It was on those days with little on the line that a close bond was formed, creating a duo many expected before the season to carry the mantle of the Spartans’ traditionally talented passing tandems.

But with the bright, Saturday night lights they dreamed of came newfound pressure and adversity, with Fowler removed from the starting lineup after one Big Ten game, and the groans of fans questioning whether Maxwell was able to follow in Cousins’ footsteps growing louder by the day.

So when Maxwell dropped back to pass in overtime and found his friend open in the end zone to steal a 16-13 victory over Wisconsin (6-3 overall, 3-2 Big Ten), ending the nation’s second-longest home winning streak and giving the MSU football team (5-4, 2-3) its first win in Madison, Wis., in more than a decade, it proved especially meaningful to the buddies learning on the fly together.

Head coach Mark Dantonio said it was a defining moment for the team, and especially his quarterback, as Maxwell completed nine of his final 11 passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns on the offense’s final two drives to help MSU rally from its seventh halftime deficit in nine games.

MSU started the third quarter trailing 7-3, after the Spartans weren’t able to come away with points on a second-quarter drive that started at Wisconsin’s 11-yard line.

A sack and two penalties pushed MSU out of field goal range and seemed to leave the Spartans emotionally flat until the third quarter ended and the fourth quarter was about to begin.

Camp Randall Stadium is known for its fans jumping up and down to House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” between the third and fourth quarters, but the Spartans decided to join the tradition, jumping in a frenzy on the sideline that seemed to ignite the team.

MSU began the quarter with newfound energy, and several players said after the game despite the close losses they suffered all season, they were confident they’d find a way to come out on top.

A five-yard shovel pass to junior running back Le’Veon Bell with 1:08 remaining sent the game to overtime and set up Maxwell and Fowler’s heroics, a 12-yard touchdown toss on the game’s final play.

Maxwell said the win could be the moment that turns the season around.

“So many times it didn’t go our way this year,” Maxwell said. “ …This could be the spark that we need to kind of carry us over and propel us the rest of the way.”