The images of Michigan State's wild win at Michigan last season were on loop all week. The inexplicable sequence of events triggered by a botched snap to Wolverines punter Blake O'Neill finished with Michigan State's Jalen Watts-Jackson scoring the game-winning touchdown, then breaking his hip during the play's conclusion and celebration.
The Big House was silenced, the loquacious Jim Harbaugh was rendered speechless and Michigan State picked up the head-to-head win that would help it win the Big Ten East.
For Michigan fans and current Michigan players still feeling the sting of that loss and the three-game skid to the Spartans, Saturday's 32-23 win had to feel good.
The Spartans marched down the field early with L.J. Scott and scored on their first possession. The 7-0 lead had the home crowd rocking and Michigan on its heels. But then Michigan responded with its own touchdown drive and a renewed physicality on the defensive side of the ball, keeping Sparty out of the end zone for a 30-3 run that extended into the middle of the fourth quarter.
It's another test passed for Michigan -- undefeated, No. 2 and on a collision course with Ohio State for the Big Ten East title. Three things to note from the big win.
1. Jabrill Peppers deserves consideration as one of the most outstanding players in college football
The Heisman Trophy is set to be awarded the most outstanding player in college football. Is that not Jabrill Peppers? The same can be said for the Walter Camp and other player of the year honors. Peppers scored Michigan's first touchdown, made the tackle on two fourth down stops and finished with seven tackles, a sack and two TFLs.
Peppers got it going early in the Wildcat package, one of several ways he's used on the field.
The Heisman Trophy may be Lamar Jackson's to lose, but the ballot has spots for three names. A voter would be crazy to argue that Peppers is not one of the top three players in the sport, regardless of position. Barring some kind of collapse down the stretch for the Wolverines, Peppers should be in New York City at the end of the season to be honored as a Heisman finalist. Saturday's performance didn't lock it up just yet, but it did provide more evidence for what should be an easy decision for voters in December.
2. Darboh and Butt make Speight's life easy under pressure
Wilton Speight has NFL size and measurables now, but still needs some work before he's ready to play on Sunday. That inexperience might cost Speight a game if he played somewhere else, but Michigan's 2016 roster happens to have some of the best pass catchers in the country in Amara Darboh, Jake Butt and Jehu Chesson.
Michigan State brought a lot of pressure early, making Speight hang in the pocket and take some hits in order to move the ball down the field through the air. Darboh was targeted by Speight nine times and made eight catches for 165 yards. Butt only had three catches in the win, but one was a huge catch on third-and-long.
3. Michigan State's late push shows the Spartans aren't about to quit
Michigan State might be 2-6 with three banged-up quarterbacks on the roster but don't expect Sparty to throw in the towel on the season. Mark Dantonio will be a thorn in the side of every team left on the schedule as the coaching staff challenges this team that, barring a 5-0 run to finish the year, will likely not be in the postseason.
The Spartans had been the more physical team in this rivalry in recent years. That's changed since Jim Harbaugh arrived, and the shift in that dynamic was evident in Michigan winning short-down and goal-to-go situations throughout the first three quarters of the game.