Michigan State upsets Penn State, ending Nittany Lions' playoff hopes

Zac Al-Khateeb

Michigan State upsets Penn State, ending Nittany Lions' playoff hopes image

Penn State's playoff hopes are finished, courtesy of Michigan State.

The No. 24 Spartans beat No. 7 Penn State 27-24 in a rain-delayed game off a last-second 34-yard field goal. The win not only crushed the Nittany Lions' playoff dreams, but also those of the Big Ten.

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Coupled with No. 6 Ohio State's 55-24 loss to Iowa, Penn State's loss puts the conference's playoff hopes in serious jeopardy — though you're unlikely to get any tears out of Spartans coach Mark Dantonio or Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz.

Going back to East Lansing, the Spartans won by severely limiting the play-making ability of running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Trace McSorley. Barkley rushed 14 times for 63 yards, got three receptions foe 33 yards and even got 20-yard pass completion, but couldn't score any points. McSorley completed 26 of 47 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions.

Conversely, Spartans quarterback Brian Lewerke completed 33 of 56 passes for 400 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Wide receiver Felton Davis pulled down 12 receptions for 186 yards and a touchdown.

 

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.