Michigan State Football: 5 best game in series history vs. Ohio State

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 1: Jordan Hall #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is tackled for a loss by Denicos Allen #28 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 1, 2011 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan State defeated Ohio State 10-7. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 1: Jordan Hall #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is tackled for a loss by Denicos Allen #28 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 1, 2011 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan State defeated Ohio State 10-7. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

5. Spartans beat Buckeyes 10-7 (2011)

This was a bad year for Ohio State football. Jim Tressel was gone and interim head coach Luke Fickell had taken over. Michigan State had not beaten Ohio State since 1999, at the time. However, Michigan State did not play Ohio State every year.

Albeit this was a huge win over the Buckeyes, because it got the monkey off the Spartans’ back. Their previous meeting was in 2009 and they got crushed 45-7. This 2011 game is the one where then sophomore Denicos Allen leaped over an offensive lineman to sack the quarterback.

The defense that would eventually enable the Spartans to win the 2013 Rose Bowl was young and this game helped them come into their own. Before this game, sports writers and pundits would say ‘well at least MSU does not have Ohio State on the schedule.’

The Spartans broke through the barrier and it led to them being a fixture atop the Big Ten. This 2017 Spartan team has a similar obstacle and it will be up to them to break through as well.

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