Throwback Thursday: Michigan State’s miracle comeback shocks Michigan in 2015

Looking back at Michigan State’s 2015 upset over Michigan in Jim Harbaugh’s first game as the Wolverines’ head coach for this week’s Throwback Thursday column.

Michigan faces rival Michigan State this weekend for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Three years ago, in this same game, both teams provided one of the craziest finishes ever in college football. Almost three years later fans of both teams remember this game all too well.

Michigan ushered in the Jim Harbaugh era in 2015. The former Wolverine quarterback had his sights set on returning Michigan to prominence in the Big Ten and, more importantly, beating rival Ohio State and Michigan State as much as possible. The Wolverines had a dominant defense that featured future pros Taco Charlton, Jourdan Lewis and Jabrill Peppers. Michigan began the season unranked, but after starting 3-1 cracked the Top 25 at No. 22. Back-to-back shutouts against Maryland and Northwestern gave Michigan a 5-1 record heading into the battle with in-state rival Michigan State.

Coming off an 11-2 season and Cotton Bowl win, Mark Dantonio had Michigan State dreaming big in 2015. Quarterback Connor Cook returned for his senior season with a strong receiving corp that included DeAnthony Arnett, Aaron Burbridge and A.J. Troup.

Michigan State also had a strong defense anchored by defensive end Shilique Calhoun and defensive back Demetrious Cox. The team began their campaign ranked No. 5 in the AP poll and climbed up three more spots after starting 3-0. Narrow wins against unranked Purdue and Rutgers dropped Michigan State to No. 7 heading into the game against rival Michigan.

College Gameday was on-site for the match-up and the proclaimed game of the week lived up to the hype. After no scores in the first quarter, Michigan drew first blood with a Sione Houma touchdown run. L.J. Scott tied the game with a touchdown run of his own, but the Wolverines tacked on a 38-yard field goal to make the score 10-7 going into halftime.

Houman scored again to put Michigan up by ten, but Cook responded with a touchdown pass to Macgarrett Kings Jr. After another Michigan field goal, the score was 20-14 heading into the last quarter. Another field goal gave Michigan some breathing room, but Scott struck again with another rushing touchdown to bring his Spartans to within two 23-21. Then one of the greatest finishes of all-time happened.

Michigan’s final drive stalled and with ten seconds left they lined up to punt, hoping the clock would run out on the ensuing return. Unfortunately, punter Blake O’Neill fumbled the snap and Jalen Watts-Jackson returned the ball for the winning touchdown.

The loss was a heart-breaker for Michigan, but the team rebounded to finish the regular season 9-3 in Harbaugh’s first year. The Wolverines would beat No. 19 Florida in the Florida Citrus Bowl 41-7 and finish No. 12 in the final AP poll.

Michigan State would lose two weeks later to unranked Nebraska but finished the regular season 11-1. A win over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship gave them their second conference title in three seasons. The Spartans were College Football Playoff bound and faced Alabama in the semifinal game at the Cotton Bowl. Sadly, Michigan State was no match for the Tide, losing 38-0.

Both teams are ranked again this year and are fighting for supremacy in the Big Ten. While nothing may top the 2015 game, this year’s match-up is a must-see for college football fans around the country.