2001 Michigan vs. Michigan State football game
| 2001 Michigan vs. Michigan State football game | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | November 3, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Spartan Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||||||||||||||
The 2001 Michigan vs. Michigan State football game was played on November 3, 2001 at Spartan Stadium.
While the game was closely played throughout, it is the game's conclusion that is most remembered. On fourth-and-goal, Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker threw a touchdown pass to running back T. J. Duckett as time expired to win 26–24. Smoker had spiked the ball with one second showing on the clock to allow the Spartans to have one last play.
The Wolverines came into East Lansing with a 6–1 (4–0) record and a #6 ranking behind wins against Miami (Ohio), Western Michigan, Penn State, Iowa, and eventual Big Ten champion Illinois. Michigan was the only team in the Big Ten without a loss four games into the Big Ten season, and despite an early non-conference loss at Washington, the Wolverines were considered national title contenders. Michigan led the Big Ten in rushing defense, conceding just 54.4 yards per game, but looked to be challenged by Michigan State running back T. J. Duckett, who averaged 105.5 rushing yards per game going into the contest. In the previous week, linebacker Larry Foote set a Michigan school record with 7 tackles for a loss against Iowa and seemed poised to put serious pressure on the Spartan offense.
The Spartans came into the contest 4–2 (2–2) with early losses at Northwestern and Minnesota but led the Big Ten in passing yards (271.3 yards per game) behind star sophomore wide receiver Charles Rogers and sophomore quarterback Jeff Smoker. The Spartans had won three of the previous four meetings against the Wolverines in East Lansing. It was coach Bobby Williams' first home game against the Wolverines. Kickoff return specialist and wide receiver Herb Haygood led the nation in kickoff return average (33.2 yards per return) and looked to give the Wolverines a serious challenge on special teams.
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