The Wolverines celebrate after defeating the Spartans with a
final score of 28-24 on Nov. 3, 2007 at Spartan Stadium.

This game isn’t remembered for what was done on the field as much as what was said off the field.

Days before the Spartans took on U-M, MSU first-year head coach Mark Dantonio responded to a reporter’s question regarding the Wolverines' upset loss to Appalachian State.

“Should we have a moment of silence?" Dantonio said.

When the game concluded and U-M defeated MSU, U-M’s players put one finger to their lips, symbolizing a gesture of silence and firing back at Dantonio.

After the game, former U-M running back Mike Hart said the comeback made him laugh.

“You know sometimes you get your little brother excited when you're playing basketball and stuff (and) let him get the lead and then you just come back and take it back," Hart said in an article from The Detroit News. 

Dantonio was asked if he found U-M’s gesture amusing.

“I find a lot of the things that they do amusing,” Dantonio said in a previous press conference. “They need to check themselves sometimes, but just remember pride comes before the fall.

U-M’s win marked their sixth straight win against MSU at the time. Since this game, the Wolverines have gone 1-7 against the Spartans.

4. Triple Overtime Thriller — Oct. 30, 2004

The Wolverines scored a triple overtime victory over MSU 45-37 in their 2004 contest. 

In the fourth quarter, MSU had a lead of 17 points, but it only took 5:44 for the Wolverines to catch up and force overtime.

MSU had a chance to win the game in regulation, but a 51-yard field goal by former kicker Dave Rayner into strong wind fell short.

In the third overtime period, former Wolverines receiver Braylon Edwards caught a touchdown pass from Chad Henne to end the Spartans’ hopes of victory.

"When it came down to having to make plays to win it at the end, they made the plays," MSU head coach, at the time, John L. Smith said. "They won it and we didn't make the plays to win. But I'm proud of our guys."

3. Number One vs No One — Oct. 13, 1990

The unranked Spartans entered Ann Arbor hungry for an upset over the No. 1 Wolverines.

The game was close throughout, but ended as arguably one of the most controversial games in the MSU vs. U-M series.

Down 28-21, U-M’s Derrick Alexander caught a touchdown pass from Elvis Grbac with six seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one.

Instead of kicking the extra point that would have likely sent the game into overtime, U-M opted to go for the two-point conversion.

U-M receiver Desmond Howard was lined up on the left side of the field and Grbac was under center.

The ball was snapped and Howard began to run a slant in the end zone, however, Howard stumbled to the turf, and it appeared MSU’s Eddie Brown grabbed Howard’s foot as Brown was falling to the ground.

The ball sailed past Howard. There were no flags thrown.

Time expired as MSU pulled off a controversial 28-27 upset victory.

2. Clockgate — Nov. 3, 2001

MSU narrowly upset the No. 6 Wolverines 26-24 in controversial fashion.

Trailing the Wolverines, former MSU quarterback Jeff Smoker aimed to lead a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.

Facing a fourth-and-four in the red zone, Smoker connected to T.J. Duckett for eight yards, which put the ball at U-M’s three-yard line.

With the clock dwindling, Smoker and the Spartans offense rushed back to the line to spike the ball. As Smoker spiked the ball, the clock stopped with just 17 seconds remaining.

On second-and-goal, Smoker scrambled and was eventually tackled in-bounds, causing the clock to continue to run.

Smoker once again rushed to the line to spike the ball. This time, clock operator Bob Stehlin stopped the clock with just one second left.

U-M’s sideline was enraged, and some said the clock should have ran out before MSU could get off another play.

The Spartans had just one play left.

As the ball was snapped, Smoker rolled out of the pocket and connected with Duckett for a two-yard touchdown to give MSU the win. 

1. A Punt for the Ages — Oct. 17, 2015

Then-Sophomore defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson runs the ball for the 
game winning touchdown against Michigan on Oct. 17, 2015 at Michigan Stadium.

No. 7 MSU headed into Ann Arbor looking to defeat No. 12 U-M en route to the Spartans' College Football Playoff berth.

From start to finish, U-M had the momentum and never let go of the lead. That was, until the clock read 0:00.

The Wolverines were leading with only 10 seconds left, but were faced with a fourth down.

Punter Blake O’Neill was ready to receive the snap with no one back to field the punt.

The snap was low and O’Neill bobbled the ball right into the hands of MSU's Jalen Watts-Jackson.

Watts-Jackson’s 38-yard return lifted MSU over U-M 27-23.

"Great, great, great football game," Dantonio said in a previous article from The State News. "I don't know what to say about that, you go from 10 seconds (left) and the guy punting the ball, thinking okay this is done and all of a sudden life gets flipped upside down."

Former quarterback Connor Cook shared Dantonio's emotions.

"Honestly, it just felt like a dream," Cook said. "I was running over to our student and parent section to go celebrate with my family and I jumped up there and honestly I've never felt anything like that."