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

8. Arizona State steals win in the desert (2018)

This was the start of Michigan State’s offensive struggles in 2018. After scoring 38 in the opener against what turned out to be a strong Utah State team, the Spartans could only muster 13 points on an Arizona State team not known for its defense, led by first-year head coach Herm Edwards.

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But those 13 points looked to be enough as the game progressed in the second half. Michigan State was ahead 13-3 heading into the fourth quarter, but the offense couldn’t get the ball moving down the field and the defense was just worn down.

Three 65-plus yard drives torched the Spartans in that final quarter and led to two field goals and a touchdown against the Spartans as kicker Brandon Ruiz nailed the game-winner from 28 yards out with no time left to give the Sun Devils a signature win over No. 15 MSU.

Brian Lewerke’s homecoming was spoiled and there’s reason to believe he tweaked something in his shoulder during the first half of this game when he was hit but no one talked about it.

This loss was a heartbreaker and it felt sort of like that Indiana loss from 2016 — it changed the momentum for the whole season.