In the regular-season finale, Michigan State defeated No. 11 Penn State with ease.
DT – This coming weekend at Ford Field, the state of Michigan won’t go winless. With the Michigan high school state championship games scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, it is not possible.
However, after Michigan State’s 42-0 loss to Penn State on Friday night and the Detroit Lions’ Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers, the team is only 0-2 overall.
After some initial confusion, Penn State’s Nittany Lions were able to solve the end zone puzzle. With the Spartans struggling to muster any kind of meaningful offensive performance against one of the best defensive teams in the Big Ten, MSU could only hope to have those issues.
MSU finishes 4-8 overall at the end of the season, including 2-8 under interim head coach Harlon Barnett. James Franklin, Penn State’s head coach of ten years, leads the team to a 10-2 record.
The Spartans managed just five first downs and only 68 yards of total offense (or 119 yards if sack yardage was not subtracted). The Spartans gave up 12 tackles for loss and dropped MSU quarterbacks seven times.
Despite having four drives that put them in scoring position, Penn State managed to score just 13 points. After failing on their first three field goal attempts (from 49 and 30 yards, respectively), the Nittany Lions eventually found themselves in the end zone on their fourth and final possession. With 4:51 remaining in the half, running back Kaytron Allen of MSU scored a 2-yard touchdown pass from Drew Allar to cap a 10-play, 64-yard drive that put the Tigers ahead 13-0.
Meanwhile, a promising opening series that reached the Penn State 29-yard line was ended when Detroit native Jaylen Reed intercepted MSU. After punts on the next three possessions, the Spartans put together a lackluster drive just before halftime. With 51 seconds left in the second quarter and two timeouts, they decided to run out the clock with two run plays, drawing jeers as they made their way to the locker room.
Penn State broke through the Spartan defense with touchdowns on its first two drives of the second half, after breaking the seal on scoring touchdowns in the second quarter. Beau Pribula, the backup quarterback, found tight end Tyler Warren for an 8-yard scoring pass. Pribula then made it 28-0 with a 2-yard keeper.
Running back Nick Singleton scored a touchdown from 14 yards out, and tight end Theo Johnson caught a 21-yard pass to add two more touchdowns for the Nittany Lions in the fourth quarter.
Penn State running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen
The running back tandem for Penn State was unstoppable when facing a depleted MSU front. Allen led the Nittany Lions in total yards with 137 and scored a quick touchdown pass. He was once considered a top recruit by MSU. Singleton added a touchdown and a cool 118 yards to his total. Their running ensured that the Nittany Lions never panicked in this game and set up a strong day for Allar.
Thankfully, one of MSU’s most difficult seasons is now behind us. While Penn State isn’t among the top teams in the Big Ten, like Michigan and Ohio State, the Nittany Lions are clearly superior to the Spartans in every area and lead the next division down. It was going to take a tremendous effort for the Spartans to pull an upset here, given the way Penn State’s defense has been playing and the way MSU’s offense has been performing. Before MSU can expect to consistently compete with the Wolverines and Buckeyes, its roster needs to be in a position similar to that of Penn State. This season, these kids experienced a river of BS after being thrown a curveball that nobody saw coming.
A very exciting offseason, with the announcement of MSU’s new coach probably coming within the next 48 hours. Jonathan Smith of Oregon State is the school’s top choice to take over the program, according to a report from The Athletic that was verified by Spartan Tailgate on Friday. Most likely, the new hire will be in East Lansing the following week for a press conference to introduce them. Many guys will have to make decisions when the transfer portal opens following conference championship games in one week. A new staff will need to be put together by the next coach.
DT – Michigan State plays No. 11 Penn State for the Land Grant Trophy on Friday night in the Motor City to wrap up the regular season. The Nittany Lions defeated MSU at Beaver Stadium in the 2022 regular-season finale, and they have been in possession of the traveling trophy for the past year.
To view MSU’s pre-game availability report, click this link.
Ford Field kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The game airs on NBC.
For real-time updates, scores, and analysis from downtown Detroit, stay tuned to this page throughout the afternoon.
Initially quarter
At Ford Field, Penn State’s offense is going to start things off. Maverick Hansen, Derrick Harmon, Maliq Carr, and JD Duplain were the four captains of MSU, and they all had a Detroit flair. Carr, Hansen, and Harmon are all locals of the Detroit region.
– On their first possession, the Nittany Lions drive for a 49-yard field goal. Penn State leads 3-0 at 9:50 in the first quarter.
– MSU had a good first drive, crossing the 50-yard line, but it ends badly when safety Jaylen Reed of Penn State, a native of Detroit and once a top recruit target for the Spartans, picks off Katin Houser.
With 2:35 remaining in the first quarter, Penn State attempts a second field goal, but it is unsuccessful, maintaining the Nittany Lions’ lead at 3-0.
– Penn State attempts another field goal, and this time the Nittany Lions succeed—this time from thirty yards out. There’s 12:11 remaining in the second quarter and Penn State is up 6-0.
– Using a rub route concept, Penn State eventually finds the end zone when running back Kaytron Allen, a former MSU recruiting target, catches a 2-yard touchdown pass from Drew Allar. That puts the Nittany Lions up 13-0 with 4:51 remaining in the half.
– With 10:13 remaining in the third quarter, tight end Tyler Warren scores an 8-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Beau Pribula of the Nittany Lions. The Nittany Lions lead 21-0 after the two-point pass to receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith is successful.
– With 4:13 remaining in the third quarter, add another Penn State touchdown when Pribula scores a 2-yard touchdown. It was set up by an Omari Evans 60-yard bomb. Now, the score is 28 to 0. The Nittany Lion
– Tight end With 12:29 remaining in the game, Theo Johnson catches a 21-yard touchdown pass from Allar. Penn State loses 35-0 thanks to PAT.
– With 7:58 remaining in the game, Nick Singleton, Penn State’s other star running back, scores a 14-yard touchdown, making the score 42-0.
