Photo by: Rey Del Rio MSU Athletic Communications
A Look at Dantonio's Record-Setting 110 Wins
9/22/2019 10:42:00 AM | Football
With the 31-10 triumph over Northwestern on Saturday, Mark Dantonio became Michigan State's all-time winningest coach in program history with 110 victories, surpassing the legendary Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty.
But Dantonio has been the first person to say that the milestone would be nowhere in sight without the players who've gone through the program since he took it over in 2007.
"I've been blessed to be here," said Dantonio prior to the season. "I've been humbled to be here, and there's been a lot of great players here and a lot of great moments here.
"A lot of different people have been involved in this process. I think it's a sense of accomplishment for a lot of people. It's not just one person."
Following his milestone victory, Dantonio again thanked everyone who helped him make history.
"You can't get there without players, can't get there without coaches," Dantonio said. "You can't get there without past players and current players. This is a very special group of players that we have, I really believe that.
"A lot of family came and just to be a part of the moment, (they) came to Chicago for the weekend and to share this with my brother John. My wife (Becky) was working the sideline, I think. But you can't get there by yourself. You need family that's very supportive especially in this position and you need players that will stand by you. You need administrators that support you when things are tough, and you also need people that are supporters of the program, whether vocally or financially to do all that they do. Appreciative of everybody that has gone in that direction."
It all started on Nov. 27, 2006, when Dantonio, a former Spartan assistant coach in the 1990s, was hired as Michigan State University's 24th head football coach. In his opening press conference, Dantonio said: "My vision here is to win championships. That's my vision."
And he has delivered with an incredible set of accomplishments.
Dantonio has won the most Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (five) of any Spartan head coach and also ranks first with 11 bowl appearances. He is the only active Big Ten coach to win multiple Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015), claim a victory in the Rose Bowl (2014), and coach in the College Football Playoff (2015). And he also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.660, 66-34 record, minimum 10 games); tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven); second in Big Ten wins (66), home wins (65) and AP Top 25 wins (21); and fifth in overall winning percentage (.679).
Not to mention those record-setting 110 wins. Here's a rundown of every victory during the Dantonio era.
Game capsules written by Steve Grinczel
Spartan captain Kaleb Thornhill and Mark Dantonio lead "The Walk" to Spartan Stadium for Dantonio's first game as head coach of the Spartans.
1. Sept. 1, 2008 – Michigan State 55, UAB 18
You can't get to 110 without winning the first one, and that came during Dantonio's MSU debut on Sept. 1, 2007, against UAB. Jehuu Caulcrick, MSU's bruising tailback, rushed for four touchdowns to help give the Spartans a 35-3 lead – at halftime. The Spartans continued to dominate in the second half and won 55-18. How's that for a great start?
2. Sept. 8, 2007 – Michigan State 28, Bowling Green 17
3. Sept. 15, 2007 – Michigan State 17, Pittsburgh 13
4. Sept. 22, 2007 – Michigan State 31, Notre Dame 14
5. Oct. 13, 2007 – Michigan State 52, Indiana 27
6. Nov. 10, 2007 – Michigan State 48, Purdue 31
7. Nov. 17, 2007 – Michigan State 35, Penn State 31
8. Sept. 6, 2008 – Michigan State 42, Eastern Michigan 10
9. Sept. 13, 2008 – Michigan State 17, Florida Atlantic 0
10. Sept. 20, 2008 – Michigan State 23, Notre Dame 7
11. Sept. 27, 2008 – Michigan State 42, Indiana 29
12. Oct. 4, 2008 – Michigan State 16, Iowa 13
13. Oct. 11, 2008 – No. 23 Michigan State 37, Northwestern 20
14. Oct. 25, 2008 – Michigan State 35, Michigan 21
A year passed before Dantonio notched his first victory against Michigan, but it was almost worth the wait. On Oct. 25, 2008, the Spartans wiped away 18 years of pent-up angst with a 35-21 win, their first in Michigan Stadium since 1990. MSU dominated total yardage 473-252 for its biggest advantage in the series in 50 years.
Mark Dantonio holds the Paul Bunyan Trophy following MSU's win over Michigan in 2008.
15. Nov. 1, 2008 – No. 22 Michigan State 25, Wisconsin 24
16. Nov. 8, 2008 – No. 18 Michigan State 21, Purdue 7
17. Sept. 5, 2009 – Michigan State 44, Montana State 3
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18. Oct. 3, 2009 – Michigan State 26, No. 22 Michigan 20 (OT)
On Oct. 3, 2009, Larry Caper's 23-yard touchdown run in overtime gave the Spartans a 26-20 victory over Michigan and MSU's first two-game win streak in the series since 1967. "We did something that hasn't been done in 42 years," Dantonio said. "That's amazing. Emotionally, I was spent." It was also the first of Dantonio's eight, dramatic walk-off wins.
Larry Caper's game-winning 23-yard touchdown run in OT propelled MSU to back-to-back wins over Michigan. Â
19. Oct. 10, 2009 – Michigan State 24, Illinois 14
20. Oct. 17, 2009 – Michigan State 24, Northwestern 14
21. Nov. 7, 2009 – Michigan State 49, Western Michigan 14
22. Nov. 14, 2009 – Michigan State 40, Purdue 37
23. Sept. 4, 2010 – Michigan State 38, Western Michigan 14
24. Sept. 11, 2010 – Michigan State 30, Florida Atlantic 17
25. Sept. 18, 2010 – Michigan State 34, Notre Dame 31 (OT)
Spartan lore receives its first major entry under Dantonio on Sept. 18, 2010, when instead of holding the ball for what could have been an overtime-extending field goal, punter Aaron Bates pulled up and passed to wide-open secondary receiver, tight end Charlie Gant (tailback Le'Veon Bell was held at the line), for a 29-yard, game-winning touchdown. The play secured a 34-31 decision and refuted the misguided assumption that the normally poker-faced Dantonio isn't willing to gamble every now and again.
Charlie Gantt strolls into the end zone for the game-winning score on a fake field goal, called "Little Giants" by Coach Dantonio, against Notre Dame in 2010.
26. Sept. 25, 2010 – No. 25 Michigan State 45, Northern Colorado 7
27. Oct. 2, 2010 – No. 24 Michigan State 34, No. 11 Wisconsin 24
28. Oct. 9, 2010 – No. 17 Michigan State 34, No. 18 Michigan 17
29. Oct. 16, 2010 – No. 13 Michigan State 26, Illinois 6
30. Oct. 23, 2010 – No. 8 Michigan State 35, Northwestern 27
31. Nov. 6, 2010 – No. 16 Michigan State 31, Minnesota 8
32. Nov. 20, 2010 – No. 11 Michigan State 35, Purdue 31
33. Nov. 27, 2010 – No. 11 Michigan State 28, Penn State 22
The 28-22 victory at Penn State on Nov. 27, 2010, gave Dantonio his first Big Ten Championship, MSU's first title since 1990, an 11-win season and a plaque. "We're Big Ten champions. No one can ever take it away from us," said quarterback Kirk Cousins. "It's going on the wall at Spartan Stadium."
The Spartan celebrate in the locker room after winning the Big Ten Championship in 2010.
34. Sept. 2, 2011 – No. 17 Michigan State 28, Youngstown State 6
35. Sept. 10, 2011 – No. 15 Michigan State 44, Florida Atlantic 0
36. Sept. 24, 2011 – Michigan State 45, Central Michigan 7
37. Oct. 1, 2011 – Michigan State 10, Ohio State 7
38. Oct. 15, 2011 – No. 23 Michigan State 28, No. 11 Michigan 14
With a 28-14 throttling of No. 11 Michigan on Oct. 15 2011, the Spartans could say they had beaten the Wolverines in a fourth consecutive meeting for the first time in 49 years. Â "For the rest of our life, we (seniors) will walk the streets of this state (undefeated against U-M)," Cousins said. "It's satisfying."
Kirk Cousins celebrates after a Spartan touchdown in the win over Michigan in 2011, MSU's fourth consecutive victory over the Wolverines.
39. Oct. 22, 2011 – No. 15 Michigan State 37, No. 4 Wisconsin 31
Seven days after MSU crushed Michigan in 2011, Cousins launched "Rocket," a Hail Mary pass on the final play against fourth-ranked Wisconsin for a heart-stopping 37-31 victory. The ball passed through the outstretched hands of 6-foot-2 Wisconsin wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, who was deployed as a defensive back, bounced off MSU wideout B.J. Cunningham's facemask and caromed into the waiting hands of Keith Nichol, who had just enough forward momentum to break the plane of the goal line. High drama ensued as the officials reviewed the instant replay before confirming another historic Dantonio gem.
Keith Nichol catches the game-winning "Rocket" touchdown pass against No. 4 Wisconsin in 2011.Â
40. Nov. 5, 2011 – No. 15 Michigan State 31, Minnesota 24
41. Nov. 12, 2011 – No. 13 Michigan State 37, Iowa 21
42. Nov. 19, 2011 – No. 12 Michigan State 55, Indiana 3
43. Nov. 26, 2011 – No. 11 Michigan State 31, Northwestern 17
44. Jan. 2, 2012 – No. 12 Michigan State 33, No. 18 Georgia 30 (3OT)
After falling behind Georgia 16-0 in the first half of the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2012, the Spartans battled from behind the entire game until Dan Conroy kicked the go-ahead, 28-yard field goal in the third overtime period. Defensive tackle Anthony Rashad White preserved the 33-30 win, and Dantonio's first postseason victory, by blocking a Bulldog field goal attempt on the final play.
Anthony Rashad White blocked a field goal in the third overtime in Michigan State's thrilling 33-30 win over Georgia in the 2012 Outback Bowl.
45. Aug. 31, 2012 – No. 13 Michigan State 17, No. 24 Boise State 13
46. Sept. 8, 2012 – No. 11 Michigan State 42, Central Michigan 7
47. Sept. 22, 2012 – No. 21 Michigan State 23, Eastern Michigan 7
48. Oct. 6, 2012 – Michigan State 31, Indiana 27
49. Oct. 27, 2012 – Michigan State 16, Wisconsin 13
50. Nov. 24, 2012 – Michigan State 26, Minnesota 10
51. Dec. 29, 2012 – Michigan State 17, TCU 16 (Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl)
52. Aug. 30, 2013 – Michigan State 26, Western Michigan 13
53. Sept. 7, 2013 – Michigan State 21, South Florida 6
54. Sept. 14, 2013 – Michigan State 55, Youngstown State 17
55. Oct. 5, 2013 – Michigan State 26, Iowa 14
56. Oct. 12, 2013 – Michigan State 42, Indiana 28
57. Oct. 19, 2013 – Michigan State 14, Purdue 0
58. Oct. 26, 2013 – Michigan State 42, Illinois 3
59. Nov. 2, 2013 – No. 24 Michigan State 29, No. 23 Michigan 6
The 2013 season will be remembered overall as one of the seminal stretches in MSU history because it featured so many of the highest highs a team can experience, not the least of which was the 29-6 victory over Michigan on Nov. 2. The defense held U-M to minus-48 rushing yards, the lowest total in Wolverine history. How satisfying it must be to have one of the greatest Spartan achievements ever memorialized in U-M's record book likely for years to come. "This will last the rest of my life," said middle linebacker Max Bullough.
Michigan State's smothering defense held Michigan to its lowest rushing total in school history (-48 yards) in 2013.
60. Nov. 16, 2013 – No. 14 Michigan State 41, Nebraska 28
61. Nov. 23, 2013 – No. 13 Michigan State 30, Northwestern 6
62. Nov. 30, 2013 – No. 11 Michigan State 14, Minnesota 3
63. Dec. 7, 2013 – No. 10 Michigan State 34, No. 2 Ohio State 24
Against No. 2 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game on Dec. 7, 2013, MSU lost a 17-0 first half lead, gave up 24 unanswered points and then scored 17 straight points in the final 17:30 to pull out a 34-24 win. Linebacker Denicos Allen, an Ohioan who was snubbed by the Buckeyes, stopped OSU quarterback Braxton Miller on fourth-and-2 to secure the win. "They said I wasn't good enough," Allen said afterward. "That play is the perfect ending." Jeremy Langford's 26-yard TD run with 2:16 remaining sealed MSU's first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1988.
The Spartans celebrate on the podium after defeating second-ranked Ohio State in the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game.
64. Jan. 1, 2014 – No. 4 Michigan State 24, No. 5 Stanford 20
Well, things could get better for the Spartans and they did on New Year's Day 2014 in MSU's first Rose Bowl appearance in 26 years. Senior middle linebacker Kyler Elsworth, a former walk-on making his first career start, secured the 100th Rose Bowl for the Spartans with a flying tackle that stopped Stanford fullback Ryan Hewlett on fourth-and-1 with under two minutes remaining. Photographs of Elsworth's last stand in the 24-20, come-from-behind win will hang on walls until the end of time.
Kyler Elsworth (No. 41) made the game-winning stop to seal Michigan State's 24-20 victory over the fifth-ranked Cardinal in the 100th Rose Bowl Game.
65. Aug. 29, 2014 – No. 8 Michigan State 45, Jacksonville State 7
66. Sept. 20, 2014 – No. 11 Michigan State 73, Eastern Michigan 14
67. Sept. 27, 2014 – No. 9 Michigan State 56, Wyoming 14
68. Oct. 4, 2014 – No. 10 Michigan State 27, No. 19 Nebraska 22
69. Oct. 11, 2014 – No. 8 Michigan State 45, Purdue 31
70. Oct. 18, 2014 – No. 8 Michigan State 56, Indiana 17
71. Oct. 25, 2014 – No. 8 Michigan State 35, Michigan 11
72. Nov. 15, 2014 – No. 12 Michigan State 37, Maryland 15
73. Nov. 22, 2014 – No. 10 Michigan State 45, Rutgers 3
74. Nov. 29, 2014 – No. 10 Michigan State 34, Penn State 10
75. Jan. 1, 2015 – No. 7 Michigan State 42, No. 4 Baylor 41
Trailing Baylor by 20 points in the fourth quarter of the Cotton Bowl, Connor Cook rallied the Spartans in the final 12 minutes for a 42-41 victory. The largest bowl comeback in Spartan history was fueled by Marcus Rush's blocked field goal and Cook's 17-yard TD strike with 17 seconds remaining. Having just finished one of the greatest games the Spartans have ever played, Dantonio said, "Right now, I would not be anyplace, anywhere, more happy than I am right now."
Mark Dantonio raises his arms in jubilation as Michigan State completed the largest bowl comeback in school history over Baylor in 2015 Cotton Bowl.
76. Sept. 4, 2015 – No. 5 Michigan State 37, Western Michigan 24
77. Sept. 12, 2015 – No. 5 Michigan State 31, No. 7 Oregon 28
78. Sept. 19, 2015 – No. 4 Michigan State 35, Air Force 21
79. Sept. 26, 2015 – No. 2 Michigan State 30, Central Michigan 10
80. Oct. 3, 2015 – No. 2 Michigan State 24, Purdue 21
81. Oct. 10, 2015 – No. 4 Michigan State 31, Rutgers 24
82. Oct. 17, 2015 – No. 7 Michigan State 27, No. 12 Michigan 23
Everybody who is a Michigan State or Michigan fan on that date will ever forget it, though Wolverines will likely try to erase the 27-23 score favoring the Spartans from their memories. It all came down to the final play, a fumbled punt snap, and a frantic scramble for the ball which ended up in the hands of MSU's Jalen Watts-Jackson, who scampered 38 yards for the winning touchdown. Watts-Jackson suffered a dislocated hip on the play, but being the central figure in one of the greatest finishes in football history more than made up for the excruciating pain. "Obviously, the Cotton Bowl was crazy, but it wasn't as crazy as this," Cook said. "The Rose Bowl was fine and dandy, but it wasn't anything spectacular like this. I would have to say, compared to those victories, this one is a little more sweeter. Being a three-year starter, and being able to beat them all three times, it's quite something to say."
Jalen Watts-Jackson races in for the 38-yard game-winning touchdown on the final play of the game against Michigan in 2015.
83. Oct. 25, 2015 – No. 7 Michigan State 52, Indiana 26
84. Nov. 14, 2015 – No. 14 Michigan State 24, Maryland 7
85. Nov. 21, 2015 – No. 9 Michigan State 17, No. 2 Ohio State 14.
When it was announced a shoulder injury would prevent Connor Cook from playing against No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus on Nov. 21, 2015, even the most optimistic Spartan fans couldn't have seen a 17-14 upset coming in the freezing rain at Ohio Stadium against the defending national champions. But, they would eventually see Michael Geiger going down the field, twirling his arm windmill style, after connecting on a 41-yard, walk-off field goal. Quarterback Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry put on one of the great relief performances in school history to bring a 23-game Buckeye win streak to an end.
Michael Geiger celebrates doing the "windmill" following his game-winning field goal that took down second-ranked Ohio State in Columbus.
86. Nov. 28, 2015 – No. 6 Michigan State 55, Penn State 16
87. Dec. 5, 2015 – No. 5 Michigan State 16, No. 4 Iowa 13
"The Drive," the greatest possession in Spartan football history, covered 82 yards, with 22 plays and ended in nine minutes and four seconds on LJ Scott's 0-yard run and 1-yard reach for the game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds remaining. The 16-13 victory over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game gave Dantonio a school-record third Big Ten title and sent the Spartans to the College Football Playoff for the first time. "I could only smile, really," senior center Jack Allen said. "There's really no way to describe it because it's such an unreal feeling knowing we're all going to get our names on the side the stadium forever now for a second time. That's something that's pretty cool."
LJ Scott lunges forward for the game-winning touchdown run in the closing seconds of the 2015 Big Ten Championship Game.
88. Sept. 2, 2016 – No. 12 Michigan State 28, Furman 13
89. Sept. 17, 2016 – No. 12 Michigan State 36, No. 18 Notre Dame 28
90. Nov. 12, 2016 – Michigan State 49, Rutgers 0
91. Sept. 2, 2017 – Michigan State 35, Bowling Green 10
92. Sept. 9, 2017 – Michigan State 28, Western Michigan 14
93. Sept. 30, 2017 – Michigan State 17, Iowa 10
94. Oct. 7, 2017 – Michigan State 14, No. 7 Michigan 10
95. Oct. 14, 2017 – No. 21 Michigan State 30, Minnesota 27
96. Oct. 21, 2017 – No. 18 Michigan State 17, Indiana 9
97. Nov. 4, 2017 – No. 24 Michigan State 27, No. 7 Penn State 24
98. Nov. 18, 2017 – No. 22 Michigan State 17, Maryland 7
99. Nov. 25, 2017 – No. 21 Michigan State 40, Rutgers 7
100. Dec. 28, 2017 – No. 18 Michigan State 42, No. 21 Washington State 17
101. Aug. 31, 2018 – No. 11 Michigan State 38, Utah State 31
102. Sept. 22, 2018 – No. 24 Michigan State 35, Indiana 21
103. Sept. 29, 2018 – No. 21 Michigan State 31, Central Michigan 20
104. Oct. 13, 2018 – Michigan State 21, No. 8 Penn State 17
105. Oct. 27, 2018 – Michigan State 23, Purdue 13
106. Nov. 3, 2018 – Michigan State 24, Maryland 3
107. Nov. 24, 2018 – Michigan State 14, Rutgers 10
108. Aug. 30, 2019 – No. 18 Michigan State 28, Tulsa 7
109. Sept. 7, 2019 – No. 19 Michigan State 51, Western Michigan 17
110. Sept. 21, 2019 – Michigan State 31, Northwestern 10
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But Dantonio has been the first person to say that the milestone would be nowhere in sight without the players who've gone through the program since he took it over in 2007.
"I've been blessed to be here," said Dantonio prior to the season. "I've been humbled to be here, and there's been a lot of great players here and a lot of great moments here.
"A lot of different people have been involved in this process. I think it's a sense of accomplishment for a lot of people. It's not just one person."
Following his milestone victory, Dantonio again thanked everyone who helped him make history.
"You can't get there without players, can't get there without coaches," Dantonio said. "You can't get there without past players and current players. This is a very special group of players that we have, I really believe that.
"A lot of family came and just to be a part of the moment, (they) came to Chicago for the weekend and to share this with my brother John. My wife (Becky) was working the sideline, I think. But you can't get there by yourself. You need family that's very supportive especially in this position and you need players that will stand by you. You need administrators that support you when things are tough, and you also need people that are supporters of the program, whether vocally or financially to do all that they do. Appreciative of everybody that has gone in that direction."
It all started on Nov. 27, 2006, when Dantonio, a former Spartan assistant coach in the 1990s, was hired as Michigan State University's 24th head football coach. In his opening press conference, Dantonio said: "My vision here is to win championships. That's my vision."
And he has delivered with an incredible set of accomplishments.
Dantonio has won the most Big Ten Championships (three) and bowl games (five) of any Spartan head coach and also ranks first with 11 bowl appearances. He is the only active Big Ten coach to win multiple Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015), claim a victory in the Rose Bowl (2014), and coach in the College Football Playoff (2015). And he also ranks first in program history in conference winning percentage (.660, 66-34 record, minimum 10 games); tied for first in AP Top 25 finishes (seven); second in Big Ten wins (66), home wins (65) and AP Top 25 wins (21); and fifth in overall winning percentage (.679).
Not to mention those record-setting 110 wins. Here's a rundown of every victory during the Dantonio era.
Game capsules written by Steve Grinczel
Spartan captain Kaleb Thornhill and Mark Dantonio lead "The Walk" to Spartan Stadium for Dantonio's first game as head coach of the Spartans.
1. Sept. 1, 2008 – Michigan State 55, UAB 18
You can't get to 110 without winning the first one, and that came during Dantonio's MSU debut on Sept. 1, 2007, against UAB. Jehuu Caulcrick, MSU's bruising tailback, rushed for four touchdowns to help give the Spartans a 35-3 lead – at halftime. The Spartans continued to dominate in the second half and won 55-18. How's that for a great start?
2. Sept. 8, 2007 – Michigan State 28, Bowling Green 17
3. Sept. 15, 2007 – Michigan State 17, Pittsburgh 13
4. Sept. 22, 2007 – Michigan State 31, Notre Dame 14
5. Oct. 13, 2007 – Michigan State 52, Indiana 27
6. Nov. 10, 2007 – Michigan State 48, Purdue 31
7. Nov. 17, 2007 – Michigan State 35, Penn State 31
8. Sept. 6, 2008 – Michigan State 42, Eastern Michigan 10
9. Sept. 13, 2008 – Michigan State 17, Florida Atlantic 0
10. Sept. 20, 2008 – Michigan State 23, Notre Dame 7
11. Sept. 27, 2008 – Michigan State 42, Indiana 29
12. Oct. 4, 2008 – Michigan State 16, Iowa 13
13. Oct. 11, 2008 – No. 23 Michigan State 37, Northwestern 20
14. Oct. 25, 2008 – Michigan State 35, Michigan 21
A year passed before Dantonio notched his first victory against Michigan, but it was almost worth the wait. On Oct. 25, 2008, the Spartans wiped away 18 years of pent-up angst with a 35-21 win, their first in Michigan Stadium since 1990. MSU dominated total yardage 473-252 for its biggest advantage in the series in 50 years.
Mark Dantonio holds the Paul Bunyan Trophy following MSU's win over Michigan in 2008.
15. Nov. 1, 2008 – No. 22 Michigan State 25, Wisconsin 24
16. Nov. 8, 2008 – No. 18 Michigan State 21, Purdue 7
17. Sept. 5, 2009 – Michigan State 44, Montana State 3
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18. Oct. 3, 2009 – Michigan State 26, No. 22 Michigan 20 (OT)
On Oct. 3, 2009, Larry Caper's 23-yard touchdown run in overtime gave the Spartans a 26-20 victory over Michigan and MSU's first two-game win streak in the series since 1967. "We did something that hasn't been done in 42 years," Dantonio said. "That's amazing. Emotionally, I was spent." It was also the first of Dantonio's eight, dramatic walk-off wins.
Larry Caper's game-winning 23-yard touchdown run in OT propelled MSU to back-to-back wins over Michigan. Â
19. Oct. 10, 2009 – Michigan State 24, Illinois 14
20. Oct. 17, 2009 – Michigan State 24, Northwestern 14
21. Nov. 7, 2009 – Michigan State 49, Western Michigan 14
22. Nov. 14, 2009 – Michigan State 40, Purdue 37
23. Sept. 4, 2010 – Michigan State 38, Western Michigan 14
24. Sept. 11, 2010 – Michigan State 30, Florida Atlantic 17
25. Sept. 18, 2010 – Michigan State 34, Notre Dame 31 (OT)
Spartan lore receives its first major entry under Dantonio on Sept. 18, 2010, when instead of holding the ball for what could have been an overtime-extending field goal, punter Aaron Bates pulled up and passed to wide-open secondary receiver, tight end Charlie Gant (tailback Le'Veon Bell was held at the line), for a 29-yard, game-winning touchdown. The play secured a 34-31 decision and refuted the misguided assumption that the normally poker-faced Dantonio isn't willing to gamble every now and again.
Charlie Gantt strolls into the end zone for the game-winning score on a fake field goal, called "Little Giants" by Coach Dantonio, against Notre Dame in 2010.
26. Sept. 25, 2010 – No. 25 Michigan State 45, Northern Colorado 7
27. Oct. 2, 2010 – No. 24 Michigan State 34, No. 11 Wisconsin 24
28. Oct. 9, 2010 – No. 17 Michigan State 34, No. 18 Michigan 17
29. Oct. 16, 2010 – No. 13 Michigan State 26, Illinois 6
30. Oct. 23, 2010 – No. 8 Michigan State 35, Northwestern 27
31. Nov. 6, 2010 – No. 16 Michigan State 31, Minnesota 8
32. Nov. 20, 2010 – No. 11 Michigan State 35, Purdue 31
33. Nov. 27, 2010 – No. 11 Michigan State 28, Penn State 22
The 28-22 victory at Penn State on Nov. 27, 2010, gave Dantonio his first Big Ten Championship, MSU's first title since 1990, an 11-win season and a plaque. "We're Big Ten champions. No one can ever take it away from us," said quarterback Kirk Cousins. "It's going on the wall at Spartan Stadium."
The Spartan celebrate in the locker room after winning the Big Ten Championship in 2010.
34. Sept. 2, 2011 – No. 17 Michigan State 28, Youngstown State 6
35. Sept. 10, 2011 – No. 15 Michigan State 44, Florida Atlantic 0
36. Sept. 24, 2011 – Michigan State 45, Central Michigan 7
37. Oct. 1, 2011 – Michigan State 10, Ohio State 7
38. Oct. 15, 2011 – No. 23 Michigan State 28, No. 11 Michigan 14
With a 28-14 throttling of No. 11 Michigan on Oct. 15 2011, the Spartans could say they had beaten the Wolverines in a fourth consecutive meeting for the first time in 49 years. Â "For the rest of our life, we (seniors) will walk the streets of this state (undefeated against U-M)," Cousins said. "It's satisfying."
Kirk Cousins celebrates after a Spartan touchdown in the win over Michigan in 2011, MSU's fourth consecutive victory over the Wolverines.
39. Oct. 22, 2011 – No. 15 Michigan State 37, No. 4 Wisconsin 31
Seven days after MSU crushed Michigan in 2011, Cousins launched "Rocket," a Hail Mary pass on the final play against fourth-ranked Wisconsin for a heart-stopping 37-31 victory. The ball passed through the outstretched hands of 6-foot-2 Wisconsin wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, who was deployed as a defensive back, bounced off MSU wideout B.J. Cunningham's facemask and caromed into the waiting hands of Keith Nichol, who had just enough forward momentum to break the plane of the goal line. High drama ensued as the officials reviewed the instant replay before confirming another historic Dantonio gem.
Keith Nichol catches the game-winning "Rocket" touchdown pass against No. 4 Wisconsin in 2011.Â
40. Nov. 5, 2011 – No. 15 Michigan State 31, Minnesota 24
41. Nov. 12, 2011 – No. 13 Michigan State 37, Iowa 21
42. Nov. 19, 2011 – No. 12 Michigan State 55, Indiana 3
43. Nov. 26, 2011 – No. 11 Michigan State 31, Northwestern 17
44. Jan. 2, 2012 – No. 12 Michigan State 33, No. 18 Georgia 30 (3OT)
After falling behind Georgia 16-0 in the first half of the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2012, the Spartans battled from behind the entire game until Dan Conroy kicked the go-ahead, 28-yard field goal in the third overtime period. Defensive tackle Anthony Rashad White preserved the 33-30 win, and Dantonio's first postseason victory, by blocking a Bulldog field goal attempt on the final play.
Anthony Rashad White blocked a field goal in the third overtime in Michigan State's thrilling 33-30 win over Georgia in the 2012 Outback Bowl.
45. Aug. 31, 2012 – No. 13 Michigan State 17, No. 24 Boise State 13
46. Sept. 8, 2012 – No. 11 Michigan State 42, Central Michigan 7
47. Sept. 22, 2012 – No. 21 Michigan State 23, Eastern Michigan 7
48. Oct. 6, 2012 – Michigan State 31, Indiana 27
49. Oct. 27, 2012 – Michigan State 16, Wisconsin 13
50. Nov. 24, 2012 – Michigan State 26, Minnesota 10
51. Dec. 29, 2012 – Michigan State 17, TCU 16 (Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl)
52. Aug. 30, 2013 – Michigan State 26, Western Michigan 13
53. Sept. 7, 2013 – Michigan State 21, South Florida 6
54. Sept. 14, 2013 – Michigan State 55, Youngstown State 17
55. Oct. 5, 2013 – Michigan State 26, Iowa 14
56. Oct. 12, 2013 – Michigan State 42, Indiana 28
57. Oct. 19, 2013 – Michigan State 14, Purdue 0
58. Oct. 26, 2013 – Michigan State 42, Illinois 3
59. Nov. 2, 2013 – No. 24 Michigan State 29, No. 23 Michigan 6
The 2013 season will be remembered overall as one of the seminal stretches in MSU history because it featured so many of the highest highs a team can experience, not the least of which was the 29-6 victory over Michigan on Nov. 2. The defense held U-M to minus-48 rushing yards, the lowest total in Wolverine history. How satisfying it must be to have one of the greatest Spartan achievements ever memorialized in U-M's record book likely for years to come. "This will last the rest of my life," said middle linebacker Max Bullough.
Michigan State's smothering defense held Michigan to its lowest rushing total in school history (-48 yards) in 2013.
60. Nov. 16, 2013 – No. 14 Michigan State 41, Nebraska 28
61. Nov. 23, 2013 – No. 13 Michigan State 30, Northwestern 6
62. Nov. 30, 2013 – No. 11 Michigan State 14, Minnesota 3
63. Dec. 7, 2013 – No. 10 Michigan State 34, No. 2 Ohio State 24
Against No. 2 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game on Dec. 7, 2013, MSU lost a 17-0 first half lead, gave up 24 unanswered points and then scored 17 straight points in the final 17:30 to pull out a 34-24 win. Linebacker Denicos Allen, an Ohioan who was snubbed by the Buckeyes, stopped OSU quarterback Braxton Miller on fourth-and-2 to secure the win. "They said I wasn't good enough," Allen said afterward. "That play is the perfect ending." Jeremy Langford's 26-yard TD run with 2:16 remaining sealed MSU's first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1988.
The Spartans celebrate on the podium after defeating second-ranked Ohio State in the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game.
64. Jan. 1, 2014 – No. 4 Michigan State 24, No. 5 Stanford 20
Well, things could get better for the Spartans and they did on New Year's Day 2014 in MSU's first Rose Bowl appearance in 26 years. Senior middle linebacker Kyler Elsworth, a former walk-on making his first career start, secured the 100th Rose Bowl for the Spartans with a flying tackle that stopped Stanford fullback Ryan Hewlett on fourth-and-1 with under two minutes remaining. Photographs of Elsworth's last stand in the 24-20, come-from-behind win will hang on walls until the end of time.
Kyler Elsworth (No. 41) made the game-winning stop to seal Michigan State's 24-20 victory over the fifth-ranked Cardinal in the 100th Rose Bowl Game.
65. Aug. 29, 2014 – No. 8 Michigan State 45, Jacksonville State 7
66. Sept. 20, 2014 – No. 11 Michigan State 73, Eastern Michigan 14
67. Sept. 27, 2014 – No. 9 Michigan State 56, Wyoming 14
68. Oct. 4, 2014 – No. 10 Michigan State 27, No. 19 Nebraska 22
69. Oct. 11, 2014 – No. 8 Michigan State 45, Purdue 31
70. Oct. 18, 2014 – No. 8 Michigan State 56, Indiana 17
71. Oct. 25, 2014 – No. 8 Michigan State 35, Michigan 11
72. Nov. 15, 2014 – No. 12 Michigan State 37, Maryland 15
73. Nov. 22, 2014 – No. 10 Michigan State 45, Rutgers 3
74. Nov. 29, 2014 – No. 10 Michigan State 34, Penn State 10
75. Jan. 1, 2015 – No. 7 Michigan State 42, No. 4 Baylor 41
Trailing Baylor by 20 points in the fourth quarter of the Cotton Bowl, Connor Cook rallied the Spartans in the final 12 minutes for a 42-41 victory. The largest bowl comeback in Spartan history was fueled by Marcus Rush's blocked field goal and Cook's 17-yard TD strike with 17 seconds remaining. Having just finished one of the greatest games the Spartans have ever played, Dantonio said, "Right now, I would not be anyplace, anywhere, more happy than I am right now."
Mark Dantonio raises his arms in jubilation as Michigan State completed the largest bowl comeback in school history over Baylor in 2015 Cotton Bowl.
76. Sept. 4, 2015 – No. 5 Michigan State 37, Western Michigan 24
77. Sept. 12, 2015 – No. 5 Michigan State 31, No. 7 Oregon 28
78. Sept. 19, 2015 – No. 4 Michigan State 35, Air Force 21
79. Sept. 26, 2015 – No. 2 Michigan State 30, Central Michigan 10
80. Oct. 3, 2015 – No. 2 Michigan State 24, Purdue 21
81. Oct. 10, 2015 – No. 4 Michigan State 31, Rutgers 24
82. Oct. 17, 2015 – No. 7 Michigan State 27, No. 12 Michigan 23
Everybody who is a Michigan State or Michigan fan on that date will ever forget it, though Wolverines will likely try to erase the 27-23 score favoring the Spartans from their memories. It all came down to the final play, a fumbled punt snap, and a frantic scramble for the ball which ended up in the hands of MSU's Jalen Watts-Jackson, who scampered 38 yards for the winning touchdown. Watts-Jackson suffered a dislocated hip on the play, but being the central figure in one of the greatest finishes in football history more than made up for the excruciating pain. "Obviously, the Cotton Bowl was crazy, but it wasn't as crazy as this," Cook said. "The Rose Bowl was fine and dandy, but it wasn't anything spectacular like this. I would have to say, compared to those victories, this one is a little more sweeter. Being a three-year starter, and being able to beat them all three times, it's quite something to say."
Jalen Watts-Jackson races in for the 38-yard game-winning touchdown on the final play of the game against Michigan in 2015.
83. Oct. 25, 2015 – No. 7 Michigan State 52, Indiana 26
84. Nov. 14, 2015 – No. 14 Michigan State 24, Maryland 7
85. Nov. 21, 2015 – No. 9 Michigan State 17, No. 2 Ohio State 14.
When it was announced a shoulder injury would prevent Connor Cook from playing against No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus on Nov. 21, 2015, even the most optimistic Spartan fans couldn't have seen a 17-14 upset coming in the freezing rain at Ohio Stadium against the defending national champions. But, they would eventually see Michael Geiger going down the field, twirling his arm windmill style, after connecting on a 41-yard, walk-off field goal. Quarterback Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry put on one of the great relief performances in school history to bring a 23-game Buckeye win streak to an end.
Michael Geiger celebrates doing the "windmill" following his game-winning field goal that took down second-ranked Ohio State in Columbus.
86. Nov. 28, 2015 – No. 6 Michigan State 55, Penn State 16
87. Dec. 5, 2015 – No. 5 Michigan State 16, No. 4 Iowa 13
"The Drive," the greatest possession in Spartan football history, covered 82 yards, with 22 plays and ended in nine minutes and four seconds on LJ Scott's 0-yard run and 1-yard reach for the game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds remaining. The 16-13 victory over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game gave Dantonio a school-record third Big Ten title and sent the Spartans to the College Football Playoff for the first time. "I could only smile, really," senior center Jack Allen said. "There's really no way to describe it because it's such an unreal feeling knowing we're all going to get our names on the side the stadium forever now for a second time. That's something that's pretty cool."
LJ Scott lunges forward for the game-winning touchdown run in the closing seconds of the 2015 Big Ten Championship Game.
88. Sept. 2, 2016 – No. 12 Michigan State 28, Furman 13
89. Sept. 17, 2016 – No. 12 Michigan State 36, No. 18 Notre Dame 28
90. Nov. 12, 2016 – Michigan State 49, Rutgers 0
91. Sept. 2, 2017 – Michigan State 35, Bowling Green 10
92. Sept. 9, 2017 – Michigan State 28, Western Michigan 14
93. Sept. 30, 2017 – Michigan State 17, Iowa 10
94. Oct. 7, 2017 – Michigan State 14, No. 7 Michigan 10
95. Oct. 14, 2017 – No. 21 Michigan State 30, Minnesota 27
96. Oct. 21, 2017 – No. 18 Michigan State 17, Indiana 9
97. Nov. 4, 2017 – No. 24 Michigan State 27, No. 7 Penn State 24
98. Nov. 18, 2017 – No. 22 Michigan State 17, Maryland 7
99. Nov. 25, 2017 – No. 21 Michigan State 40, Rutgers 7
100. Dec. 28, 2017 – No. 18 Michigan State 42, No. 21 Washington State 17
101. Aug. 31, 2018 – No. 11 Michigan State 38, Utah State 31
102. Sept. 22, 2018 – No. 24 Michigan State 35, Indiana 21
103. Sept. 29, 2018 – No. 21 Michigan State 31, Central Michigan 20
104. Oct. 13, 2018 – Michigan State 21, No. 8 Penn State 17
105. Oct. 27, 2018 – Michigan State 23, Purdue 13
106. Nov. 3, 2018 – Michigan State 24, Maryland 3
107. Nov. 24, 2018 – Michigan State 14, Rutgers 10
108. Aug. 30, 2019 – No. 18 Michigan State 28, Tulsa 7
109. Sept. 7, 2019 – No. 19 Michigan State 51, Western Michigan 17
110. Sept. 21, 2019 – Michigan State 31, Northwestern 10
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Players Mentioned
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Monday, September 15
Jonathan Smith Post Game Comments | YSU | Sep. 13 2025
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Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Sep. 8 2025
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Jonathan Smith Post Game Comments | BC | Sep. 7 2025
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