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

By Connor Muldowney

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)
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) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – SETPEMBER 19: Larry Caper #22 of the Michigan State Spartans scores a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 19, 2009 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Michigan State 33-30. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – SETPEMBER 19: Larry Caper #22 of the Michigan State Spartans scores a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 19, 2009 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Michigan State 33-30. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

3. Overtime win (2009)

Just one year after Mark Dantonio’s first win in the rivalry, the Spartans seemed to have some momentum, but were off to a sluggish start to their 2009 season. They were just 1-3 after losses to Central Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin by a combined 13 points.

Still, the Spartans found a way to get up for this game in East Lansing against No. 22 Michigan. The Wolverines were feeling extra confident this time. The Spartans were reeling and Michigan was 4-0 with a chance to go 2-0 in the Big Ten, jockeying for position in the standings.

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Michigan State took a 20-6 lead on a Glenn Winston touchdown run in the fourth quarter and everything seemed to be looking up, but Michigan struck back.

Would this be a repeat of that nightmarish 2007 game when Michigan stormed back to win in the second half?

Answer: almost.

Michigan forced overtime, but a Chris L. Rucker interception on the Wolverines’ first possession gave the Spartans the ball with a chance to win with a field goal.

Larry Caper had other plans, taking a third-down handoff to the end zone. Michigan State won in dramatic fashion and East Lansing was rocking all day/night.

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