Five Memorable (And Controversial) Games In The Michigan Vs. Michigan State Rivalry

Please rewrite the given sentence or provide the original sentence that needs to be rewritten.

The rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State has provided numerous unforgettable moments.

Since their inception in 1898, the two in-state rivals have engaged in numerous intense and historic games.

Despite the prediction of a one-sided game by oddsmakers, the meeting between the Spartans and Wolverines on Saturday holds the potential for unexpected outcomes.

Although the following list does not include events from the 1800s, it highlights five significant moments from the recent history of the Michigan vs. Michigan State rivalry.

1. Two-point conversion controversy, 1990

To this day, the 1990 game between Michigan and Michigan State remains a topic of conversation due to the controversies sparked by their long-standing rivalry.

Michigan, the highest-ranked team, welcomed Michigan State for a game that appeared to have an obvious favorite.

Instead, the Spartans achieved a remarkable upset in their program’s history with a 28-27 triumph.

In the game’s narrative, Michigan managed to secure a victory by scoring a touchdown with only six seconds remaining on the clock. This pivotal moment came to life when Elvis Grbac threw a pass to Derrick Alexander, resulting in a successful touchdown. As a result, the score was dramatically altered to 28-27.

In their pursuit of victory, the Wolverines made the decision to go for a two-point conversion. However, during the play, Michigan’s Desmond Howard was tripped by Eddie Brown from Michigan State, resulting in an incomplete pass. To the astonishment of Howard, the officials did not throw a penalty flag, ultimately granting the Spartans the triumph.

The Big Ten did send an apology letter to Michigan regarding the missed call, which I’m certain provided some relief from the frustration.

2. Michigan vs. MSU and Clockgate, 2001

In 2001, Michigan fans were left with a bitter taste as they witnessed another game that haunted them. The Wolverines experienced a heartbreaking defeat of 26-24 in East Lansing.

Despite being undefeated, the Wolverines suffered their first loss of the season on the last play of the game, leading many Michigan fans to argue that the play should have never occurred.

Before the last play, Jeff Smoker, the quarterback for MSU, scrambled but was halted at the 1-yard line by Michigan. In a hasty attempt to spike the ball, Smoker successfully halted the clock with 1 second remaining. Fans of U-M contend that the clock operator promptly stopped the clock before the spike.

The Spartans secured their victory as Smoker located T.J. Duckett in the end zone, who was wide open, on the final play.

In the victorious game, Duckett amassed an impressive total of 211 rushing yards, leaving the Michigan State team in a state of euphoria. Remarkably, Michigan fans continue to hail “Spartan Bob” as the true MVP for Michigan State.

3. Michigan rallies for triple-OT win, 2004

No. 12 Michigan was faced with a grim situation as it found itself trailing MSU 27-10 with only nine minutes remaining in East Lansing.

Afterward, Braylon Edwards assumed control.

Edwards successfully received two touchdown passes from Chad Henne, while Garrett Rivas managed to kick a brief field goal, resulting in a tie game with a score of 27-27. In a bid to secure victory for the Spartans, MSU kicker Dave Rayner had an opportunity to make a 53-yard field goal, but unfortunately missed as the clock ran out in regulation.

In the first overtime, both teams exchanged field goals, followed by touchdowns in the second overtime. Then, in the third overtime, Henne threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Edwards. Michigan took the lead 45-37 after successfully completing a two-point conversion pass.

Any hope for Michigan State to make a comeback was dashed when a 15-yard penalty during their possession prevented them from responding, ultimately leading to Michigan’s victorious comeback.

Edwards concluded the game with 11 catches, accumulating a total of 189 yards. Meanwhile, Mike Hart displayed an impressive performance by rushing for 224 yards on 33 carries. On the other hand, Deandra Cobb led MSU with 205 rushing yards on 22 carries.

4. Words come back to haunt Michigan, 2007

The events that unfolded after the 2007 rivalry game were more memorable than the game itself.

With under eight minutes left to play, No. 15 Michigan triumphed over the Spartans in East Lansing, securing a 28-24 victory after overcoming a 24-14 deficit.

After the game, Mike Hart spoke the words that would ultimately shape the future of the rivalry.

MSU became enthusiastic. Occasionally, during a game of basketball, you deliberately get your younger sibling excited by allowing them to take the lead, only to later reclaim it.

Mark Dantonio, who was coaching the Spartans for the first year, provided a response.

Sometimes, they should take a moment to reflect on their actions. However, it’s important to keep in mind that arrogance often leads to failure. Even if they continue to ridicule us, I want to remind them that our journey is far from finished. I will remain a coach here for a significant period of time. This is only the beginning, and our story is far from over.

After that, Michigan State triumphed in the following four games of the series and dominated in seven out of the next eight encounters.

5. Trouble with the snap, 2015

Over the years, Michigan fans have experienced several unexpected defeats, even in this fierce rivalry.

Nevertheless, no other defeat can compare to the 2015 loss to Michigan State in Ann Arbor, where the final score was 27-23.

In his inaugural season as coach of the Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh seemed poised to secure his maiden victory against the Spartans, with Michigan leading from start to finish in the contest.

With only 10 seconds remaining on the clock and a score of 23-21 in their favor, Michigan found themselves in a crucial moment. They were confronted with a 4th and 2 situation at the 48-yard line of MSU. The Wolverines had a simple task ahead of them: execute a successful punt to effectively drain the remaining time and seal their triumph.

Instead, the snap was mishandled by Michigan punter Blake O’Neill. Observe:

As a group of Spartans swarmed to block the punt, O’Neill lost control of the ball, which was quickly seized by MSU’s Jalen Watts-Jackson. With a solid line of teammates to shield him, Watts-Jackson sprinted towards the end zone, securing the game-winning score just as time ran out.

Michigan fans were in a state of disbelief, while MSU fans were filled with overwhelming joy.

Regrettably, Watts-Jackson suffered a hip fracture during the concluding play and subsequent pile-on celebration.

Can you please rewrite your request?