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Michigan State Football: 10 most painful losses of Mark Dantonio era

By Connor Muldowney

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 21: Darqueze Dennard #31 of the Michigan State Spartans breaks up a pass intended for DeVarius Daniels #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 21, 2013 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Michigan State 17-13. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 21: Darqueze Dennard #31 of the Michigan State Spartans breaks up a pass intended for DeVarius Daniels #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 21, 2013 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Michigan State 17-13. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 03: B.J. Cunningham #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs the ball 6-yards into the endzone after he got the ballo n a lateral by Keith Nichol #7 against Antonio Fenelus #26 and Kevin Claxton #9 of the Wisconsin Badgers during the second quarter of the Big 10 Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 3, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 03: B.J. Cunningham #3 of the Michigan State Spartans runs the ball 6-yards into the endzone after he got the ballo n a lateral by Keith Nichol #7 against Antonio Fenelus #26 and Kevin Claxton #9 of the Wisconsin Badgers during the second quarter of the Big 10 Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 3, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. Wisconsin sneaks by in Big Ten title game (2011)

Have you ever come so close to winning something only to fall short because of a silly mistake you made? That was Michigan State’s Big Ten title game appearance in 2011.

It was the first year of the Big Ten Championship Game and Michigan State played Wisconsin for the second time on the year. The first was a last-second miracle heave from Kirk Cousins which bounced into the hands of Keith Nichol for the game-winning touchdown. This one was just as close as the Spartans met Russell Wilson yet again.

Down 42-39 with the clock ticking down under two minutes, Wisconsin was forced to punt and Keshawn Martin was back for the Spartans. He fielded the ball cleanly and took it down the sideline to the Wisconsin 3, but there was a flag on the play.

Isaiah Lewis was flagged for a weak running into the punter penalty, giving Wisconsin a first down and the ball back. You be the judge.

If not for this penalty, Michigan State would have four Big Ten titles in the Mark Dantonio era.

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