shelton really deserves a cool nickname. Next year he will likely be the Spartans’ No. 1 target, so he will have more opportunities to do so, but when Michigan State has needed a huge play, Shelton has given it to them.

That was never more evident than when the junior slot receiver caught the biggest pass of the season, to that point, against Rutgers. With the score tied at 24 on the road in a hostile environment, the Spartans were looking to avoid a mammoth upset in week six — a week before the vaunted Michigan game.

A loss would be absolutely devastating for the Spartans, so it would be up to Connor Cook to engineer the game-winning drive with just over 3:30 left in the fourth quarter. A huge 3rd-and-9 was looming and everyone thought that Aaron Burbridge would be the guy to make the big play for a first down to avoid the dreaded fourth-down play — or even a punt to give Rutgers a shot at a clean win.

Cook fired a seed down the left side of the field, hitting Shelton with a beautiful pass, but an even better catch. Shelton rose up over the defender and saved the Spartans’ season.

The Spartans would end up scoring on the drive, putting the game away for good.

Next: 7. Jack Allen TD