Michigan State vs. Michigan, 27-23: Full highlights, final score and more

Michigan State shocks Michigan with last-second blocked punt

The Michigan Wolverines looked like they were going to turn the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy against the rival Michigan State Spartans into a defensive struggle through the first 15 minutes of play, but things took a different turn after the first half. The Wolverines got on the board first, but Connor Cook led a quick drive downfield for an LJ Scott rushing touchdown to even it up. Michigan answered with a short drive of their own for a field goal to take a 10-7 lead into the half. Things were only about to get more hectic inside the Big House, though.

The defenses for both teams were getting after it in the second half, but that somehow led to more points going up on the board. Michigan stretched their lead to 17-7 early in the third, but Cook answered just over two minutes later with a 30-yard touchdown pass. Two field goals for Michigan later, the Spartans brought the score to 23-21 in favor of Michigan with time winding down.

Michigan’s offense seemed to get a bit skittish during crunch time and Jake Rudock began making some questionable and uninspiring throws as his team tried to hold onto the lead. That led to the Spartans having a late drive to try and win the game with a last-second field goal. Cook made some beautiful throws to try and march his team downfield, but the Wolverines defense was in the backfield on virtually every play. All of that eventually led to a fourth-and-19 with the game on the line for the Spartans. Cook was immediately under pressure from the Michigan front-seven yet again and had to throw up a heave that was knocked down. That seemed like it was it.

It wasn’t.

Michigan was trying to run the clock down and then punt it away, but the punter fumbled the snap and the Spartans unfathomably returned it for the game-winning touchdown. They don’t make rivalry victories much crazier than that.

Three Stars

Jabrill Peppers looked every bit like the star that he is in this game. In addition to superb defensive effort, Peppers had a number of big returns both on punts and kickoffs to help win the field position battle and recorded two catches for 35 yards just for good measure.

How can you not include the Michigan State special teams in this solely for that final play? They may have been burned before in this game, but that final play keeps them undefeated.

The Michigan front seven gets their own spot here because they were phenomenal. They didn’t force any turnovers and only sacked Connor Cook three times, but they were pressuring Cook all day, rendered LJ Scott ineffective, and were basically a terror all afternoon.

Highlights

Odds

Michigan was favored by seven points in this game, a line that they were unable to cover despite getting the victory. The two teams also just scraped by to hit the over on 43 points.

Next Week

Michigan State will play a frisky Indiana Hoosiers football team next week in Spartan Stadium.

The Wolverines have an open date next week to likely recover from a debilitating loss, but will look to get things back rolling on the road against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Halloween.