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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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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 7: Wide receiver Brandon Reilly #87 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers scores the winning touch past cornerback Jermaine Edmondson #39 of the Michigan State Spartans during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 7: Wide receiver Brandon Reilly #87 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers scores the winning touch past cornerback Jermaine Edmondson #39 of the Michigan State Spartans during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) /

3. Robbery in Lincoln vs. Nebraska ruins perfect season (2015)

There have been a few occasions during Mark Dantonio’s career when he had a perfect regular season within grasp only to have it ripped from his hands.

The 2010 season against Iowa was the first such occasion and then 2013 against Notre Dame — we’ll get to that one — and lastly, it was 2015 at Nebraska. The latter two games were especially painful because they should have been wins, but outside factors played a role in the outcome.

I’m not one to blame the refs for losses, because that’s not usually the case. Teams are in control of their own destiny, but this case was a little different.

Nebraska trailed 38-26 with under five minutes left on its own turf and then the Cornhusker got a little home cooking. Tommy Armstrong Jr. scored a touchdown to pull within five and then Nebraska got the ball back and went 91 yards in 38 seconds, capping off the drive with a controversial 30-yard touchdown catch by Brandon Reilly.

Why was it so controversial? Well, he stepped out of bounds and came back in to make the catch which is illegal touching, but the refs didn’t call it, claiming he was forced out of bounds.

That was not the case.

Man, this one still hurts.

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