Michigan State Top 25 Games of the 2010s
A 2010s ranking built from game-time AP poll strength, final-score closeness, overtime, and the featured team's result.
- Games ranked
- 25
- Highest score
- 75/100
- Ranked matchups
- 25
2010s ranking
Top 25 games of the 2010s in the database
Wins receive a small preference, but exceptional losses and ties remain eligible. Select any game for its available box score and statistics.
- 2015Week 14Neutral site
W 16-13 vs. Iowa
No. 4 Iowa vs. No. 5 Michigan State · 3-point margin
Ranking 43/50 · Closeness 27/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 5/5
75
Game score
Full Game · 2015 Iowa vs. Michigan State (Big Ten Championship Game Full Game)
- 2014GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSICNeutral site
W 42-41 vs. Baylor
No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 7 Michigan State · 1-point margin
Ranking 41/50 · Closeness 29/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 5/5
75
Game score
Full Game · 2014 Baylor vs. Michigan State (Cotton Bowl Full Game)
- 2013ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY VIZIONeutral site
W 24-20 vs. Stanford
No. 4 Michigan State vs. No. 5 Stanford · 4-point margin
Ranking 43/50 · Closeness 26/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 5/5
74
Game score
Full Game · 2013 Michigan State vs. Stanford (Bowl Full Game)
- 2015Week 12Away
W 17-14 vs. Ohio State
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Michigan State · 3-point margin
Ranking 41/50 · Closeness 27/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 5/5
73
Game score
Full Game · 2015 Ohio State vs. Michigan State (Regular Season Full Game)
- 2015Week 2Home
W 31-28 vs. Oregon
No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 7 Oregon · 3-point margin
Ranking 40/50 · Closeness 27/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 5/5
72
Game score
Full Game · 2015 Michigan State vs. Oregon (Regular Season Full Game)
- 2014Week 2Away
L 27-46 vs. Oregon
No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 7 Michigan State · 19-point margin
Ranking 42/50 · Closeness 11/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 0/5
53
Game score
Full Game · 2014 Oregon vs. Michigan State (Regular Season Full Game)
- 2011Week 14Neutral site
L 39-42 vs. Wisconsin
No. 11 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Wisconsin · 3-point margin
Ranking 26/50 · Closeness 27/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 0/5
53
Game score
Full Game · 2011 Michigan State vs. Wisconsin (Big Ten Championship Game Full Game)
- 2017Week 10Home
W 27-24 vs. Penn State
No. 24 Michigan State vs. No. 7 Penn State · 3-point margin
Ranking 21/50 · Closeness 27/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 5/5
53
Game score
Highlight · 2017 Michigan State vs. Penn State (Regular Season Full Game)
- 2017Week 6Away
W 14-10 vs. Michigan
No. 7 Michigan vs. Unranked Michigan State · 4-point margin
Ranking 19/50 · Closeness 26/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 5/5
50
Game score
Highlight · 2017 Michigan vs. Michigan State (Regular Season Full Game)
- 2015PostseasonNeutral site
L 0-38 vs. Alabama
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Michigan State · 38-point margin
Ranking 47/50 · Closeness 0/30 · Overtime 0/15 · Win 0/5
47
Game score
Full Game · 2015 Alabama vs. Michigan State (CFP Semifinal Full Game)
Methodology
How each game earns up to 100 points
AP ranking, 50 points: each team earns 26 minus its game-week AP rank. Unranked teams receive zero ranking points.
Closeness, 30 points: the score margin is subtracted from 30, with margins of 30 or more receiving zero.
Overtime, 15 points: overtime starts at nine points and rises by two per additional period, capped at 15.
Result, 5 points: a featured-team win receives five points; losses and ties receive zero.
Regular-season rankings are matched to the AP Top 25 for the game's recorded week. Postseason games use the final regular-season AP poll published before bowl and playoff results. Overtime uses period scoring when available, then explicit overtime notes as a fallback. Older games and smaller programs may have less complete poll or period data.
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