Mark Dantonio, Spartans bask in glow of dramatic win over Wolverines

— -- EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Mark Dantonio finally settled on a name for the final play that gave Michigan State its incomprehensible victory over Michigan.

It's called Rangers: Mission 4:10.

"We were saying all week that mental is to physical as four is to one -- that you had to be four times mentally tough than you were physically tough," Dantonio said. "The 10 seconds obviously comes in at the back end, with the last 10 seconds of the game."

Those 10 seconds will be replayed for years in this state, with the Spartans snatching victory when Michigan's punter fumbled a snap and Michigan State's Jalen Watts-Jackson ran the ball back for a touchdown and a 27-23 win.

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo was at Michigan Stadium with his son Saturday -- and had already started up the tunnel when the Spartans pulled off their stunning escape.

"I didn't actually see the exact play, believe it or not," Izzo said. "That was like missing a free throw and then a guy throwing it behind his back the length of the court."

The seventh-ranked Spartans (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) now have to find some way to come back to earth and prepare for next weekend's game against Indiana.

The Hoosiers (4-3, 0-3) are in last place in the Big Ten's East Division, but they played Ohio State tough earlier this month, and their fast-paced offense could be dangerous if Michigan State isn't sharp.

The Spartans have won seven of their past eight against Michigan, and they've done a nice job avoiding letdowns in the immediate aftermath of those emotional wins.

Since Dantonio took over as coach, Michigan State is 7-1 in games immediately following the matchup with Michigan. The only loss came last season, when the Spartans routed the Wolverines, then had an open date before losing at home to Ohio State.

"It's all about handling success I think," Dantonio said. "Obviously the worst thing we can do is fall backwards here, so we need to continue to move forward and you know, our dreams are ahead of us, and they start this Saturday. So I think our players will be ready to play."

Watts-Jackson had surgery on his hip after injuring himself on that desperate return. He returned to the Michigan State campus Monday.

"He was in good spirits," Dantonio said. "The man, the legend, is back."

Quarterback Connor Cook said he was getting treatment Monday when Watts-Jackson came into the training room using a walker.

"Word got around that he was in the training room," Cook said. "Everyone was giving him hugs and telling him how much they loved him and how crazy the whole night was."

Dantonio said Watts-Jackson's hip has been repaired, but he has to stay off it for three months and could miss spring practice.