Michigan State Football: Mark Dantonio’s 15 most memorable games
8. Wisconsin vs. MSU (2011)
There have been so many memorable last-second finishes in Dantonio’s tenure, and there will be a handful left on the list after this one, but the Wisconsin finish in 2011 was nothing short of a miracle.
Sitting on a 5-1 record and facing No. 6 Wisconsin, the 16th-ranked Spartans knew they had a huge home game looming that would go a long way in deciding who would be heading to the Big Ten title game in December. Bielema’s Badgers have always played a close game against the Spartans and this was arguably Wisconsin’s best team in recent memory.
NC State transfer Russell Wilson was a stud at quarterback for the Badgers, but Cousins got the first laugh of the 2011 season against Wisconsin. I say first laugh because Wilson and the Badgers got the last one in the conference title game against MSU.
The game was tied at 31 with just four seconds to go and Michigan State had the ball at the Badgers’ 44-yard-line. Cousins dropped back for a Hail Mary and his prayers were answered.
Keith Nichol caught the deflection off B.J. Cunningham’s facemask and muscled his way into the end zone. The play went under review, but when touchdown was the final call, the crowd went bananas.
Next: 7. Georgia (2012)