| 2001 Michigan vs. Michigan State football game | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | November 3, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Spartan Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | James Lapetina | ||||||||||||||||||
The 2001 Michigan vs. Michigan State football game, sometimes called The Clock incident or Clockgate, was played on November 3, 2001 at Spartan Stadium.
While the game was closely played throughout, it is the game's conclusion that is most remembered. On fourth-and-goal, Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker threw a touchdown pass to running back T. J. Duckett as time expired to win 26–24.[1] Smoker had spiked the ball with one second showing on the clock to allow the Spartans to have one last play.[2]
Michigan State 26, #6 Michigan 24: This controversial game was settled on the game's final play when Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker threw a touchdown pass to running back T.J. Duckett as time expired.
In the 'Clock Game' of 2001, Michigan fans swear time stood still in Spartan Stadium long enough for Michigan State and [T. J.] Duckett to pull off a last-second 26-24 victory. Duckett says that to this day, [his lifelong best friend and fellow Kalamazoo native John] Bradford claims Michigan State didn't really win the game...Frank Beckmann, a longtime radio announcer for Michigan football games, called the clock incident "criminal" on the air.