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Michigan v. Michigan State Football: The Greatest Games

By Colton Wesley

Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Delton Williams (22) attempts to run the ball as Michigan Wolverines linebacker Desmond Morgan (3) moves in to tackle in the first quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Delton Williams (22) attempts to run the ball as Michigan Wolverines linebacker Desmond Morgan (3) moves in to tackle in the first quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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2005 – “For the game… He’s got it!”

#11 Michigan State came in as the favorite, hosting unranked Michigan two weeks after upsetting #10 Notre Dame on the road. The Wolverines had started the season ranked #4, but losses to Notre Dame and Wisconsin had bumped them out of the top 25 by the time the two met on October 1 in East Lansing.

Michigan built a 21-7 lead in the first quarter thanks to three touchdown passes from Chad Henne. Michigan State scored two unanswered touchdowns to tie the game, but a Wolverines field goal put them in front, 24-21, at halftime. After tying the game with a 26-yard field goal, Spartans kicker John Doss missed a go-ahead 23-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

Michigan responded with a one-yard touchdown run by Mike Hart, who finished with 218 yards in his first week back from injury, to take a 31-24 lead. On the Wolverines’ next possession, however, driving in Michigan State territory to try to put the game away, Henne was sacked by Clifton Ryan and fumbled. Defensive tackle Domata Peko picked up the loose ball and ran it back 74 yards for a tying touchdown. The fumble was reviewed and, although it looked like the play could have been ruled an incomplete pass, the officials stayed with the call on the field.

Michigan had one more shot at winning the game in overtime, but Garrett Rivas‘ 26-yard field goal try went wide right with 48 seconds left and the game went to an extra period. The Spartans took the ball first but failed to score as Goss missed a second field goal try, pushing a 38-yard attempt wide right, which gave Rivas another chance to win it for the Wolverines, which he did with a 35-yarder to upset the Spartans, 34-31.

The loss to Michigan was the beginning of a three-game skid for the Spartans, who lost six of their last seven, finishing 5-6 and failing to make a bowl game for the second year in a row. The Wolverines clawed their way back into the top 25 and finished the season 7-5, ranked #20 in the AP Poll before losing to then-Big 12 Nebraska, 32-28, in the Alamo Bowl.

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