This post was published 2 months 21 days ago so the points made in the article may be outdated.Final Regular Season Game
The Penn State-Michigan State bout is the final regular season game for each team. Penn State is looking to improve its overall record to 10-2, while Michigan State hopes to jump to 7-5. The Nittany Lions will be hoping for a Ohio State loss at Michigan earlier on Saturday so that they can share the 2009 Big Ten title with a victory in East Lansing. Joe Paterno’s squad still has on outside chance of securing its second consecutive BCS Bowl, and third in five seasons. Michigan State, while already bowl-eligible hopes a victory on Saturday will propel them to a New Year’s Day bowl.
Penn State opens its 2010 season hosting Youngstown State on September 4, 2010 while Michigan State hosts Western Michigan on the same Saturday.
Split Decisions in East Lansing
Since beginning Big Ten play in 1993, Penn State is 4-4 at Spartan Stadium.
LOOKING TO CONTINUE ROAD SUCCESS
With their 34-13 win at Northwestern on Oct. 31, the Nittany Lions have a 7-1 record on the road the past two seasons, with a 3-0 mark this year. Penn State has won at least three Big Ten road games for the ninth time in its 17th season of conference play, including three times since 2005. The only time Penn State has gone 4-0 on the road in Big Ten play was during its 12-0 campaign in 1994.
SEEKING 21ST 10-WIN SEASON UNDER PATERNO
Penn State will be looking to earn its 21st season with at least 10 wins under Joe Paterno. The Nittany Lions have reached the 10-win mark twice in the past four seasons. Last year, Penn State was 11-1 in the regular season, winning the Big Ten Championship and playing USC in the 2009 Rose Bowl. In 2005, Penn State was 10-1 in the regular season, winning the Big Ten title and beating Florida State in the FedEx Orange Bowl to finish 11-1. The Nittany Lions have won at least 10 games in multiple seasons over five decades under the Hall of Fame coach: 1960’s (2); 1970’s (6); 1980’s (5); 1990’s (5); 2000’s (2). Penn State has won at least nine games in a season for the 29th time under Paterno, including each of the past five years.
LIONS-SPARTANS SERIES
The Nittany Lions and Spartans first met in 1914 and Penn State leads the series, 13-12-1. Penn State has played Michigan State more than any other Big Ten opponent, having met 10 times before joining the Big Ten Conference. With Penn State’s entry into the Big Ten in 1993, the teams have played in the regular season finale the past 16 years, with the winner claiming the Land Grant Trophy. The teams have combined to score 1004 points in their 16 conference clashes (62.7 ppg).
LAST MEETING
Penn State gained 557 yards, including a school record 419 passing yards, as the No. 8 Nittany Lions beat No. 15 Michigan State, 49-18, on Nov. 22, 2008 to claim the Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions improved to 11-1 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten in front of boisterous, but chilly Senior Day throng of 109,845. The victory was Penn State’s 800th all-time, as the Nittany Lions became just the sixth school in the nation to achieve the mark. The Nittany Lions delivered an impressive performance on both sides of the ball. Penn State limited Michigan State to just 35 rushing yards. Javon Ringer was held to a season-low 42 yards, 98.7 yards below his average. Ringer entered the game ranked third in the NCAA in rushing averaging 140.7 yards per game and was fourth in all-purpose
yards (173.2 ypg). First team All-Big Ten quarterback Daryll Clark led the Nittany Lions to a season-high nine plays of 20 yards or more from scrimmage – eight passing and one rushing. Among them were plays of 70, 59, 49, 37, 33 and 32 yards, all through the air. The Lions averaged 8.4 yards per play. Clark threw for a career-high 341 yards and four touchdowns, the sixth-highest passing yardage in school history, to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Clark was 16 of 26 and averaged an impressive 21.3 yards per completion. He was 11 of 18 for 215 yards and two scores the first half. Deon Butler made a career-best three touchdown receptions, including catches of 70 and 59 yards. All three of his catches (133 yards) went for touchdowns, bringing his career TD total to 22, third-highest in school history.
Coach Mark Dantanio
In his third season at Michigan State’s coach, Dantonio is 20-15 overall and 13-10 in Big Ten play. He is 1-1 against Penn State.
Next Meeting
The teams will next meet on Nov. 27, 2010 in Beaver Stadium to end the regular season.
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