Five most heartbreaking games of the Brian Kelly era

2010 – Notre Dame at Michigan State

A week after a heartbreaking loss to Michigan, the Irish suffered an even more heartbreaking loss up at East Lansing.

For the most part it was a back and forth game, although the Irish had their chances to take control of the game. The Irish and Spartans went into overtime after Kirk Cousins led MSU down the the field late in the game to tie it up. Notre Dame started the overtime period off with a field goal from David Ruffer.

The Spartans would then get their chance with the ball. The Irish looked like they were going to force a three and out when Michigan State lined up for a field goal. The Spartans snapped the ball and tight end Charlie Gantt trickled out behind the defense and Aaron Bates found him for the touchdown and MSU won 34-31. The play was dubbed as “Little Giants”. To this day I still get a little nervous anyone decides to kick a field goal against the Irish.

The controversy about the “Little Giants” play was that the play clock was clearly showing zeros. There should have been a delay of game penalty called on the Spartans, but there wasn’t and the Irish fell.

I remember being at this game and it was such a deflating feeling walking out of Spartan Stadium that night. It was a missed opportunity to say the least.

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