Michigan Loses to Michigan State on Last Second Fumble

Twelfth ranked Michigan hosted arch rival and #7 Michigan State on October 17th in a game with big implications in the highly competitive Big Ten East race. The Wolverines led 23-21 with 10 seconds left in the game, and were at the Spartans’ 47 yard line. It was fourth down and Michigan was in formation to punt. All they had to do was kick it downfield to win the game.

But then in a shocking turnaround, the Wolverines snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Punter Blake O’Neil fumbled the snap and Michigan State’s Jalen Watts-Jackson picked it up and scampered into the end zone for a touchdown as time ran out, giving the Spartans a 27-23 victory.

Watts-Jackson ended up with a dislocated hip in the ensuing celebration in the end zone. The Spartans remained undefeated at 7-0 overall, 3-0 in the Big Ten and tied with Ohio State in the Big Ten East. The Buckeyes beat Penn State 38-10.

Michigan fell to 2-1 in conference play and 5-2 overall. Despite this jaw dropping defeat, the Wolverines are proving they are well on the road back after a side trip to mediocrity the last few years. Michigan’s only other loss to date was the opener at Utah. Utah was ranked #4 in the nation coming into this week’s action.