2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game

Biggest Comeback in NCAA History
Michigan State Spartans Northwestern Wildcats (3-4) (2-5) 41 38 Head coach:  John L. Smith Head coach:  Pat Fitzgerald 1 2 3 4 Total Michigan State 3 0 14 24 41 Northwestern 7 17 14 0 38
Date	October 21, 2006
Stadium	Ryan Field
Location	Evanston, IL

The 2006 edition of the Michigan State Spartans / Northwestern Wildcats football game featured the biggest comeback in NCAA history. The Spartans, after falling behind to the Wildcats 38-3 with 9:54 remaining in the 3rd quarter, rallied to score 38 unanswered points to defeat the Wildcats 41-38.

First quarter

Michigan State started the game with a 66-yard drive that ended with a Brett Swenson 32-yard field goal. Northwestern's first drive also resulted in a score. Quarterback C.J. Bacher found Ross Lane for a 5 yard touchdown giving Northwestern a 7-3 lead.

Second quarter

The Wildcats' first drive of the second quarter resulting in Bacher rushing for a 2 yard touchdown, extending NU's lead to 14-3. The Spartans were forced to punt on the ensuing drive. Northwestern's Joel Howells kicked a 30 yard field goal on the next driving, making the score 17-3. On the following drive, Michigan State was once again forced to punt. Following the punt, Northwestern scored another touchdown on a Brandon Roberson 18-yard pass to Shaun Herbert giving the 'Cats a 24-3 lead. Michigan State's woes continued on their next drive, when they fumbled the football. However, they got some luck when Howells missed a 36-yard field goal at the end of the quarter.

Third quarter

Northwestern began the third quarter with an 80-yard drive that resulted in a Bacher 22-yard touchdown pass to Lane, making the score 31-3. On the first play of the next drive, Drew Stanton was intercepted. Northwestern capitalized on the great field position with Herbert catching a 5-yard touchdown pass, giving Northwestern a 38-3 lead. Michigan State began the comeback with a nine play, 65 yard drive capped off with an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Stanton to running back Jehuu Caulcrick. Following a Northwestern punt, Michigan State again ran a sustained drive, finishing an eight play, 53-yard campaign with a 4 yard touchdown run from A.J. Jimmerson. On the ensuing drive, the Wildcats had gained 69 yards in only 5 plays when Bacher was intercepted at the goal line by Michigan State middle linebacker Kaleb Thornhill. The quarter ended with the deficit cut from 38-3 to 38-17.

Fourth quarter

Michigan State's chances of completing the comeback appeared to be finished early in the fourth quarter, when backup quarterback Brian Hoyer had his 6th pass of the drive intercepted by the Wildcats a minute into the period. However, after being unable to convert a short third down at midfield, the Wildcats had their punt blocked by Devin Thomas and returned for a touchdown by Ashton Henderson. This play is generally credited as the definitive momentum swinger.

The next two Northwestern drives would end in punts, and each ensuing Spartan drive would result in a touchdown. With the score tied at 38, the Wildcats had the ball on their own 15 yard line with 3:32 remaining in regulation. On the first play of the series, Bacher was intercepted by the Spartans' Travis Key at the Northwestern 40. The interception was returned for 10 yards to the 30 yard line. The Spartans ran the ball for the duration of the drive, advancing the ball to the Northwestern 11 yard line with 18 seconds left on the clock. MSU kicker Swenson would convert a 28 yard field goal to give the Spartans the lead.

The Wildcats would get the ball one more time, returning the ensuing kickoff to their own 37 yard line. Following an offsides penalty which moved the ball to the 42 yard line, Northwestern's final play for the end zone was unsuccessful and the Spartans finished the game as the winners, 41-38.

Fallout

Michigan State had started the season off 3-0, including an impressive win over Pittsburgh. In their next game against Notre Dame, they lost despite leading by 16 points entering the 4th quarter. Their next 3 games were losses to Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio State. The comeback was thought to save John L. Smith's career at Michigan State, but on November 1, 2006 the university announced that Smith would not be brought back following the season as the Spartans finished with four more losses after this game.

Northwestern, by contrast, had already fallen out of bowl contention and attributed the result of this game to the inexperience of the young team. The Wildcats would play a competitive game against Michigan the following week, and would defeat the bowl bound Iowa Hawkeyes two weeks later (who later came close to upsetting Texas in the Alamo Bowl). Expectations for the team had not been high at the start of the season, and the sudden death of coach Randy Walker only served to further lessen those expectations.

See also

• 1966 Notre Dame vs. Michigan State football game
• Houston Oilers at Buffalo Bills, 1993 Wildcard Playoff
• The Monday Night Miracle
• 2006 Insight Bowl, a 2006 bowl game that saw the biggest comeback in NCAA Division I-A postseason history

External links

• Box score
• Play-by-play narrative
• Drive summary