Fansided
Fansided

Michigan State wins with the most amazing play you’ll see this year

By Sayre Bedinger

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As if the rivalry game between Michigan and Michigan State wasn’t going to be good enough as it were, decided by less than a touchdown, it came down to the final drive of the game in which the Wolverines had the game locked up. All they had to do was run the clock down as far as they could, punt the ball away, and maybe defend against a hail mary or possibly a bunch of laterals on a punt return.

Not so fast.

What happened on the last play of the game is the most exciting, confusing, hilarious, epic finish to a game you’ll see all year. It’s better than a hail mary at the end of a game. It’s better than a pick six in sudden death overtime. It’s better than DeSean Jackson’s touchdown against the Giants on a punt return (sorry, Eagles fans).

This is the greatest thing I’ve witnessed, for a number of reasons, which I’ll lay out for you. Without any further delay, check out this incredible ending to a football game.

I had to watch the play a number of times over to fully grasp the magnitude of what had just happened. Let’s analyze what’s going on here in this play.

1. This is a road game for Michigan State

A road game which they had no business winning, if we’re honest. Michigan was in the driver’s seat until the last play of the game here. They were on their way to a massive home victory over a Big Ten, in-state rival, and likely a top 10 ranking.

2. This game has major CFB playoff implications

Whichever team won this game obviously has the better shot at the Big Ten title game, which — if won — will essentially punch a ticket to the CFB playoff. Incredibly, this one play could wind up costing Michigan a shot at both.

Oh my.

3. The punter’s dilemma

The punter in this game had a whale of a game if you look at his numbers, including a 80-freaking-yard punt earlier in the game. It’s not entirely his fault that this play even had to happen, because the Michigan offense couldn’t come up with a key first down late in the 4th quarter when they needed it most.

The dilemma here for the punter was what to do with

A. The bad snap

B. The dropped football

C. The ball after he (foolishly, but instinctually) picked it up.

He decided he was going to try to punt it and in what was probably like a slow-motion “Matrix” style play for this kid, he completely lost control of the ball. If it were any one of you, you would have done the same thing, so get off this kid’s back.

4. The recovery/score

How does anyone at this point in the game have the presence of mind to start a convoy to the end zone and not only recover the ball, but score with it? That’s incredible coaching on the part of Michigan State that, in a moment of this magnitude, they were able to have the presence of mind to score the football as the clock expired and not only recover the bobbled snap.

5. The injured hero

If you watch this play, the kid who scores the football at the end of the game here injures his hip. He is in a great deal of pain as his teammates pile on him, and as they do so, you can see in the video that he’s swatting them all off before eventually, they make a huddle around him and wave the trainers over.

The player — Jalen Watts-Jackson — was eventually carted off the field with a dislocated hip. Yikes.

6. The fan reactions

Watch the video over a number of times to truly grasp the greatness of the fan reaction. You won’t see a better contrast of emotions than this. Michigan fans are absolutely stunned speechless, while Michigan State fans can’t really appropriately react.

There is a pair of old Michigan State fans in the video, one who is so excited he just goes for a handshake and his pal with the game program doesn’t reciprocate, hilariously leaving is comrade hanging.

7. The announcer’s voice cracks

The play was so shocking, ESPN’s play-by-play man couldn’t help but let his voice do whatever his emotions would allow in the moment. There are a couple of really hilarious voice cracks to be aware of in that video.

8. In the books

On the whole, Michigan had honestly won this game. As for the record books? It goes to Michigan State. This will go down as one of the most memorable games in college history and certainly one of the most prominent in the rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State.

9. Michigan fan status

10. Mocks staff reactions — live

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