Michigan State Football: Ranking Mark Dantonio's 8 wins over Michigan

Michigan State Football: Ranking Mark Dantonio’s 8 wins over Michigan

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 29: Head coach Jim Harbaugh Michigan Wolverines shakes hands with head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans after a 32-23 Michigan win at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

2 of 8

ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 1: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #7 of the Michigan State Spartans sets to pass against the Georgia Bulldogs at the 2009 Capital One Bowl at the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /

7. Dantonio’s first win in the rivalry (2008)

“It’s not over. It’ll never be over. It’s just starting.”

That line will forever be remembered following the 2007 loss when Michigan State seemingly had the game won but Michigan came back from a 10-point deficit to win, 28-24. Mike Hart made his infamous “little brother” quote and it sent Mark Dantonio on a mission.

Since that loss, Michigan State has defeated the Wolverines 8-of-10 times.

It all started with the 2008 game, which Dantonio took extremely personally. It was played in Ann Arbor and the tone was set early on with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Brian Hoyer to Blair White on a slant. Michigan tied things up at 7-7 and then again at 14-14, even pulling ahead 21-14 in the second half, but Michigan State scored the final 21 points to run away with a win — Dantonio’s first as the Spartans’ coach.

You could say this victory set the bar for the next decade of games in the rivalry and it would be treated with intensity played with a chip on the shoulder.

Home/Spartans Football