2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Fuel tax modification and increase
Additionally, the retail sales tax on gasoline is expressly eliminated only for vehicles "driving on Michigan roads." It is not eliminated for off-road vehicles, including boats, agricultural machines, ATVs, snowmobiles, and other gasoline-powered vehicles and tools.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Vehicle registration fee increase
Vehicle registration fees would no longer depreciate with the value of the vehicle, raising fees overall. Additionally, because vehicle registration fees are no longer ad valorem (based on value) they would no longer qualify as a federal tax line-item deduction. The Anderson Economic Group estimated Michigan residents would pay an additional $102 million in federal taxes caused by this change.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Vehicle registration fee increase
State Rep. Mike McCready, who sponsored the vehicle registration fee bill, said that legislative leaders knew that change would eliminate the federal deductions. McCready said that the legislature chose to eliminate the depreciation discounts for new vehicles, rather than increase the tax rate for all vehicles, because the legislature "felt this would be the least painful [option]".


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Funding for roads
Michigan's proposed fiscal year 2015–16 budget contains cuts in discretionary funding for roads from $285 million the previous year and $451 million in 2014. The proposed amount for fiscal year 2015–16 is $113 million, according to the House Fiscal Agency.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Funding for roads
Governor Snyder described the continuing cuts as intentional, saying "that's why this needs to get approved."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Funding for roads
Proposal 1 would increase spending on roads by approximately $400 million in the first year, $800 million in the second, and $1.2 billion in subsequent years. Under Public Act 468 (part of the proposal) for the 2015–16 fiscal year, $400 million of $1.2 billion raised from increasing fuel taxes would go to the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF); the remaining money would be used to pay down a portion of the state's debt from previous road construction projects.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Funding for roads
For the 2016–17 fiscal year, $800 million of the $1.2 billion would go to the MTF, and starting in the 2017–18 fiscal year, nearly all of the projected $1.35 billion in fuel tax revenue would go to the MTF. "However, the language in the bill does not earmark a portion of the additional revenue resulting from the bill, but a portion of the total revenue generated by the Act. As a result, the language would result in a 56.6%, or $522.2 million, decline in MTF revenue available for roads."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Funding for schools and local governments
Proposal 1 would have modified funding for schools and local governments.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Changes in School Aid Fund usage rules
Proposal 1 would have made changes to School Aid Fund usage rules.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Earned Income Tax Credit expansion
The Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit (MEITC) was amended in 2011, reducing the credit to eligible taxpayers from 20% of the federal Earned Income Credit to 6%. Proposal 1 would give effect to a law that increases that credit back to 20% of the federal amount. This is estimated to provide $260 million in tax relief to qualified individuals in the first year.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Earned Income Tax Credit expansion
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimated that if Proposal 1 passes, the average recipient of the MEITC who earns less than $20,000 will see a net tax break of $24. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy estimated that, if passed, Proposal 1 would result in typical Michigan families seeing an increase of $500 in taxes per year. Taxpayers who qualify for the MEITC would have, on average, a net tax break of $69; however, some MEITC recipients might see a tax increase.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, New competitive bidding rules
Public Act 472, an act modifying and consolidating public bidding rules for road projects, was dependent on this proposal for implementation.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Warranty expansion and affirmative action rules
Public Act 473, which takes effect if and only if Proposal 1 is adopted by voters, modifies rules for road contraction, including new affirmative action rules and warranty requirements.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Warranty expansion and affirmative action rules
MichiganVotes.org summarized the bill as "to expand to local road agencies a requirement to warranties from contractors for road construction and preservation projects valued at more than $1 million. Under current law the warranty requirement only applies to the state Department of Transportation. Also, to require the Department of Transportation to give extra assistance (possibly including grants and loans) to "disadvantaged" businesses that bid on state funded road projects; and to take other steps to steer more state-funded road work to such firms, including annual consultations with certain ethnic- and race-based organizations."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Policies that would be enacted, Policies subject to change
Proposal 1 consists of a constitutional amendment that could not be modified without a subsequent vote of the people of Michigan, but the ten laws that take effect if Proposal 1 passes, Public Acts 467 through 476 of 2014, containing most of the significant policy changes, are ordinary laws that are written as to only take effect if the Proposal 1 is adopted. These laws could be modified by the legislature at any time, before or after May 5, 2015, and before or after they are scheduled to take effect.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Public polling
A late-March statewide poll by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA found that 70 percent of voters were opposed to Proposal 1, with only 21 percent in favor. The remaining 9 percent of voters were undecided.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Arguments, Support
There are three principal arguments advanced by "Safe Roads Yes! ", the ballot committee supporting the proposal: Proposal 1 (1) guarantees that all taxes on gasoline are allocated to transportation; (2) guarantees that all money in the School Aid Fund goes toward K-12 education; and (3) extends pavement warranties so that road builders pay for repairs to poorly constructed roads.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Arguments, Support
The proposal was to remove the sales tax from Michigan fuel sales. This was claimed to remedy the anomalous perverse situation where "Michigan charges some of the highest taxes on fuel in the nation, but still has among the lowest per-lane-mile spending on roads."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Arguments, Support
Nolan Finley, editor of The Detroit News, which has endorsed the proposal, wrote in support of the proposal, noting that "There is no Plan B". Finley argued that the option of cutting spending from other areas of the budget will not work, because"Republicans aren't going to make substantial cuts to prison spending, Democrats aren't going to hack welfare spending, and neither party is going to touch school spending."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Arguments, Support
Finley noted that, in his opinion, the best course of action would be to raise the money through an increased fuel tax; however, the legislature had been unable to pass such a bill last session and would likely be unable to do so now. Finley concluded by saying that if the proposal fails, revenue increases will be off the table, making Proposal 1 the only option. "So the real message to voters should be this: Hold your noses and vote for Prop 1, or keep driving on what may be the deadliest roads in America. Guaranteed."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Arguments, Support
MLive Media Group, in its editorial endorsement of Proposal 1, argued that has been under investing in infrastructure, schools, and municipalities for too long, and that the only way to rectify this is through a tax increase. The editorial argued that "[t]here is no viable alternative." The editorial also contested claims by opposition groups, saying, "Schools and municipalities are not 'special interests,' as Proposal 1 opponents cynically call them."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Arguments, Opposition
Opponents of Proposal 1 argue that tax increases are unnecessary to fix the roads. They use as an example an alternative proposal passed by the Michigan House that would not raise taxes in December 2014, supported by then-speaker Jase Bolger.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Arguments, Opposition
In an op-ed published by MLive, Rep. Tom McMillin made three arguments to show that tax increases were not necessary: (1) Noting that the state's budget increased close to $5 billion from 2012 to 2015 and that the tax increase only raises $2 billion annually, the new taxes would only offset new spending, which has not gone to roads; (2) in 2014, the state House passed a bill "to fully fix and fund roads without any tax increases, by simply prioritizing new spending", but the governor blocked the legislation; and (3) "[r]oads are an ordinary budget item in forty-nine states", and road funding should just be "budget discussions, not some political hostage brought before voters to demand higher taxes".


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Arguments, Opposition
An editorial in the Battle Creek Enquirer contested the assertion that there is no alternative to fixing roads but Proposal 1: "Proposal 1 proponents are calling the initiative our best—even only—hope for addressing the state's crumbling infrastructure. The governor and others remind us that 'there's no Plan B.' That's a lot of bunk, and it's insulting to voters who shouldn't be in this position. We pay legislators to legislate, and we expect the governor to lead. No elected leaders should be hiding behind voters on this."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Arguments, Opposition
Concerned Taxpayers of Michigan, a group opposed to Proposal 1, argued that the political ramifications of Proposal 1 were an additional reason to vote no: "If Proposal 1 is passed, the public will have shown to the politicians that they accept their worst. That We the People will settle for anything: the worst they can do, we'll accept as the best."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Arguments, Opposition
Critics of Proposal 1 have also pointed out that just over half of the tax revenue raised by Proposal 1 would go toward road funding, with 40% going toward schools, revenue sharing with local governments, and other projects unrelated to roads.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Endorsements, Support
The campaign supporting Proposal 1 is being led by the Safe Roads Yes committee. The largest contributor to Safe Roads Yes as of the February 2015 disclosure was the Michigan Infrastructure Transportation Association.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Endorsements, Support
Groups in favor of Proposal 1 include AFL-CIO of Michigan, the Michigan Association of School Administrators, the Michigan Education Association, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Farm Bureau, the Michigan Municipal League, the Michigan Public Transit Association, and Michigan School Business Officials.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Endorsements, Opposition
Four ballot committees are filed in Michigan opposing Proposal 1: Concerned Taxpayers of Michigan, led by former State Rep. Tom McMillin; Coalition Against Higher Taxes and Special Interest Deals, led by former congressional candidate and businessman Paul Mitchell; Protect Michigan Taxpayers, led by Keith Allard; and Citizens Against Middle Class Tax Increases, led by political consultant John Yob.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Endorsements, Opposition
At least 33 county and congressional district Republican committees passed resolutions expressing official opposition to Proposal 1. In a news release issued by district chairman Tom McMillin as his committee passed such a resolution, McMillin commented "In my 25 years of activism within the Republican party, I've never seen anything like this—so many District and County Republican party committees coming out against a significant proposal by a sitting Republican Governor."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Endorsements, Opposition
Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette criticized the proposal, saying, "From a policy perspective, this proposal has a lot of potholes and pitfalls. It's a massive $1.9 billion sales tax increase that goes well beyond road funding. There's just too much under the tree."


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Endorsements, Opposition
Numerous other organizations have made official statements opposing Proposal 1, including several Tea Party groups, the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc., Our America Initiative, the Libertarian Party of Michigan, the Green Party of Michigan, and the Socialist Party of Michigan.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Alternatives
A package of three bills supported by then-Speaker Jase Bolger were passed in December 2014 to fund roads by redirecting new spending to roads. Bolger published an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press defending the plan. The plan has been re-introduced by Rep. Gary Glenn and Todd Courser. Thirteen additional House representatives are co-sponsors of the legislation in 2015.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Results
The proposal was defeated by a grass-roots campaign, with opposition out-funded by a factor of 20 to 1 by the proposition. It was an unprecedented defeat of a constitutional proposal in Michigan.


2015 Michigan Proposal 1, Results, Aftermath
Governor Rick Snyder said he would immediately try to find a fix. He has promised to work with the legislature an effort to find a new solution to the state's road funding conundrum. But he had no estimated time of arrival for a result, noting that the legislature has other pressing issues, including the budget, on its agenda. Moving governmental expenditures is said to be "Plan B," especially given that this legislature is even more anti-tax and conservative than the one that passed the defeated proposal.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 2015 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan State played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan and were led by ninth-year head coach Mark Dantonio. They finished the season 12–2, 7–1 in Big Ten play to share the East Division championship with Ohio State.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team
Due to their head-to-head win over Ohio State, they represented the East Division in the Big Ten Championship Game where they defeated West Division champion Iowa to become Big Ten Champions. They finished the season No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings and were selected to play in the CFP Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl Classic where they lost to No. 2 Alabama.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team
The season was one of the most successful in school history. The Spartans defeated in-state rival Michigan in Ann Arbor after a fumbled snap by Wolverine punter Blake O'Neill was picked up by Jalen Watts-Jackson and returned for a touchdown in the final ten seconds to give Michigan State a 27–23 win. The Spartans defeated Ohio State on the road in Columbus, playing without Connor Cook and relying on the arms of backup QBs Damion Terry and Tyler O'Connor.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team
Michael Geiger would make a 41-yard field goal as time expired to give the Spartans a 17–14 win and to win the East Division. Michigan State would win its third Big Ten Championship in six years after defeating Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, 16–13. The Spartans were selected to play in the College Football Playoff, where they were defeated by eventual National Champion Alabama, 38–0, finishing with a record and achieving their fifth 11-win season in six years.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Previous season
The Spartans finished the 2014 season 11–2, 7–1 in Big Ten play to finish in second place in the East Division behind Ohio State. Michigan State faced Baylor in the 2015 Cotton Bowl, which was part of the new New Year's Six Bowls, where they overcame a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Baylor 42–41.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Offseason, 2015 NFL Draft
Four members of the 2014 Spartan football team were selected in the 2015 NFL Draft


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Offseason, 2015 NFL Draft
In addition, five other Spartans were signed as undrafted free agents:


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Offseason, 2015 NFL Draft
Michigan State remained one of only five teams to have had a player selected in each draft since the AFL/NFL merger.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Western Michigan
The Spartans began the 2015 campaign with a rare road game against MAC foe Western Michigan. The last time MSU and Western played, the Spartans required a couple of defensive touchdowns to put the Broncos away in the home opener of the 2013 season, a year in which they won the Big Ten outright and won the Rose Bowl.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Western Michigan
After Montae Nicholson intercepted a Zach Terrell pass in Western territory, giving the Spartans excellent field position, the Spartans scored first on a 24-yard Madre London touchdown run. Western Michigan return man and cornerback Darius Phillips returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to tie things up. After another Madre London touchdown run, the Spartans took a 13–7 lead after a failed two-point conversion. Michigan State scored another touchdown on their next possession as Connor Cook found Josiah Price on a nine-yard pass to swell the Spartans' lead to 20–7. Both teams scored in the second quarter, with Michigan State taking a 27–10 lead into halftime.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Western Michigan
The Spartans put the nail in the coffin on the opening drive of the second half after a 21-yard pass from Connor Cook to DeAnthony Arnett gave MSU a 24-point lead. Western scored two late touchdowns, but a Vayante Copeland interception in the end zone late in the game put an end to the Broncos' comeback attempt.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Western Michigan
Michigan State won, 37–24, winning their seventh straight season opener, improving their record against Western Michigan to 12–2 and their overall record against the Michigan directional colleges to 28–5. The Spartans moved to 1–0 on the season.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Oregon
Following their defeat of Western Michigan in the season opener, the Spartans played host to the Oregon Ducks. This was the first Spartan home game featuring two top-10-ranked teams since the 1966 Notre Dame–Michigan State game. This was also a rematch from the year before, where the game was played at Oregon. In that game, despite having a 27–18 lead late in the third quarter, Michigan State fell to the Ducks, 46–27, thanks to the effort of Ducks QB and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Oregon fell to Ohio State in the National Championship game, making Michigan State's only two losses that season come by the hands of the two teams who played for the national championship.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Oregon
The Ducks struck first after a 13-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a two-yard Royce Freeman touchdown run. The Spartans answered immediately, as Josiah Price caught a 12-yard pass from Connor Cook, following a 62-yard run from Madre London, to tie the game at 7 apiece. The offenses cooled off after what was looking like the beginning of a shootout. Both offenses traded punts, with Oregon's punter Ian Wheeler giving Michigan State great field position after a shanked 25-yard punt. However, Michigan State were unable to capitalize off of this blunder as Michael Geiger missed a 28-yard field goal.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Oregon
Despite that, Ducks QB Vernon Adams threw an interception two plays later to Montae Nicholson. Six plays later, Connor Cook found Aaron Burbridge over the middle, with Burbridge breaking several tackles on his way to the end zone for a 17-yard catch and run touchdown. Michigan State held a 14–7 lead early in the second quarter. On the ensuing Duck possession, Oregon drove to the Spartan one-yard line before the Michigan State defense made a goal-line stand on both third and fourth down, causing the Ducks to turn the ball over on downs. Neither team scored the remainder of the half, with Vernon Adams and Connor Cook both throwing interceptions. Michigan State took a 14–7 lead into halftime.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Oregon
The beginning of the second half did not start well for the Spartans, as Oregon WR Bralon Addison returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14. The Spartans answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive ending with an LJ Scott six-yard touchdown run, again giving the Spartans the lead, 21–14. Several drives later, Michael Geiger made a 36-yard field goal, increasing the lead to 24–14.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Oregon
Oregon had possession of the ball to start the fourth quarter and drove the ball down the field, with Vernon Adams scoring a touchdown on a two-yard run, pulling the Ducks within three points. Michigan State responded quickly with a touchdown of their own after an LJ Scott 36-yard touchdown run, giving the Spartans a 10-point lead, 31–21. The two teams traded possessions until Oregon scored after a 15-yard pass to Royce Freeman brought the Ducks within three again with 3:25 remaining in the game. The Ducks got the ball back after a quick Michigan State possession.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Oregon
Oregon had two minutes to either tie or take the lead. The drive started off well for Oregon, with Royce Freeman ripping off runs of 11 yards and 4 yards,  and getting the ball down to the Spartan 33-yard line. However, Vernon Adams overthrew a wide-open Byron Marshall on the following play, which would have given the Ducks the lead late. The Spartans blitzed on third down, with Chris Frey and Lawrence Thomas sacking Adams for a loss of 10. Adams underthrew his receiver on fourth and long and the Spartans took over on downs and ran out the clock, ensuring a 31–28 victory.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Oregon
Michigan State's 31–28 win over Oregon gave the Spartans a 13–5–1 record in match-ups between two schools ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll. The Spartans moved to 2–0 on the season.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Air Force
After the victory over Oregon, the Spartans hosted the Air Force Academy in the schools' first-ever meeting on the gridiron.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Air Force
The Spartans scored on their first possession of the game after a 15-yard pass from Connor Cook to Josiah Price put MSU up 7–0, ending a 9-play, 59-yard drive. The following possession saw Air Force drive down to the MSU 39 yard line before Falcon tailback DJ Johnson fumbled the ball. RJ Williamson scooped up the fumble and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown, giving Michigan State a 14–0 lead as the rout appeared to be on its way.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Air Force
Air Force would make up for this error on their next possession, after a Benton Washington 1-yard touchdown run pulled Air Force within 7, putting the score at 14–7 Michigan State at the end of the first quarter. Michigan State dominated the second quarter on both sides of the ball. On the opening possession of the quarter, Michigan State went 87 yards in 10 plays, a drive capped off by a spectacular catch by Aaron Burbridge on a 28-yard pass from Cook.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Air Force
Burbridge would catch another pass from Cook for a touchdown in the final 30 seconds of the half, this time from 32 yards to give the Spartans a 28–7 lead at halftime. The Spartan defense played extremely well in the second quarter, only allowing Air Force to gain 19 yards of offense in the entire quarter.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Air Force
Michigan State scored again on the opening possession of the second half, as Cook would find Aaron Burbridge for a third time on a 21-yard pass and catch in the endzone, giving MSU a commanding 28 point lead. Air Force would cut the lead to 21 on the ensuing drive after a 38-yard pass from Karson Roberts to Jalen Robinette resulted in a touchdown. Despite Michigan State's offense stalling after their opening possession of the half, the Falcons were unable to get back into the game due turnover issues, committing two turnovers in Spartan territory. Air Force would add a DJ Johnson 2-yard touchdown run with 2:11 remaining in the game to cut the lead to 35–21, but at that point it was too late. The Spartans kneeled out the clock for the victory.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Air Force
Aaron Burbridge had a career day, catching eight passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns. The last Spartan receiver to catch three touchdown passes in a single game was B.J. Cunningham against Wisconsin during the 2011 season. Connor Cook threw four touchdown passes in a game for the second time in his career. He first accomplished this feat during his first start as a sophomore against Youngstown State. He also earned his 26th career victory as starting QB, overtaking Stanford's Kevin Hogan as college football's active wins leader.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Following their win over Air Force, Michigan State would host Central Michigan. The two teams last met in 2012, a game which the then 11th ranked Spartans won 41–7.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Central drove to the MSU 28-yard line on the opening drive of the game before attempting a 45-yard field goal attempt which would be blocked by Demetrius Cooper. Michigan State scored on a six play, 72-yard drive capped off by a Madre London six-yard touchdown run. Central followed with a 15-play, 54-yard drive that took 8:27 off the clock, only to have a 43-yard field goal attempt blocked again, this time by Shilique Calhoun. Michael Geiger added a 47-yard field goal to the Michigan State lead in the second quarter. Josiah Price added a 5-yard touchdown reception from Connor Cook to give Michigan State a 17–0 lead. Central scored a touchdown on a one-yard pass from Cooper Rush to Anthony Rice just before halftime to cut the lead to 10. Michigan State led 17–7 at halftime.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Central pulled within seven after a successful 47*yard Brian Eavey field goal on their first possession of the half. Neither team was able to put anything together offensively for the rest of the quarter. Heading into the fourth quarter, Michigan State still led 17–10. Michigan State added two late touchdowns, both by Gerald Holmes on runs of three and six yards (after a Central Michigan fumble in MSU territory) respectively to give Michigan State the 30–10 victory. However, the loss was costly as offensive lineman Jack Conklin left the game with a leg injury. With earlier season-ending injuries to linebacker Ed Davis and cornerback Vayante Copeland, the teams injuries began to mount.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Central Michigan
Michigan State improved its record against the Michigan directional colleges to 29–5 with the victory. The Spartans moved to 4–0 on the season.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Purdue
In their first game of the Big Ten season, MSU hosted Purdue for their fourth straight home game to start the season and as the newly ranked No. 2 team in the country. MSU jumped out to an early 21–0 lead on Purdue in the first 17 minutes of the game and the game appeared to be over. The Spartans were led by two touchdown runs by LJ Scott and looked to be on their way to another rout. Near the end of the first half, Jack Conklin's replacement was forced to leave the game with an apparent knee injury.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Purdue
At halftime, the school celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1965 national championship team. However, as the second half began, the rain began to fall. MSU's first three possessions of the second half ended with two punts and a turnover as Purdue narrowed the lead to 21–14 early in the third quarter. A 30-yard MSU field preceded another Purdue touchdown to draw the game even closer, 24–21. A punt by MSU led to Purdue having an opportunity to tie or take the lead, but MSU's defense stiffened in time.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Purdue
The win moved Cook into first place in career wins at Michigan State with 28. The Spartans moved to 5–0 on the season.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
A week after staving off a furious Purdue comeback attempt, the Spartans went on the road for the first time all season to Piscataway, New Jersey to face Rutgers, a program in their second year of Big Ten membership, and a team the Spartans dominated the year prior, 45–3. Prior to the game Rutgers's star wide receiver, Leonte Carroo, was reinstated to the team after serving a two-game suspension.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
Neither offense got any sort of momentum going for a majority of the first quarter. Michigan State received great field position after a bad Rutgers punt of 19 yards. The Spartans moved the ball down to the Rutgers 18 yard line, but a Michael Geiger field goal attempt of 35 yards was blocked. After trading possessions, Michigan State finally put a sustained drive together, which included a fourth and 10 conversion after a 25-yard pass from Connor Cook to Aaron Burbridge. The drive concluded on an eight-yard pass from Connor Cook to Macgarrett Kings which resulted in the game's first touchdown with 1:46 remaining in the quarter. Michigan State led 7–0 at the end of one.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
Rutgers responded quickly, scoring on a 4 play, 78 yard drive to tie the game at seven after a Chris Laviano pass to Leonte Carroo for five yards. Later after a shanked Jake Hartbarger punt, Rutgers received great field position on their next possession, and only needed two plays to take a 14–7 lead on a Leonte Carroo 39 yard touchdown reception. Michigan State pulled within four point on their next possession after a successful Michael Geiger 30-yard field goal try.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
The Spartans had the opportunity to take the lead before halftime, driving the ball all the way to the Rutgers eight yard line, but Connor Cook threw an interception in the back of the endzone with a little over a minute left in the half. It was only his second interception of the season. Rutgers led 14–10 at the half.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
The Michigan State offense came out on fire in the second half, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions of the half; the first score coming off of a LJ Scott one yard touchdown run and the second the result of a DeAnthony Arnett 25-yard touchdown reception. Michigan State held a 24–14 lead midway through the third quarter and seemed to have the game in hand. However, Rutgers scored late in the third quarter with 49 seconds remaining on a Chris Laviano 28-yard touchdown pass to Leonte Carroo. Michigan State led 24–21 lead going into the fourth quarter.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
After a stalled possession, Jake Hartbarger pinned Rutgers down at their own five yard line. Rutgers went on a time-consuming, 16 play, 91 yard drive that took eight minutes off the clock, with Kyle Federico making a 22-yard field goal attempt to tie the game at 24. Michigan State received the ball with 4:08 remaining in the game. On third and nine, Cook completed a 29-yard pass to R.J. Shelton. LJ Scott had runs of six and two yards respectively on the following plays.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
On third and two, Aaron Burbridge received the ball on a reverse and ran for 10 yards to the Rutgers 28 yard line. LJ Scott moved the ball to the Rutgers three yard line after a 16-yard run. One play later he would score, giving Michigan State a 31–24 lead with 43 seconds remaining. Rutgers received the ball at their own 35 yard line. On third and 10 Chris Laviano completed a 25-yard pass to Andre Patton, moving the ball into Michigan State territory at the 40-yard line.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Rutgers
Several plays later on third down, Malik McDowell sacked Laviano for a loss of 10. Rutgers, having no timeouts left and the clock running, only had time for one play, presumably a Hail Mary pass. On fourth down however, Laviano, unaware of what down it was, took the snap and spiked the ball to stop the clock turning the ball over to Michigan State on downs. Michigan State kneeled out the clock, giving them another close game, with a 31–24 victory.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Following a closer than expected string of wins, the Spartans, ranked No. 7 in the country, faced in-state rival Michigan, ranked No. 12 in the country. The game was played in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the first time since 2012 which also marked the last time MSU lost to Michigan. Coming into this contest, the Spartans had defeated the Wolverines six of the last seven times the two teams have played. Despite Michigan State being ranked higher than Michigan, Michigan was favored by 6 1/2 points, with the program seeing something of a rejuvenation under head coach Jim Harbaugh. Michigan also came into the game touting the No. 2 total defense in the nation, and were riding a three-game shutout streak, with shutout victories over BYU, Maryland, and Northwestern.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
The first quarter was a defensive struggle, as both the Spartan and Wolverine defenses stood tall. Michigan State was able to move the ball effectively near the end of the quarter, driving all the way down to the Michigan 28 yard line, but turned the ball over on downs following a failed fourth down conversion attempt. Michigan took a 7–0 lead during the opening minutes of the second quarter on a Sione Houma two-yard touchdown run, capping off an eight play, 72-yard drive.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Several drives later during a Spartan possession, Michigan senior linebacker and team captain Joe Bolden was penalized for targeting during a Connor Cook run of six yards. The call was affirmed by replay and Bolden was ejected for the remainder of the game. Two plays later, LJ Scott scored on an 11-yard scamper to tie the game at seven apiece, snapping Michigan's aforementioned three game shutout streak. Michigan took back the lead on the ensuing possession after a Kenny Allen 38-yard field goal gave them a 10–7 lead going into halftime.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Michigan scored on the opening possession of the second half after several goal line attempts from the Michigan State one yard line where the officials could not determine whether Sione Houma broke the plane of the goalline. It took the officials several seconds on the final attempt to blow the play dead and determine that Houma did in fact score, giving Michigan a 17–7 lead. Michigan State scored less than three minutes later after Macgarrett Kings caught a 30-yard pass from Connor Cook to pull the Spartans within three.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Michigan added to its lead with a Kenny Allen 21-yard field goal. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, MSU failed to convert on fourth down for the second time after Macgarrett Kings dropped a pass that would have given the Spartans a first down. The Wolverines added another field goal to their lead a few possessions later, expanding the score to 23–14.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Michigan State responded immediately on a drive that only took 29 seconds off the clock, as Connor Cook found a wide open Trevon Pendleton, who caught the ball and ran all the way to the Michigan one-yard line. The play was originally called a touchdown, however after review, it was deemed Pendleton was down at the one. LJ Scott ran the ball in for the score a play later, pulling MSU within two points. The pass from Cook to Pendleton was the longest offensive play all year for the Spartans (74 yards), and was Pendleton's first catch all season. The last reception he had was against Purdue for 2 yards the previous season.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Both defenses dominated during the final nine minutes of the game, as both offenses struggled to move the ball. With less than five minutes remaining in the game, Michigan State received the ball at their own 28-yard line. After an offsides penalty was called against Michigan, Cook was sacked by Willie Henry for a loss of 10. Cook found Aaron Burbridge for 25 yards for the first down. Several plays later, after MSU had advanced the ball into Michigan territory, Henry sacked Cook again on first down for a loss of 9 yards.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Several plays later, facing a fourth and 19 with less than two minutes left on the clock, Cook was forced to throw an errant pass due to pressure from Michigan's d-line, failing to convert on fourth down for a third time. Michigan received the ball on downs and forced MSU to use their final timeout with 1:42 remaining in the game. On third and three, the Spartan defense stopped Michigan, preventing them from running out the clock with a first down. What followed was perhaps one of the most bizarre and unlikely endings to a football game.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Facing a fourth and two, Michigan lined up to punt the ball with 10 seconds left on the game clock. Punter Blake O'Neill earlier had booted an 80-yard punt and had played well all game.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
However, after receiving a low snap, O'Neill fumbled the ball, and as he tried to recover it in a last ditch effort to punt the ball away, MSU Safety Grayson Miller hit him, forcing his arm to slap the ball into the air where it was caught by redshirt Freshman Jalen Watts-Jackson, who returned the ball to the endzone as time expired to give Michigan State the win, 27–23.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Whoa, he has trouble with the snap…and the ball is free! It's picked up by Michigan State's Jalen Watts-Jackson…and he scores! On the last play of the game! Unbelievable! (extended pause) Michigan State is still the big boy on the block in the state of Michigan. A shocking ending to this rivalry game.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
With Michigan State's College Football Playoff hopes remaining intact, the Spartans improved their record to 7–0 for the first time since the 2010 season. For just the fourth time in the past 46 games, the team with the fewest rushing yards came out with a victory. Michigan rushed for 62 yards, while MSU ran for 58 yards. MSU Coach Mark Dantonio not only improved his record against Michigan to 7–2, but also earned his 100th career coaching victory. Michigan State outgained Michigan 386–230, and also had 20 first downs to Michigan's 10.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Michigan
Connor Cook threw for 328 yards and a touchdown, while Aaron Burbridge caught 9 passes for 132 yards, his fifth 100 yard receiving game on the season. Defensively, Shilique Calhoun recorded two sacks and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. The hero for the Spartans, Jalen Watts-Jackson, injured his hip on the game-winning play and required season ending surgery afterwards. The injury was not deemed career threatening.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Nebraska
Nebraska handed Michigan State their only loss of the regular season due to a controversial touchdown. Nebraska receiver Brandon Reilly stepped out of bounds, but reestablished himself as a player and caught the touchdown pass. The officials ruled that he was forced out of bounds and gave Nebraska the touchdown. Michigan State tried to get into field goal range to kick a field goal that would win them the game, but failed to do so. At the last second, Connor Cook (surrounded by Nebraska defenders) threw the ball incomplete into the end zone to avoid being sacked and Nebraska upset the Spartans 39–38.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Nebraska
The loss gave MSU its first loss of the season falling to 8–1.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Maryland
After a controversial loss on the road against Nebraska, Michigan State fell out of the top 10 for the first time all season and were looking to bounce back at home against a Maryland team that so far had gone winless in conference play.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Maryland
Offensively, the Spartans struggled, as Connor Cook injured his shoulder during the first quarter and Tyler O'Connor had to play in relief. After Malik McDowell forced a Maryland fumble which was recovered by Damon Knox at the MD 48 yard line, O'Connor led the offense to a touchdown his first possession in on a 10-yard pass to Macgarrett Kings, capping off a 10 play, 50 yard drive. Maryland would respond with a touchdown of their own on their next possession, driving 91 yards in 10 plays, tying the game at 7 apiece on a Brandon Ross 1 yard touchdown run.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Maryland
With just over 2 minutes remaining in the half, Riley Bullough intercepted a Perry Hillis pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown, giving MSU a 14–7 lead. Several possessions later, Maryland would send in backup QB Caleb Rowe after Perry Hillis failed to get much going offensively for the Terrapins; Rowe would be intercepted by Arjen Colquhoun at the Maryland 20 yard line. Two quick Connor Cook pass completions to Aaron Burbridge and Josiah Price got MSU down to the Maryland 17 yard line before Michael Geiger made a 35-yard field goal as time expired, giving Michigan State a 17–7 lead at the half.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Maryland
Tyler O'Connor would takeover as quarterback in the 2nd half as Connor Cook's injury prevented him from playing. After the defense forced a 3 and out on Maryland's opening drive, Michigan State's offense embarked on an 11 play, 62 yard drive where Gerald Holmes received 9 carries, rushing for 45 yards on the drive, including a 3-yard touchdown run that extended Michigan State's lead to 24–7.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Maryland
The remainder of the game was a defensive struggle, as Maryland would drive into Michigan State territory on three of their last four possessions, but would commit turnovers on all three of those possessions (fumble, turnover on downs, and an interception). Michigan State would run out the clock after Montae Nicholson picked off Caleb Rowe and returned the ball to the MSU 45 yard line.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Maryland
The two teams combined to commit 8 turnovers, 3 by Michigan State, and 5 by Maryland. The Michigan State defense would force all 5 of those Maryland turnovers (3 interceptions, 2 fumbles), recorded its 2nd defensive touchdown of the season, and had 3 sacks. Michigan State improved to 9–1 (5–1 in conference play) on the season.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
The Spartans would be without senior QB Connor Cook (who was still recovering from the shoulder injury he had suffered the week prior against Maryland) going into their toughest road game of the season at #2 Ohio State, who were riding a 23-game win streak heading into the contest. The Buckeyes handed the Spartans one of their only 2 losses the previous season, and if Michigan State wanted to keep its goal of winning the Big Ten and securing a potential College Football Playoff spot alive, they had to win in Columbus.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
The weather conditions were cold and wet, which would make throwing the football a difficult task. Although Cook was seen dressed and warming up on the sidelines before the game began, the Spartans ultimately would employ a 2-QB system with both back-up QBs Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry receiving playing time throughout the game.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
Neither team would be able to score in the first quarter, with both defenses stifling the opposing offenses and forcing punts throughout the quarter. Michigan State would have the ball early in the 2nd quarter and would move the ball to near mid-field (MSU 44 yard line) before a sack on Damion Terry by Sam Hubbard would force the ball loose and fellow Ohio State defensive lineman Adolphus Washington would recover the fumble in MSU territory.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
10 plays later, Ohio State would score the first points of the game on an Ezekiel Elliott 1 yard run, giving the Buckeyes a touchdown lead early in the 2nd quarter. However, the Spartans would answer on their ensuing offensive possession, driving 75 yards in 9 plays on a drive that featured two big passes from Tyler O'Connor, the first one being a 36-yard completion to Aaron Burbridge on 3rd and 14 that kept the drive alive, and a 12-yard pass to Trevon Pendleton that resulted in a touchdown, tying the game 7–7 midway through the half.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
After the MSU defense forced a quick 3 and out on the next OSU possession, a poor Cameron Johnston punt that only netted 5 yards would give MSU the ball at the Ohio State 23 yard line. Despite the favorable field position, the Spartan offense could not move the ball at all, and Michael Geiger would miss a 43-yard field goal attempt that would have given Michigan State a 3-point lead. That would end the scoring chances for either team for the remainder of the half, as both offenses would struggle to put a solid drive together. The game was tied 7–7 at the half.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
Both offenses would continue to struggle well into the 3rd quarter until a muffed punt by Macgarrett Kings would be recovered by Ohio State at the Michigan State 6 yard line. Ohio State would waste little time taking advantage of the Spartans second turnover, as J. T. Barrett throw a touchdown pass to Jalin Marshall on the first play of the possession to give the Buckeyes a 14–7 lead with just over 3 minutes left to play in the quarter.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
Needing an answer on offense following a disastrous turnover on special teams, the Spartans began their next possession on their own 25 yard line and would move the ball to the OSU 34 yard line before the 3rd quarter came to the end. After a long, 13 play, 75 yard drive that extended into the 4th quarter, Michigan State would tie the score at 14–14 on a Gerald Holmes 2 yard touchdown run.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
The game would then turn into a battle of field position, as after an Ohio State drive sputtered out near mid-field, Cameron Johnston would pin the Michigan State offense at their own 4 yard line. The Spartan offense would dig themselves out of the hole on the first play, as LJ Scott would break through the middle for a 20-yard run, moving the ball to the MSU 24 yard line.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
MSU would move the ball all the way to their own 42 yard line before being forced to punt; Jake Hartbarger would pin Ohio State at their own 7 yard line. The Michigan State defense would force Ohio State to punt out of their own end-zone after the Buckeyes could only muster 4 yards on what would be their final offensive possession. On the punt attempt, Malik McDowell would get a hand on the ball, causing the punt to only net 37 yards and setting up the offense with favorable field position at the Ohio State 48 yard line.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
Needing only a field goal to win the game, Michigan State would begin their final drive with a little over 4 minutes remaining in the game. Using the run game to run time off the clock to ensure that regardless of the outcome of the drive, Ohio State would have no time left to score, the offense drove all the way to the OSU 23 yard line, using their final timeout with 3 seconds left on the clock to set up a Michael Geiger field goal attempt to win the game. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer would use a timeout in an attempt to ice the kicker, but it would not have the desired effect as Geiger would convert on a 41-yard field goal attempt as the clock expired, giving Michigan State a 17–14 win.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
Just trust your eyes, trust your leg. I knew I had the distance cause I made it once, I just had to swing through and hit an even better ball. It was great. Amazing feeling. I've been waiting my whole life to beat that team in this stadium.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
Despite playing two backups at the QB position, Michigan State would snap Ohio State's 23-game winning streak on Senior day in Columbus; this would be the second time the Spartans would pull off such a feat, as two years prior MSU had snapped an Ohio State 24-game winning streak after beating the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game. Additionally, this was also the first time under Urban Meyer that Ohio State had lost a regular season conference game.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
Tyler O'Connor would finish the game completing 7/12 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown, however the running game was the prevailing theme of the day as LJ Scott and Gerald Holmes carried the brunt of the load, combining for 27 carries, 123 yards, and 1 touchdown; as a team they rushed for 203 yards. The Spartan offense also dominated the time of possession, controlling the ball for 38:10. The Michigan State defense held Ohio State to five first downs and 132 yards of total offense (86 rushing, 46 passing). The Buckeyes had six three-and-outs.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Ohio State
The 132 yards were the fewest by an Urban Meyer-coached team and the fewest allowed by MSU since Illinois had 128 yards on Oct. 26, 2013. It was also the fewest total yards for a Buckeye team since 1999 (79 vs. Michigan State). Ohio State entered the game ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring offense (36.4 points per game) and rushing offense (244.8 yards per game) and second in total offense (453.3 yards per game). With the win, the Spartans took control of the East Division and only needed to defeat Penn State the following week to secure a 3rd appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Penn State
After defeating Ohio State the previous week on a last second Michael Geiger field goal, Michigan State controlled its destiny in the Big Ten East division. All they needed to do was defeat rival Penn State, and they would play Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Spartans defeated the Nittany Lions the year before 34–10 on their way to receiving a bid to the Cotton Bowl.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Penn State
Penn State's first possession was cut short as a Christian Hackenberg pass was intercepted in the end zone by MSU DB Arjen Colquhoun. Connor Cook and the Spartan offense would take advantage of the turnover, scoring on a 9 play, 80 yard drive which ended with a R.J. Shelton 29 yard touchdown reception, giving Michigan State an early touchdown lead. Michael Geiger would miss the extra point, only the 4th missed extra point attempt of his career. Neither team would score the remainder of the quarter.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Penn State
In the 2nd quarter, Penn State would score a field goal after being stopped at the MSU 1 yard line on 2nd and 3rd down, pulling them within 3. On the next Penn State possession, the Spartan defense would give the offense favorable field position after a Malik McDowell sack of Christian Hackenberg on 3rd and 7 with just over 10 minutes left in the half resulted in a loss of 10 yards, causing Penn State to punt from their own 5 yard line.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Penn State
6 plays later, Gerald Holmes would score a touchdown on a 6-yard run, giving Michigan State a 13–6 lead with 7 minutes remaining in the half. The next Penn State possession ended in disaster for the Nittany Lions after Kyle Carter fumbled on a 10-yard reception that would have given Penn State a 1st down at the MSU 23 yard line. Instead, Demetrious Cox would scoop up the fumble and return it 77 yards for a touchdown, giving Michigan State a 20–3 lead late in the first half. Penn State would recover with a 10 play, 67 yard touchdown drive, capped off by a Chris Godwin 8 yard touchdown reception, cutting the lead to 20–10 at halftime.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Penn State
The Michigan State offense would score a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half with a tremendous individual effort from Aaron Burbridge on a 29-yard pass from Connor Cook, where Burbridge was forced out of bounds, re-established position in bounds, made the catch, stayed on his feet, made 2 spin moves, and broke several tackles to get into the end zone, giving Michigan State a 27–10 lead with a little under 12 minutes to play in the third quarter.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Penn State
The Spartans added another touchdown to their lead on their next possession, as they drove the ball 69 yards in 12 plays, with Connor Cook throwing his third touchdown pass of the game to Josiah Price to enlarge the lead to 34–10. Penn State scored a touchdown on their next possession after a Saed Blacknall 77-yard reception (in which Demetrious Cox knocked the ball out of his hands from behind and nearly recovered it) put PSU in the red zone where Christian Hackenberg threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Saquon Barkley.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Penn State
They would go for 2 but fail, putting the score at 34–16. This would be the last time Penn State would score; Michigan State would add 3 more touchdowns, which included a LJ Scott 6 yard touchdown run, a Malik McDowell pick-six returned for 13 yards, and after Penn State fumbled on a kickoff return, a 9-yard touchdown run by Senior center Jack Allen. Michigan State would win in blowout fashion, 55–16, in the process securing the Big Ten East Division.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Penn State
With the victory, Michigan State won their third division title, (two Legends Division titles, one East Division title) and went on to play Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, tying Wisconsin for most appearances in the championship game at 3. Dating back to 2010, this was Michigan State's third straight win over the Nittany Lions, with the rivalry seeing a three-year hiatus during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons. Connor Cook threw for 3 touchdowns for the 10th time in his career.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Iowa (Big Ten Championship Game)
The Spartans faced Iowa in the Big Ten Championship, marking MSU's third appearance in the five Championship games held. A defensive struggle throughout which including an interception of a C.J. Beathard pass in the end zone by Demetrious Cox, saw only field goals in the first half as Iowa took a 6–3 lead. Defense continued in the second half as MSU added two more field goals to take a 9–6 lead. However, Iowa struck with a big play on the first play of the fourth quarter when Beathard hit Tevaun Smith on an 85-yard pass and catch for a touchdown.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Iowa (Big Ten Championship Game)
The score put Iowa up 13–9. Both teams punted on their next possession and MSU took over at their own 18 yard line with 9:31 left in the game. The Spartans engineered a 22 play, 82 yard, 9:04 drive to score a touchdown on an LJ Scott one yard run with 27 seconds remaining in the game. The dive by Scott gave the Spartans a 16–13 lead. On the drive, the longest drive of the season for the Spartans, MSU ran the ball on 17 of the 22 plays, Scott with 14 of the rushes. MSU's defense stymied Iowa on the final drive of the game and the Spartans won their second Big Ten Championship in the three years.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, Iowa (Big Ten Championship Game)
The Spartans moved to 12–1 on the season. Following the game, MSU was awarded the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff to face Alabama.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, CFP Playoff: Alabama (College Football Playoff at the Cotton Bowl Classic)
After Oklahoma lost to Clemson 37–17 in the Orange Bowl Semifinal, Michigan State was throttled by Alabama 38–0 in the Cotton Bowl Classic Semifinal. A tight first half saw Alabama take a 10–0 lead into halftime. Near the end of the second quarter, Michigan State had its best drive of the night, but all-time winningest MSU quarterback, Connor Cook, was intercepted by Cyrus Jones. Alabama scored a touchdown on the opening possession of the second half and MSU turned the ball over on its first possession.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, CFP Playoff: Alabama (College Football Playoff at the Cotton Bowl Classic)
Alabama could not capitalize on the turnover, but did return MSU's next punt for a touchdown, putting the game out of reach at 24–0 with a little over three minutes remaining in the third quarter. MSU's offense could not muster any points and were held to a total of 249 yards. Cook finished the night with zero touchdowns and two interceptions.


2015 Michigan State Spartans football team, Game summaries, CFP Playoff: Alabama (College Football Playoff at the Cotton Bowl Classic)
Alabama would go on to defeat Clemson 45–40 for the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2015 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolverines competed in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference, and played their home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan was led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, who was in his first season.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team
Michigan's first game under Harbaugh was a road game against Utah, which the Wolverines lost 17–24. The team won their three remaining non-conference games in dominant fashion, including a 31–0 victory over then-No. 22 BYU, which was just Michigan's second victory over a ranked opponent in their previous 11 tries. That game was the first in a series of three straight shutout victories, including a 38–0 victory over then-No. 13 Northwestern, the first three-game shutout streak for Michigan since 1980.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team
Michigan rose to 12th in the polls, but fell to in-state rival Michigan State 23–27 after the Spartans returned a muffed punt for a touchdown on the last play of the game. The Wolverines won their remaining Big Ten games before a blow-out loss to rival Ohio State to end the regular season 6–2 in Big Ten play, to finish in third place in the East Division. Michigan was invited to the Citrus Bowl, where they defeated Florida, 41–7, to finish the year with a record of 10–3, and were ranked 12th in the final AP Poll. It was Michigan's first 10-win season since 2011. The team was the first Michigan team to go undefeated on the road in conference play since the national champion 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team
Offensively, Michigan was led by quarterback Jake Rudock, a transfer from Iowa, who led the Big Ten in pass completion percentage (64%), and was the first Michigan quarterback to eclipse 3,000 yards passing since John Navarre in 2003. Tight end Jake Butt received the Kwalick-Clark Award as the Big Ten's tight end of the year. On defense, linebacker Jabrill Peppers was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was joined on the All-Big Ten first team by cornerback Jourdan Lewis.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Preseason
In 2014, Michigan compiled a 5–7 record and was not bowl eligible for the first time since 2009. As a result of the team's poor record, head coach Brady Hoke was fired on December 2. His job status had been in jeopardy since September 28, 2014 when QB Shane Morris was reinserted after a concussion. On December 30, following a much publicized coaching search, Michigan announced the hiring of San Francisco 49ers coach and former Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh as the 20th head coach in the program's history.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Preseason
Harbaugh hired D. J. Durkin for the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach positions and Tim Drevno for the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach positions. In addition to the co-ordinator positions, Harbaugh also hired John Baxter to coach special teams, former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, Jim Harbaugh's son Jay as the tight ends coach, Greg Jackson and Mike Zordich as the secondary coaches, Kevin Tolbert as the strength and conditioning coach, and former running back Tyrone Wheatley—who won a Rose Bowl while playing at Michigan—to coach the running backs. Michigan also retained Greg Mattison from Hoke's staff as the defensive line coach.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Recruiting, Recruits
Michigan's recruiting class consisted of a total of 14 recruits.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Radio
Radio coverage for all games was broadcast statewide on The Michigan IMG Sports Network and on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The radio announcers were Jim Brandstatter with play-by-play, Dan Dierdorf with color commentary, and Doug Karsch with sideline reports.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Utah
To open the season, Michigan faced the Utah Utes. Utah dominated the previous meeting, winning 26–10 in a game that featured an almost two-and-a-half hour weather delay. After a starting quarterback was not named during the team's preseason, Michigan chose to start graduate transfer Jake Rudock over the returning junior Shane Morris.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Utah
Utah defeated Michigan, 24–17. Utah opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 30-yard field goal from Andy Phillips. Michigan responded in the second quarter with a 29-yard field goal from Kenny Allen, but Utah regained the lead via a one-yard touchdown run from Devontae Booker and went into half-time leading 10–3. Utah extended its lead in the third quarter to 14 points via a 14-yard touchdown run from Travis Wilson, but Michigan responded with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jake Rudock to Jake Butt.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Utah
Utah regained its 14-point advantage in the fourth quarter when Justin Thomas intercepted Rudock and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown, but Michigan once again reduced Utah's lead to seven points with a ten-yard touchdown pass from Rudock to Amara Darboh. Utah recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to complete its victory.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Utah
Jake Rudock completed 27 of his 43 pass attempts for 279 yards and two touchdowns and three interceptions. De'Veon Smith ran 17 times for 47 yards, while Jake Butt recorded eight receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. Joe Bolden recorded his 200th career tackle during the game, and Michigan's defense as a whole recorded nine tackles for a loss. The announced attendance of 47,825 was the largest crowd in the history of Rice-Eccles Stadium.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Oregon State
Following its game against Utah, Michigan hosted Oregon State for its home opener. This was the first meeting between the two schools since 1986, when Michigan defeated Oregon State 31–12 as Jim Harbaugh (then Michigan's quarterback) accounted for three touchdowns: two passing and one rushing.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Oregon State
After falling behind early in the first quarter, Michigan rallied to defeat Oregon State 35–7. Oregon State opened the scoring on its first drive of the game, moving the ball 79 yards in seven plays and scoring on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Seth Collins to Hunter Jarmon. Following Oregon State's touchdown, Michigan dominated the game on both offense and defense.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Oregon State
After the teams traded fumbles in the first quarter, Michigan reduced Oregon State's lead to four points via a 40-yard field goal from Kenny Allen, and took the lead in the second quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from De'Veon Smith. Michigan added to its lead shortly before halftime with another one-yard touchdown run from Smith, giving it a 17–7 at half-time. Michigan added a 29-yard field goal in the third quarter, before finishing the scoring in the fourth quarter with an eight-yard touchdown run from Smith—and a two-point conversion pass from Rudock to Smith—and a two-yard touchdown run from Derrick Green.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Oregon State
Michigan dominated Oregon State in all statistical categories, out-gaining the Beavers 405–138 in yardage. Michigan rushed for 225 yards on 48 attempts, while Oregon State only managed 59 yards on 33 attempts. Oregon State only converted one first down out of 13 attempts on either third or fourth down. Oregon State gained 136 of its 138 yards of offense in the first quarter, before being shut down by the Wolverines defense and only gaining two total yards in the final three quarters. Inc contrast, Michigan gained 357 yards during the final three quarters. Smith rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns, both career highs. The win was Jim Harbaugh's first win as coach at Michigan, while Michigan improved its record in home openers to 113–18–2.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. UNLV
Following the game against Oregon State, Michigan hosted the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Rebels. This was the first ever meeting between the two programs.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. UNLV
Michigan defeated UNLV, 28–7. Michigan opened the scoring in the first quarter with a five-yard touchdown pass from Jake Rudock to De'Veon Smith and added to its lead in the second quarter with a 36-yard touchdown run from Jehu Chesson and a 76-yard touchdown run from Ty Isaac. After neither team scored in the third quarter, Michigan added to its lead with a one-yard touchdown run from Sione Houma. UNLV responded with a six-yard touchdown pass from Blake Decker to Devonte Boyd, which ended the scoring.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. UNLV
Isaac's 76-yard touchdown run was Michigan's longest since Denard Robinson went for 79 yards against Air Force in 2012 and the longest by a Wolverine running back since Carlos Brown went 90 yards against Eastern Michigan in 2009. The run was also his career long. Houma and Chesson both recorded the first rushing touchdowns of their respective careers. The attendance of over 100,000 was Michigan's 260th consecutive game of over 100,000 in attendance. Michigan's defense held UNLV to only 92 yards of rushing offense.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. BYU
Following its game against UNLV, Michigan faced the Brigham Young (BYU) Cougars. This was the first meeting between the schools since the 1984 Holiday Bowl, which saw BYU defeat Michigan to clinch that season's national championship.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. BYU
Michigan defeated BYU, 31–0. Michigan opened the scoring in the first quarter with a three-yard touchdown run from Jake Rudock and then scored 24 points in the second quarter. Rudock completed a four-yard touchdown pass to Amara Darboh, followed by a 60-yard touchdown run from De'Veon Smith. Rudock added his second rushing touchdown of the game on a 17-yard run, and Kenny Allen added the final points of the game on a 40-yard field goal near the end of the first half. Neither team added any points in the second half.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. BYU
The win over BYU marked Michigan's first win over a ranked opponent since defeating Notre Dame 41–30 on September 7, 2013, and it was its first shutout against a ranked opponent since defeating Notre Dame 38–0 on September 13, 2003. It was Michigan's first shutout since Illinois in 2012, and the first time BYU had been shut out since a game against Utah in 2003. Michigan's defense held BYU's offense to only 105 yards of total offense. The 55 yards of rushing offense was BYU's lowest total since another Utah game (in 2011) when it only rushed for 11 yards.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Maryland
After its game against BYU, Michigan began the Big Ten portion of its schedule at Maryland. Maryland won the previous meeting 23–16. The game's original kickoff time of 8:00 PM was moved forward by eight hours to noon in order to avoid the potential impact of Hurricane Joaquin.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Maryland
Michigan defeated Maryland, 28–0. After neither team scored in the first quarter, Michigan opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 30-yard field goal by Kenny Allen. Michigan added to its lead with a 32-yard field goal from Allen near the end of the first half, giving Michigan a 6–0 lead at half-time. Michigan added to its lead in the third quarter with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Jake Rudock to Drake Johnson, and then added a two-point conversion via a Rudock pass to Khalid Hill. Michigan added to its lead with a 66-yard touchdown run from Jehu Chesson before Johnson added the final points of the game in the fourth quarter via a one-yard touchdown run, his second of the game.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Maryland
The win marked Michigan's first consecutive shutouts since 2000, when Michigan shut out Indiana after shutting out Michigan State the previous week. Michigan's defense forced 12 three-and-outs, and had, as of the end of the game, shut out opponents in 14 of the last 16 quarters it had played. Blake O'Neill placed a punt within the opponent's five yard line for the fourth time in five games. Jourdan Lewis and Desmond Morgan recorded their first interceptions of the season, while Jeremy Clark recorded his third of the year.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Northwestern
Following its game against Maryland, Michigan hosted the Northwestern Wildcats for its homecoming game. Michigan won the previous meeting 10–9 in a turnover filled game by stopping Northwestern's attempted go-ahead two-point conversion with three seconds remaining in the game.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Northwestern
Michigan posted its third consecutive shutout, defeating Northwestern 38–0. Michigan opened the scoring on the first play of the game with a 96-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown by Jehu Chesson. Michigan added to its lead with a one-yard touchdown run from Drake Johnson, and a two-yard touchdown run from Jake Rudock, giving Michigan a 21–0 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter Jourdan Lewis posted a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown, which made the score 28–0 in favor of Michigan at half-time. Michigan added to its lead in the third quarter via a career-long 47-yard field goal by Kenny Allen, before Derrick Green added the final points of the game in the fourth quarter via a four-yard touchdown run.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Northwestern
The win marked Michigan's third consecutive shutout, a feat not accomplished by any Football Bowl Subdivision team since Kansas State in 1995. It was also the first time a Michigan team had recorded three consecutive shutouts since 1980, when Michigan shut out Indiana, Wisconsin and Purdue. Michigan has outscored its opposition, 97–0, over its last three games, and not allowed a point over 41 straight defensive possessions. The Wolverines scored at least one touchdown on offense, defense and special teams in the same game for the first time since 2003. Chesson's opening kickoff return for a touchdown was the 11th kick return for a touchdown in program history, and the first opening kickoff return for a touchdown since 1992, when Tyrone Wheatley returned the opening kickoff against Houston.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Michigan State
Following its clash with Northwestern, Michigan hosted its in-state rival, the Michigan State Spartans, for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Michigan was dominated in the previous meeting, losing 35–11. Due to the quality of and the hype surrounding the matchup between the two teams, the game was selected as the location for ESPN's College GameDay. This was the first time that GameDay came to Ann Arbor since Michigan defeated Notre Dame in 2013.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Michigan State
Michigan State defeated Michigan 27–23. Michigan opened the scoring in the second quarter with a two-yard touchdown run from Sione Houma, Michigan State responded with an 11-yard touchdown run from LJ Scott. A 38-yard field goal by Kenny Allen gave Michigan a 10–7 lead at half-time. Michigan added to its lead in the third quarter with a one-yard touchdown run from Houma, his second rushing touchdown of the game. Michigan State responded via a 30-yard touchdown pass from Connor Cook to Macgarrett Kings Jr.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Michigan State
A 21-yard field goal by Allen in the final minutes of the third gave Michigan a 20–14 lead after the third quarter. Michigan added to its lead in the fourth quarter with a 38-yard field goal by Allen, but Michigan State responded with a one-yard touchdown run from Scott, his second rushing touchdown of the game, to cut Michigan's lead to two points.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Michigan State
With 10 seconds left in the game, Michigan State recovered a fumbled snap on a punt by Blake O'Neill and then, Jalen Watts-Jackson returned the snap 38 yards for a touchdown as time expired to secure the win. Michigan State became the second team in the last two seasons to win a game in regulation in which it did not have the lead until the clock hit 0:00. Last season, Arizona beat California on a game-ending Hail Mary after not having the lead the entire game.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Michigan State
Michigan's defensive streaks of 13 straight shutout quarters and 46 consecutive scoreless drives ended when Michigan State scored a touchdown with 7:06 left in the second quarter. Jourdan Lewis matched a program record with six pass breakups, tying Marlin Jackson, who accomplished the feat against the Washington on August 31, 2002. He owns a total of 14 pass breakups on the season, placing him tied for fourth among Michigan's single-season leaders in the category. Blake O'Neill's 80-yard punt is the longest punt by any FBS punter so far this season and the second longest in Michigan program history, trailing only Monte Robbins' 82-yard punt at Hawaii on December 6, 1986.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Minnesota
After its game against Michigan State and a bye week, Michigan traveled to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers for the Little Brown Jug. In the previous meeting, Minnesota dominated Michigan, winning 30–14.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Minnesota
Michigan defeated Minnesota, 29–26. Minnesota opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 23-yard field goal from Ryan Santoso. Michigan responded with 14 straight points via a one-yard touchdown run from Joe Kerridge near the end of the first quarter and a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jake Rudock to Jehu Chesson. Minnesota responded with 13 unanswered points of its own via a 30-yard field goal from Santoso, a 52-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Leidner to Rashad Still, and a 32-yard field goal from Santoso, which made the score 16–14 in favor of Minnesota at half-time.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Minnesota
Michigan regained the lead in the third quarter when Jabrill Peppers scored his first career offensive touchdown with a five-yard rush, but Minnesota regained the lead with a 24-yard touchdown run from Leidner. Minnesota extended its lead in the fourth quarter with a 47-yard field goal from Santoso, but Michigan regained the lead with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Wilton Speight—who had replaced an injured Rudock at quarterback earlier in the half—to Jehu Chesson. Speight then completed a two-point conversion attempt with a pass to Amara Darboh, giving Michigan a three-point lead. Minnesota drove to Michigan's one-yard line on its ensuing possession, but Michigan's defense stopped both Golden Gopher attempts from the one-yard line and held on for the win as time expired.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Minnesota
The Michigan defense has surrendered 11 total red-zone possessions to opposing offenses. Those 11 possessions have amounted to just five touchdowns and four field goals, including three field goals in three trips by Minnesota. Jourdan Lewis had one pass breakup to give him 17 on the season, trailing the all-time single-season record held by Marlin Jackson (2002) and Leon Hall (2006) by one.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Rutgers
After facing Minnesota, Michigan hosted Rutgers. Rutgers won the previous meeting by a score of 26–24.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Rutgers
Michigan defeated Rutgers 49–16. Michigan opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jake Ruddock to Jehu Chesson. Rutgers responded with a 32-yard field goal by Kyle Federico, but Michigan added to its lead with 14 unanswered points: seven in the first  via a four-yard touchdown run from Jake Ruddock, and seven in the second quarter via an 18-yard touchdown run from Jabrill Peppers. Rutgers responded with a 98-yard kickoff return by Janarion Grant, to cut Michigan's lead to 21–10.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Rutgers
Michigan added to its lead via a 1-yard touchdown run from Drake Johnson, but Rutgers responded with a 29-yard field by Kyle Federico. Michigan added to its lead via an eight-yard touchdown pass from Jake Ruddock to Amara Darboh, but Rutgers responded with a 27-yard field goal to end the first half, which made the score 35–16 in favor of Michigan at half-time.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Rutgers
Michigan held Rutgers scoreless during the second half and added to its lead with 14 unanswered points via a 4-yard touchdown run from De'Veon Smith and a two-point conversion run by Jake Ruddock, a 34-yard field goal by Kenny Allen, and a 28-yard field goal by Allen in the fourth quarter.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Rutgers
With his 18th and 19th pass breakups of the season, Jourdan Lewis claimed sole ownership of the single-season Michigan record, which had previously been shared by Leon Hall and Marlin Jackson. Michigan has allowed just 16 red-zone possessions to opponents all season long, the fewest in FBS, allowing points on 15 of those drives, including just six touchdowns allowed. Jake Rudock passed for 337 yards, a career best and his first 300-yard performance at Michigan. Rudock's yardage was the 12th-highest single-game total in Michigan history.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Indiana
After hosting Rutgers, Michigan traveled to Bloomington, Indiana to face the Indiana Hoosiers. Michigan dominated the previous meeting, winning 34–10.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Indiana
Michigan survived an upset bid from Indiana, defeating the Hoosiers 48–41 in double overtime. Michigan opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jake Rudock to Jehu Chesson, which became a routine connection for Michigan touchdowns in the game. Indiana responded with two field goals in the first quarter from Griffin Oakes: one from 39 yards and one from 36 yards. Michigan extended its lead to eight points in the second quarter with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Rudock to Chesson, but Indiana reduced Michigan's lead to five with a 51-yard field goal from Oakes.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Indiana
Michigan responded under a minute later with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Rudock to Chesson, extending its lead to 12, but Indiana responded with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Nate Sudfeld to Jordan Howard. Michigan added a 22-yard field goal from Kenny Allen as time expired in the first half, making the score 24–16 in favor of Michigan at half-time. Indiana reduced Michigan's lead to one point in the third quarter with a 51-yard punt return for a touchdown from Mitchell Paige, and then took its first lead of the game with a 24-yard field goal from Oakes.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Indiana
Michigan regained the lead in the fourth quarter with a 20-yard field goal from Allen, but Indiana responded with a 24-yard touchdown run from Howard. Howard also converted Indiana's two-point conversion attempt, giving Indiana a seven-point lead with just under three minutes remaining in the game. Michigan responded by driving down the field and tying the game with two seconds left on a five-yard touchdown pass from Rudock to Chesson, Chesson's fourth touchdown reception of the game.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Indiana
The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, with Howard rushing for a one-yard touchdown for Indiana and Jake Butt catching a 21-yard touchdown pass from Rudock. Michigan took the lead in the second overtime via a 25-yard touchdown pass from Rudock to Amara Darboh, and then managed to stop Indiana on a fourth-and-goal attempt from the two-yard line to win the game.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Indiana
The victory against Indiana was Michigan's 20th consecutive victory against the Hoosiers. Michigan set a new season high in offense, totaling 581 yards during the game. Rudock's six touchdown passes set a new school record, surpassing the previous record of four. Rudock threw for over 300-yards in the second consecutive game, becoming the first Michigan quarterback to do so since Chad Henne in 2004. Rudock passed for 440 yards, setting a new career high for the second week in a row. Rudock's yardage was the third-highest single-game total in Michigan history.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Indiana
Rudock's 33 completions are tied for the second most in a game in Michigan history. Chesson's four touchdown receptions tied the school record, which was set by Derrick Alexander in 1992. Chesson set single-game career highs in receptions (10), receiving yards (207), and touchdowns (4). Chesson's four touchdown receptions marked the 14th time in Michigan history that a wide receiver recorded at least three touchdowns in one game, and the first time since Devin Funchess last season. Michigan's defense allowed a season-high 527 yards of offense during the game. Jourdan Lewis extended his record of pass break ups during the season to 20 in total, and leads the nation in pass breakups per game (2.0).


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Penn State
Following its game against Indiana, Michigan played its final road game against Penn State. Michigan won the previous meeting by a score of 18–13.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Penn State
Michigan defeated Penn State, 28–16. Penn State opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 23-yard field goal from Tyler Davis, but Michigan took the lead with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Jake Rudock to Jake Butt. Penn State regained the lead in the second quarter with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Christian Hackenberg to Saeed Blacknail, but Michigan responded with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Rudock to Amara Darboh, which made the score 14–10 in favor of Michigan at half-time.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Penn State
Michigan added the only score in the third quarter with a one-yard touchdown run from Sione Houma, which extended Michigan's lead to 11 points. Penn State reduced Michigan's lead to five points in the fourth quarter with two field goals from Davis, one from 24-yards, and one from 18-yards. Michigan added the final points of the game in the fourth quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from De'Veon Smith.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, at Penn State
Michigan won at Beaver Stadium for the first time since 2006; it had lost the previous three times when traveling to Penn State. Michigan also became the first team this season to defeat Penn State at home. Jake Rudock became the first quarterback in Michigan history to throw for at least 250 yards in three consecutive games. Michigan's offensive line held Penn State to only two sacks. The Nittany Lions came into the game having the most sacks in Division I FBS and had averaged 4.2 sacks per game. Michigan has allowed the opposition only 25 red-zone chances, the fewest in FBS. Jourdan Lewis added to his Michigan single-season record with one more pass breakup, giving him 21 on the year. With the win, Michigan completed its first perfect Big Ten road season since 1997.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Ohio State
Following its road finale against Penn State, Michigan faced its arch-rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes, in the 112th meeting of "The Game." Ohio State won the previous meeting by a score of 42–28. Prior to the game, Michigan retired six numbers that were previously a part of the "Michigan Legends" program. The numbers were 11 (worn by the Wistert Brothers—Al Wistert, Alvin Wistert, and Whitey Wistert), 21 (worn by Desmond Howard), 47 (worn by Bennie Oosterbaan), 48 (worn by Gerald Ford), 87 (worn by Ron Kramer), and 98 (worn by Tom Harmon). Howard's Number 21 jersey will officially be retired, as his was the only jersey of the six that was not formally retired at Michigan prior to the implementation of the legends program.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Ohio State
Ohio State defeated Michigan, 42–13. Ohio State opened the scoring in the first quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run from J. T. Barrett, but Michigan responded with a 25-yard field goal by Kenny Allen. Ohio State extended its lead in the second quarter via a five-yard touchdown run from Ezekiel Elliott. Michigan responded with a five-yard touchdown pass from Jake Rudock to Jehu Chesson, making the score 14–10 in favor of Ohio State at half-time.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Ohio State
Ohio State responded with 14 unanswered points in the third quarter, via a 25-yard touchdown pass from Barrett to Jalin Marshall, and a 13-yard touchdown run from Barrett. Michigan responded in the fourth quarter with a 27-yard field goal by Allen. Ohio State added to its lead in the fourth quarter with 14 unanswered points via a 10-yard touchdown run from Elliott and a 17-yard touchdown run from Barrett.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Ohio State
Jake Rudock became the first quarterback in Michigan history to throw for at least 250 yards in four consecutive games. With 2,739 passing yards this season, Rudock moved to fifth place among Michigan's all-time single-season leaders. With 620 receiving yards this season, Jake Butt moved to third place among Michigan's all-time single-season leaders in receiving yards by a tight end. The announced attendance of 111,829 marked the 265th consecutive game of more than 100,000 fans in attendance, and was the largest crowd of 2015.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Florida
On December 6, Michigan was selected to play in the Citrus Bowl against the Florida Gators. Michigan won the previous meeting, in the 2008 Capital One Bowl, by a score of 41–35. This was Michigan's 44th bowl game appearance, and fifth appearance in the Citrus Bowl.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Florida
Michigan dominated Florida, winning 41–7. Michigan opened the scoring in the first quarter with a four-yard touchdown run from Drake Johnson. Florida responded with a two-yard touchdown pass from Antonio Callaway to Treon Harris, but that would be its only score of the game, as Michigan responded with 34 unanswered points. Michigan regained the lead in the second quarter with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Jake Rudock to Jehu Chesson, and then added a 21-yard field goal from Kenny Allen, making the score 17–7 in favor of Michigan at half-time.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Florida
Michigan added to its lead in the third quarter via a three-yard touchdown pass from Rudock to Grant Perry and a two-yard touchdown run from Sione Houma, making the score 31–7 after three quarters. Michigan added ten more points in the fourth quarter via an eight-yard touchdown pass from Rudock to Johnson, before Allen added the final points of the game via a 25-yard field goal.


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Florida
Rudock was named the game MVP, as voted by the media. Jake Rudock became the first quarterback in Michigan history to throw for at least 250 yards in five consecutive games. Rudock completed 20-of-31 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns, becoming just the second Michigan quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a single season, following John Navarre in 2003. Rudock finished his season ranked No. 2 in single-season passing yards (3,017) and No. 1 in single-season completion percentage (64 percent).


2015 Michigan Wolverines football team, Game summaries, vs. Florida
With three receptions for 34 yards, tight end Jake Butt finishes the season ranked No. 2 in single-season receptions (51) by a Michigan tight end and No. 3 in receiving yards by a tight end (654). Michigan's 41 points marked the most that Florida had allowed this season. The win marked Michigan's second-largest scoring margin in a bowl game since the 1948 Rose Bowl (49–0 win over USC). The largest since that game came in a 42–7 win over NC State in the 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl. The attendance of 63,113 was the highest Citrus Bowl attendance figure since the 2008 Capital One Bowl, also between Michigan and Florida.


2015 Michigan Wolverines softball team
The 2015 Michigan Wolverines softball team was an American college softball team that represented the University of Michigan during the 2015 NCAA softball season. The Wolverines, led by head coach Carol Hutchins in her thirty-first season, played their home games at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines finished the season with a 60–8 record, including 21–2 in conference play. The Wolverines won the 2015 Big Ten Conference Softball Tournament and qualified for the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament. They advanced to the finals of the Women's College World Series for the first time since 2005, where they lost to Florida.


2015 Michigan Wolverines softball team, Preseason
The Wolverines were ranked No. 8 in the nation according to the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason polls, becoming the top-ranked Big Ten school in both listings. Sierra Lawrence, Sierra Romero and Haylie Wagner were all named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year preseason watch list.


2015 Micronesian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in the Federated States of Micronesia on 3 March 2015. A simultaneous independence referendum was also scheduled to be held in Chuuk State, but was postponed shortly before the elections.


2015 Micronesian parliamentary election, Electoral system
The 14 members of Congress were elected in two methods; 10 are elected from single-member constituencies by plurality voting, whilst four senators are elected by the four States. Following the elections, the President and Vice-President are elected by Congress from the Senators.


2015 Micronesian parliamentary election, Campaign
A total of 34 candidates registered to contest the 14 seats. In late February the election of the House of Representatives for Chuuk was postponed by State Governor Johnson Elimo, with the Public Affairs Office stating that voting documents were not ready. Elimo also postponed the planned independence referendum.


2015 Mid Devon District Council election
The 2015 Mid Devon District Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of Mid Devon District Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections plus the general election for the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.


2015 Mid Suffolk District Council election
The 2015 Mid Suffolk District Council election took place on the 7 May 2015 to elect members of Mid Suffolk District Council in England. It was held on same day as many UK local elections and the general election.


2015 Mid Suffolk District Council election, Election result
28 Conservative councillors became the governing group of the council (compared to 20-member minority administration with an opposition of 20 before the election) leaving 12 councillors in opposing groups. Conservatives and Greens made gains. Independents and Lib Dems sustained a net loss of five seats combined. Labour and Suffolk Together councillors lost their total of three seats. Two councillors (a Green and a Conservative) were re-elected by default as the only candidates nominated in the rural Haughley & Wetherden and Worlingworth wards respectively.


2015 Mid Suffolk District Council election, Wards
Wards of the United Kingdom have been relatively settled in this area and have articles or summarised under others as below:


2015 Mid Sussex District Council election
The 2015 Mid Sussex District Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of the Mid Sussex District Council in England. It was held on the same day as other local elections.


2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season
The 2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season was contested by twelve United States collegiate athletic programs that compete in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) under the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for the 2015 college football season. The season began on Thursday, September 3, 2015.


2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season, Conference teams, Coaches
The only head coach change in the conference is Missouri Southern's Denver Johnson who replaced Daryl Daye.


2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season, Conference teams, Coaches
Please note that the information listed is the information before the season started.


2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season, Preseason outlook
Sporting News released their Top-25 on June 8, 2015. Two teams from the conference were ranked in the top 25: #7 Northwest Missouri and #14 Pittsburg State. That same day the Lindy's NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 was released, where two teams placed in the top 25 from the conference: #6 Pittsburg State and #13 Northwest Missouri.


2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season, Preseason outlook
On August 4, MIAA Media Days was held at Sporting Park in Kansas City. Northwest Missouri was chosen as #1 and Pittsburg State was chosen as #2 for both Coaches and Media polls. The schools were ranked as follows:


2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season, Preseason outlook
On August 17, the American Football Coaches Association released the Preseason Division II Poll. Northwest Missouri State was selected to finish fifth, and Pittsburg State was chosen seventh.


2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season, Preseason outlook
On August 25, D2football.com released its Top 25 poll, which includes three MIAA schools. Pittsburg State ranked 6th, NW Missouri State 8th, and Central Missouri 20th.


2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football season, Schedule
The first week of conference play began on Thursday, September 3, 2015. The schedule was subject to change.