Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Football: Mark Dantonio’s 15 most memorable games

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson (20) dives into the end zone for a game winning touchdown as the clock runs out in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Michigan State 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson (20) dives into the end zone for a game winning touchdown as the clock runs out in the fourth quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Michigan State 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 15
Next
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) dives in for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott (3) dives in for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

6. MSU vs. Iowa (2015)

How could anyone forget Michigan State’s heavyweight bout with Iowa in December of 2015 for the Big Ten title? You can’t, that’s how.

Iowa entered the 2015 Big Ten Championship with a 12-0 record and was the fourth-ranked team in college football, looking to make the second-ever playoff field. Michigan State was 11-1 and ranked fifth, making it clear that the winner of the conference’s title game would be heading to the playoff.

A 22-play drive that lasted more than nine minutes in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference between a playoff berth and heading to the Rose Bowl yet again for Michigan State. Cook’s shoulder wasn’t 100 percent, obviously, and he spent most of the final drive handing the ball off to LJ Scott.

The freshman running back finished the game with 73 yards on 22 yards, including the biggest touchdown of his young career.

With 33 seconds left on a 3rd-and-goal from the 1-yard-line, Scott ran to the right, got stuffed and bulled his way into the end zone, dragging Iowa defenders with him for the playoff-clinching score.

Michigan State took the lead 16-13 and stopped Iowa on its final drive to win the game.

Next: 5. Ohio State (2013)

Home/Spartans Football