Jim Harbaugh relives haunting Trouble with the Snap vs. Michigan State football

There are probably many plays you can think back to throughout your Michigan State football fandom that automatically bring a smile to your face. Whether it be the Rose Bowl clinching tackle in 2014 or Little Giants against Notre Dame, some of these plays will never leave our minds.

But the one play that potentially lives in our minds the most and brings the biggest smile to our faces is Trouble with the Snap from the 2015 season.

This play was perfect for so many reasons. It kept Michigan State's undefeated season in 2015 alive and set them up to win the Big Ten East and Big Ten Championship. There also is no play that has ever happened in this history of football that is like it. But most importantly it also set a precedent in the rivalry with Michigan as it was the first meeting with Jim Harbaugh as the Wolverines' head coach.

The fact that this was his first game in the rivalry makes it that much better in my opinion. The look of sheer horror and confusion on his face seconds after this play will forever be engrained into my head, and it sounds like those feelings will never leave Harbaugh's mind either.

Fast forward to 2024 and Harbaugh appeared on Barstool Sports Pardon my Take podcast where this play was specifically brought up. This was the first I have heard Harbaugh talk about the play since it happened, and man was it fun to hear what he had to say.

"Let’s not bring it up."

- Jim Harbaugh

That's what Harbaugh initially said when the hosts brought the topic up, but after a little more pressure Harbaugh eventually caved and opened up about the play.

"I’m not fully over that… it’s left a bruise there. One of the top 5 worst things that’s ever happened to me in my life."

- Jim Harbaugh

Not only has it left this much of a lasting impact on Harbaugh, but this play is solely responsible for a few special teams scheme adjustments he's made as well. Harbaugh said he no longer lets his punters stand 16 yards from the line of scrimmage and forces them to stand 14 yards away. This is likely to help the long snapper out as the snap on this play did come in a little low.

Harbaugh also shared that he no longer lets his punters do this style of punt anymore which is called spread punting. He now forces them to do the regular pro style punt.

So not only has this play lived rent free in his mind all these years, but it also caused him to change how he coaches his teams. That's how you know this play was as iconic as it comes, and that's why us Michigan State fans will continue to talk about (and brag about it) for the rest of our lives.