Skip to content

PHOTOS: Reliving the 10 seconds that changed Michigan's season

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

In a matter of 10 seconds, Michigan went from a playoff contender to a 5-2 team.

With the loss, the Wolverines failed to supplant Michigan State as the state's team, and the school most likely to edge - or join - Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.

Below, take a look at what happened in the 10 seconds that kept the Spartans undefeated, and sent Michigan home wondering what went wrong:

10: Timeout, Michigan

"If you go for it, you leave them with a Hail Mary opportunity." - Jim Harbaugh

With 10 seconds left on the clock, Michigan used its final timeout to figure out what to do with the ball in order to let time expire. Harbaugh decided that instead of running the ball, or throwing it, a punt was the best course of action.

9: Dropped punt

"He’ll be looking forward for the next game to come around quickly and move on. - Nathan Chapman, Blake O'Neill's coach in Australia

After making headlines with an 80-yard punt earlier in the game, Aussie grad student O'Neill dropped the snap, and - instead of falling on it - he tried to kick it anyway.

8: Jalen Watts-Jackson recovers the fumble

"I was like 'I can't believe it. I seriously can't believe it.'" - Spartans safety Demetrious Cox

The muffed punt landed directly in the hands of Spartans redshirt freshman Watts-Jackson, who had never touched the ball in a college football game until Saturday.

7: The 1-yard line

"All of a sudden, life gets flipped upside down." - Mark Dantonio

Going most of the way towards the end zone nearly untouched, Watts-Jackson barreled in for the score just as he was tackled by two Wolverines and four teammates pushed him to victory.

6: Touchdown, Spartans

"Folks, no flags! It's over, the Spartans win again!" - Spartans play-by-play man George Blaha

Watts-Jackson returned the fumble 38 yards for the game-winning touchdown, as Michigan State stunned the country.

5: Crowd goes wild, Michigan goes silent

"We didn't talk about it too much." - Wolverines kicker/punter Kenny Allen

Michigan State had a 0.2-percent win probability before the final play of the game.

4: Watts-Jackson is still down

"I know he was celebrating at some point. At some point, he was hurt." - Spartans safety Grayson Miller

Moments after achieving hero status, Watts-Jackson was comforted by teammates before being taken to hospital with a severe hip injury.

3: The Triumph

"I just felt like I was in a dream." - Spartans quarterback Connor Cook

Cook delivered enough plays to lead his team to victory, but it was the defense that kept his Spartans undefeated.

2: It's just a game

"At the end of the day, it's a game." - Game attendee Kevin Zonca

A fan suffered a heart attack in the section in the opposite corner of the end zone. The man received CPR in time, though it's unclear whether the incident happened before or after the final play.

1: There's still a season to play

"No one play defines us but it certainly fuels us! We believe! We own it. Move on!" - Wolverines Special Teams Coordinator John Baxter

The Wolverines are now 5-2, and likely out of the playoff picture, but after a lackluster 2014 season, there's still ample time to prove Michigan is back.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox