Ranking Mark Dantonio’s 100 wins: Wins No. 100-41

Eleven seasons. Six double-digit win seasons. Three conference titles. One hundred victories.

Those are just some of the numbers that have already cemented Mark Dantonio as one of the greatest coaches in Michigan State — and Big Ten — history.

Tie in history-in-the-making with a long offseason and, folks, that just simply means we have to rank all 100 of Dantonio’s wins.

So, you’re probably wondering what the science is to these rankings? I’ll admit, there’s no exact formula tucked away in a spreadsheet, but this is what was considered (in no order):

• Historical significance
• Who was the opponent?
• Was it on the road?
• Was it a “program changing” win?
• What did it mean in context of that certain season?

We know there will be debate. We know there will be strong opinions. And we know we should discuss this in the comments section.

Today is rankings 100-41, this weekend 40-26 will be released and then one-by-one we will have a deeper dive into each top 25 win.

Also, any bolded opponents mean that was a road game.

Alright, let’s dive into it...

100. Sept. 22, 2012: No. 21 MSU 23, Eastern Michigan 7

The infamous “next question” game.

99. Sept. 2, 2016: No. 12 MSU 28, Furman 13

98. Sept. 7 2013: MSU 21, South Florida 6

Two touchdowns scored by Shilique Calhoun.

97. Sept. 8, 2007: MSU 28, Bowling Green 17

96. Sept. 2, 2011: No. 17 MSU 28, Youngstown State 6

95. Aug. 30, 2013: MSU 26, Western Michigan 13

Step one of the Rose Bowl season.

94. Sept. 19, 2015: No. 4 MSU 35, Air Force 21

93. Sept. 11, 2010: MSU 30, Florida Atlantic 17

Technically a road game at Ford Field.

92. Sept. 9, 2017: MSU 28, Western Michigan 14

91. Oct. 3, 2015: No. 2 MSU 24, Purdue 21

90. Sept. 13, 2008: MSU 17, Florida Atlantic 0

Javon Ringer had 282 rushing yards in the first shutout of the Mark Dantonio era.

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

89. Oct. 21, 2017: No. 18 MSU 17, Indiana 9

88. Nov. 8, 2008: No. 18 MSU 21, Purdue 7

87. Oct. 17, 2009: MSU 24, Northwestern 14

86. Nov. 30, 2013: No. 11 MSU 14, Minnesota 3

Big Ten Championship Game berth was already clinched by kickoff. Not much motivation there.

85. Oct. 12, 2013: MSU 42, Indiana 28

Indiana’s 28 points were tied for most points allowed that season.

84. Sept. 27, 2008: MSU 42, Indiana 29

83. Nov. 18, 2017: No. 22 MSU 17, Maryland 7

Perhaps the worst game day weather in the Dantonio era. My feet are still thawing.

82. Oct. 10, 2015: No. 4 MSU 31, Rutgers 24

Harrier than a game against Rutgers should ever be. But a road win is a road win.

81. Nov. 12, 2016 MSU 49, Rutgers 0

Snapped a seven-game losing streak.

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

80. Sept. 25, 2010: No. 25 MSU 45, Northern Colorado 7

79. Aug. 29, 2014: No. 8 MSU 45, Jacksonville State 7

78. Sept. 14, 2013: MSU 55, Youngstown State 17

Connor Cook’s second career start with a season-high four touchdown passes.

77. Sept. 5, 2009: MSU 44, Montana State 3

76. Sept. 4, 2010: MSU 38, WMU 14

The first win of season after the 6-7 season of 2009, and also the first of 11 wins that season.

75. Nov. 5, 2011: No. 15 MSU 31, Minnesota 24

74. Sept. 26, 2015: No. 2 MSU 30, CMU 10

73. Oct. 16, 2010: No. 13 MSU 26, Illinois 6

Marked the first 7-0 start since 1966.

72. Sept. 6, 2008: MSU 42, Eastern Michigan 10

Five touchdown day for Javon Ringer.

71. Sept. 1, 2007: MSU 55, UAB 18

Mark Dantonio’s first win at MSU.

Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images

70. Sept. 27, 2014: No. 9 MSU 56, Wyoming 14

69. Sept. 24, 2011: MSU 45, Central Michigan 7

68. Oct. 10, 2009: MSU 24, Illinois 14

67. Sept. 2, 2017: MSU 35, Bowling Green 10

First win after the season that shall not be named.

66. Sept. 10, 2011: No. 17 MSU 44, Florida Atlantic 0

The second shutout in the Dantonio era. The first? 2008 against FAU. Sorry, Owls.

65. Oct. 11, 2014: No. 8 MSU 45, Purdue 31

Eight straight games with a touchdown catch from Tony Lippett.

64. Oct. 13, 2007: MSU 52, Indiana 27

The first 200+ rushing yard game for Javon Ringer.

63. Nov. 7, 2009: MSU 49, Western Michigan 14

Solid stats: Ashton Leggett four touchdowns, Kirk Cousins 22/25 passing with 353 yards.

62. Nov. 6, 2010: No. 16 MSU 31, Minnesota 8

61. Sept. 4, 2015: No. 5 MSU 37, Western Michigan 24

First win of the College Football Playoff year.

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

60. Nov. 15, 2014: No. 12 MSU 37, Maryland 15

59. Oct. 24, 2015: No. 7 MSU 52, Indiana 26

58. Sept. 8, 2012: No. 11 MSU 41, CMU 7

57. Oct. 26, 2013: MSU 42, Illinois 3

Ranked after this game, finally. Yes, it took that long.

56. Nov. 14, 2009: MSU 40, Purdue 37

Overcame an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to clinch a bowl game.

55. Nov. 22, 2014: No. 10 MSU 45, Rutgers 3

35-0 at halftime. Sounds about right.

54. Oct. 18, 2014: No. 8 MSU 56, Indiana 17

53. Nov. 14, 2015: No. 13 MSU 24, Maryland 7

Big bounce-back from the Nebraska loss, but Tyler O’Connor took over for an injured Connor Cook.

52. Nov. 25, 2017: No. 21 MSU 40, Rutgers 7

51. Oct. 19, 2013: MSU 14, Purdue 0

Clinched bowl eligibility for the seventh straight year.

50. Nov. 26, 2011: No. 11 MSU 31, Northwestern 17

Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

49. Sept. 15, 2007: MSU 17, Pitt 13

48. Sept. 20, 2014: No. 11 MSU 73, Eastern Michigan 14

First time since 1989 MSU score more than 70 points.

47. Nov. 19, 2011: No. 12 MSU 55, Indiana 3

Clinched Big Ten Championship Game spot with a win and Nebraska loss.

46. Nov. 20, 2010: No. 11 MSU 35, Purdue 31

Cemented Dantonio’s first 10-win season after overcoming a 15-point deficit.

45. Nov. 10, 2007: MSU 48, Purdue 31

Clinched first bowl game in the Dantonio era.

44. Sept. 22, 2007: MSU 31, Notre Dame 14

Would have been way cooler if Notre Dame didn’t go 3-9 that season.

43. Oct. 14, 2017: No. 21 MSU 30, Minnesota 27

42. Oct. 6, 2012: MSU 31, Indiana 27

Started the game down 17-0 after the first quarter, but allowed just 37 yards in the second half.

41. Sept. 20, 2008: MSU 23, Notre Dame 7

The opinions on this edition of the rankings probably won’t be as strong as they will be later on. But screw it, let’s hash it out in the comments anyway.