On the game's final play, Keith Nichol pushes for the last inches on a 44-yard touchdown pass play. The play came after the Badgers had rallied from a 31-17 deficit to tie the score.
 Michigan State's B.J. Cunningham leaps on the back of Keith Nichol, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass against Wisconsin on a Hail Mary as time expired Saturday. (Al Goldis / Associated Press / 22) |
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Associated Press
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Keith Nichol caught a 44-yard Hail Mary on the game's final play for a tiebreaking touchdown, giving No. 15 Michigan State a stunning 37-31 victory against No. 4 Wisconsin on Saturday night.
With the score tied and four seconds left, Kirk Cousins rolled to his right and threw one last pass. The ball went into the end zone but caromed off a Michigan State receiver back to Nichol, who caught it just outside the end zone and struggled for the goal line, fighting two Wisconsin defenders.
The former backup quarterback was initially ruled short of the end zone, but officials overturned the call after a review, giving the Spartans (6-1, 3-0 Big Ten Conference) the win and knocking the Badgers (6-1, 2-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Russell Wilson had led the Badgers from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to tie the score with 1:26 left on a two-yard touchdown pass to Montee Ball.
The wild game ? in which both teams blew two-touchdown leads ? featured an even more memorable finish.
Wisconsin trailed 31-17 in the fourth quarter before Wilson ran 22 yards for a touchdown and made several spectacular throws on the move to set up the touchdown pass to Ball to tie it, at 31-31.
Michigan State then survived a harrowing moment when Cousins fumbled deep in Spartans territory. Offensive lineman Dan France fell on the ball with 42 seconds left.
At that point, Wisconsin was eager to use timeouts, trying to get the ball back, but on second and 20 from his own 24, Cousins found B.J. Cunningham for a 12-yard gain.
The Spartans then picked up a first down on an 11-yard shovel pass to Keshawn Martin.
The drive appeared to stall at the Wisconsin 44, but the Spartans had time for one more play ? one that will go down in Michigan State history along with last year's fake field that beat Notre Dame in another extraordinary night game at Spartan Stadium.
Cousins was able to buy enough time for receivers to get down the field. Cunningham was in the end zone, and the ball bounced off his helmet and into Nichol's arms.
With the score tied and four seconds left, Kirk Cousins rolled to his right and threw one last pass. The ball went into the end zone but caromed off a Michigan State receiver back to Nichol, who caught it just outside the end zone and struggled for the goal line, fighting two Wisconsin defenders.
The former backup quarterback was initially ruled short of the end zone, but officials overturned the call after a review, giving the Spartans (6-1, 3-0 Big Ten Conference) the win and knocking the Badgers (6-1, 2-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Russell Wilson had led the Badgers from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to tie the score with 1:26 left on a two-yard touchdown pass to Montee Ball.
The wild game ? in which both teams blew two-touchdown leads ? featured an even more memorable finish.
Wisconsin trailed 31-17 in the fourth quarter before Wilson ran 22 yards for a touchdown and made several spectacular throws on the move to set up the touchdown pass to Ball to tie it, at 31-31.
Michigan State then survived a harrowing moment when Cousins fumbled deep in Spartans territory. Offensive lineman Dan France fell on the ball with 42 seconds left.
At that point, Wisconsin was eager to use timeouts, trying to get the ball back, but on second and 20 from his own 24, Cousins found B.J. Cunningham for a 12-yard gain.
The Spartans then picked up a first down on an 11-yard shovel pass to Keshawn Martin.
The drive appeared to stall at the Wisconsin 44, but the Spartans had time for one more play ? one that will go down in Michigan State history along with last year's fake field that beat Notre Dame in another extraordinary night game at Spartan Stadium.
Cousins was able to buy enough time for receivers to get down the field. Cunningham was in the end zone, and the ball bounced off his helmet and into Nichol's arms.
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