Twitter Reacts as Michigan State Returns Punter's Fumble for TD to Beat Michigan

It seemed like it was in the bag. With 10 seconds remaining, No. 12 Michigan led No. 7 Michigan State 23-21 and was looking to punt the ball, pinning the Spartans deep with virtually no time left.  

That was when disaster struck. Punter Blake O'Neill fumbled the snap, was unable to get the punt off and fumbled again only to see Michigan State's Jalen Watts-Jackson return the loose ball 38 yards for the game-winning touchdown for a 27-23 Spartans win.

Bleacher Report has the replay of the game's final play:

The dramatic ending had Twitter abuzz about Michigan's last-second gaffe, as its national title hopes look all but dashed now. 

Former Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett was stunned:

So was Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps:

It couldn't have been easy on Michigan fans, as USA Today's Kofie Yeboah showed:

"

When you lose at the last second for no reason #Michigan pic.twitter.com/ALlMLQZjzC

— Kofie Yeboah (@KofieSpeaks) October 17, 2015"

CBSSports.com's Jon Solomon captured a good picture, too:

The Outside Corner's Ian Casselberry, a Michigan fan, let his followers know things aren't exactly alright:

Another, U.S. News' Stephanie Steinberg, resorted to take it up with Twitter: 

Wolverine alumnus and former NFL wide receiver Braylon Edwards tried to be the voice of reason, but even he couldn't hide his disappointment:

It's not the ending that fiery Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh wanted, as USCFootball.com's Ryan Abraham speculated what was next for him:

Sports Illustrated's Brian Hamilton sees this as too harsh a punishment for Wolverines fans:

USA Today's Paul Myerberg made breaking Michigan hearts crack a bit more:

Fox Sports' Jon Morosi even took an unpleasant trip down memory lane:

Getting over the initial shock, attention shifted to the punter O'Neill. NBC Sports Network's Ross Tucker couldn't help but feel bad for him:

WRTV's Dave Furst wasn't so compassionate: 

Others thought it best for O'Neill to not show his face around Ann Arbor anytime soon.

The New York Post's Bart Hubbuch was one of them:

"

And in a thoroughly unrelated development, Michigan's punter just withdrew from school.

— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) October 17, 2015"

The Washington Post's Cindy Boren and Jeopardy Sports thought he should go a bit farther away:

But for Michigan State fans, it was euphoria, as alum and Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell was ecstatic:

ESPN's Jemele Hill was pretty happy, too:

But it didn't come without its damage for Michigan State, as WDIV's Jamie Edmonds reports:

Bell and Hill have every right to be happy as their Spartans remain undefeated at 7-0 and could possibly move up a spot or two in the national rankings. They have to make up three spots before the season's end to make the College Football Playoff. 

For Michigan, this might be one of those games where you just have to throw out the film, never mention this date again and try to win out to end the season. While they have two losses already, both came against teams currently in the Top 10, which means the Spartans should stay in the Top 25.

But any images of winning the national championship will probably have to wait until next year. For now, those images have been replaced by a botched punt, which won't be easy to get out of Michigan fans' heads for quite some time.