Punter and backup quarterback Tyler O’Connor ran seven yards on a fourth-and-8 from the Michigan State 31, turning the ball over on downs. It looked like a trick play was going to lead to a setback for the Spartans.ĭantonio, known for having the guts to call trick plays, called for a fake punt when no one was expecting it. In fact, both teams took good care of the football until the final snap. Jake Rudock was 15 of 25 and 168 yards and avoided turning the ball over. Michigan State moved the ball up and down the field against a team that had shut out three straight opponents, picking up 386 yards - mostly through the air - and 20 first downs.Ĭonnor Cook was 18 of 39 for 328 yards and a touchdown and Aaron Burbridge had nine receptions for 132 yards for the Spartans. We ran through the scenarios and felt like the best decision was to punt. “If you go for it, you leave them with a Hail Mary opportunity,” Harbaugh said. Michigan had two and Harbaugh used both, including one with 10 seconds left to set up the final punt and discuss all options. They couldn’t quite shake Michigan State, however, who-with help from a 74-yard completion on a wheel route from Connor Cook to fullback Trevor Pendleton-scored to cut the lead to 23-21 in the fourth quarter.The Spartans had only one timeout left and used it after the next snap.
Michigan scored on a controversial one-yard touchdown plunge by Sione Houma in the third quarter to take a 17-7 lead, their largest of the game. It was Jim Harbaugh‘s game against Michigan State as the Wolverines’ head coach and, despite the fact that Michigan State was the better team statistically, outgaining Michigan 386-230 and picking up 20 first downs to the Wolverines’ 10, the Spartans never led until the clock read 0:00. Lost in all of this is the fact that the game was a pretty great game in its own right before that final play. Broadcasters George Blaha and Jim Brandstatter did not disappoint with their respective radio calls of the play. The shocked expressions of Michigan fans completely captured the unbelievability of the moment and found their way onto memes and t-shirts across the Midwest.
The win saved the Spartans’ College Football Playoff hopes while keeping them atop the Big Ten East, and it did so in front of 100,000 fans in their hated rival’s house and millions more watching live in primetime. But he said he would do it all over again.Īdding to the improbability of the moment is its importance. Michigan State had a 0.2% chance of winning the game before the final play, according to ESPN, who opted to label the thing an “end of game touchdown” in their play-by-play record of the game, presumably because no one knew what to call it. Watts-Jackson had never touched the ball in a college game before and broke his hip upon being tackled, ending his season. Detroit Tigers may be missing Matt Manning for longer than expected.Detroit Lions: Is it time to root against Matthew Stafford?.Detroit Red Wings: Can Lucas Raymond produce as he did in rookie year?.
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