EAST LANSING – Northwestern was the doormat of Big Ten football in 1991. Michigan State, coming off a share of the Big Ten title a year earlier, was limping through a season filled with injury and graduation attrition.
Surely, the 1-6 Spartans – 11 1/2-point favorites and at home – were due for a win. After all, the Wildcats were 2-5, hadn’t won a road game in five years, hadn’t won back-to-back games since 1986 and hadn’t had a winning season since 1971.
Football fate is fickle, however. Northwestern added to MSU’s misery, perfectly anticipating George Perles’ game plan and pulling off a 16-13 win.