Michigan loses shocker to Spartans on botched-punt TD

By foxsports
Published

Move over Kick-6, college football has a new contender for craziest ending to an in-state rivalry game.

Michigan appeared to be ready to celebrate a 23-21 win over Michigan State on Saturday afternoon, needing only to execute a punt with 10 seconds left to pin the Spartans deep and make it nearly impossible for them to get into field-goal range.

Then Michigan punter Blake O'Neill mishandled the snap. He picked up the ball briefly before fumbling as the Spartans swarmed.

But that was only the beginning.

Sophomore defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson of Michigan State scooped the ball up and ran it back 38 yards, carrying a Wolverine into the end zone as time expired. You can watch the madness unfold in the video above.

The redshirt freshman appeared to land hard on his left hip after he was tackled into the end zone by Michigan tight end Jake Butt. Joyous teammates jumped on Watts-Jackson as he lay on a maize "M" in the end zone. He was carted off the field and taken to a hospital. 

On Sunday, Watts-Jackson had hip surgery that lasted more than three hours at University of Michigan hospital.

The TD gave the Spartans a 27-23 win, their seventh in eight tries against the Wolverines.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jackson is lifted onto a stretcher.