Michigan State vs. Penn State: Score and Reaction for 2016 Land Grant Trophy

The No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Michigan State Spartans 45-12 Saturday at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, to secure a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and win the Land Grant Trophy.

PSU improved to 10-2 overall and 8-1 in the conference, and it will face Wisconsin for the Big Ten crown and a potential College Football Playoff berth. MSU fell to 3-9 and clinched its worst season since going 3-8 in 1991.

Penn State evened its rivalry record against Michigan State at 15-15-1 and broke the Spartans' three-game winning streak in the series.

The Nittany Lions struggled to run the ball effectively, but their defense came up big. And sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley turned in one of his strongest performances with 376 yards and four touchdowns on 17-of-23 passing.

One of the game's best moments occurred in the early going, when fans celebrated after learning Ohio State had defeated Michigan, thus giving Penn State a chance to reach the Big Ten Championship Game with a win, as seen in this video courtesy of Penn State on BTN:

Junior Damion Terry got the start for Michigan State at quarterback and moved the ball effectively for two-and-a-half drives.

Each of the Spartans' first two possessions lasted at least 11 plays and ended with Michael Geiger field goals to put them on top 6-0.

Penn State answered on its third series with a Tyler Davis field goal, but MSU stretched its lead back to six when Geiger made his third kick of the game with just 7:17 remaining in the half.

That drive proved to be a costly one, though, as Terry left the game and didn't return due to an apparent concussion, per Jeff Kirik of GoErie.com.

Senior Tyler O'Connor replaced him to finish the field-goal drive, but for the remainder of the contest, the offense appeared to lose the spark Terry provided.

Penn State took its first lead of the game with just over two minutes remaining in the first half, as sophomore running back Saquon Barkley scored from one yard out to help make it 10-9, as seen in this video courtesy of ESPN.com:

While that marked Barkley's 15th rushing touchdown of the season, he was unable to find room to run for much of the day and ended the game with just 14 yards on 12 carries.

Penn State seemed to seize the momentum, but the Spartans orchestrated another scoring drive just prior to halftime, as Geiger converted his fourth field goal to put Michigan State ahead 12-10 at the half.

After forcing Michigan State into a three-and-out to open the second half, PSU came to life on offense in a big way thanks to McSorley.

The signal-caller began the onslaught early in the third quarter when he connected with junior wide receiver Chris Godwin for a 34-yard touchdown to pull ahead 17-12, as ESPN.com shows:

Per Onward State, that continued an impressive touchdown streak McSorley began since taking over the starting job this season:

While the Penn State offense sputtered at times in the first half, McSorley was enjoying an efficient day even before the touchdown, and his play impressed Bruce Feldman of FoxSports.com:

Following a Michigan State punt, McSorley continued his aerial assault with a 45-yard touchdown to junior tight end Mike Gesicki to help make it 24-12, as seen in this video from Big Ten Network:

Michigan State moved the ball into Penn State territory on the ensuing drive in search of its first points of the second half. The Nittany Lions defense matched the intensity of their offense, however, as the team forced O'Connor to fumble and recovered it at the PSU 38-yard line.

Barkley carried on the next play, but he left the game and did not return after suffering an ankle injury, per Yahoo Sports' Dr. Saturday. Although he struggled, Penn State will need him in what figures to be a tough, physical game against Wisconsin next week.

Although that could have been a devastating moment for PSU, McSorley bounced back on the next play by firing a 59-yard touchdown strike to Godwin to help extend the lead to 31-12, via ESPN.com:

According to Travis Johnson of the Associated Press, that touchdown also put McSorley in the Penn State record book:

Per ESPN Stats & Info, Penn State's third-quarter outburst was consistent with what it has done all season:

With Michigan State struggling to move the ball and score in the second half, the Nittany Lions added to their lead with 6:33 left in the game, as freshman running back Andre Robinson ran for a 14-yard touchdown, via ESPN.com:

Penn State wasn't done, though, as it continued to throw the ball in the closing minutes and ran the score up to 45-12 with under four minutes remaining when Robinson took a short pass from McSorley 40 yards to the end zone.

Saturday's victory gave Penn State an eight-game winning streak and its first Big Ten East title.

A win over Wisconsin would give the Nittany Lions an all-important conference championship coupled with their resume-making victory against Ohio State.

The Big Ten has been the most talented, competitive conference in college football this season, so winning it could put Penn State over the top in terms of earning a CFP bid, which seemed nearly impossible after it fell to 2-2 in a 49-10 loss to Michigan.

All PSU can do is take care of its business and hope it's enough for the committee. But the fact that it is even in the conversation is a huge accomplishment less than three years after the end of its postseason ban.

Postgame Reaction

With a chance for the school's first Big Ten title since 2008, Penn State head coach James Franklin was quick to give credit to his staff, per Greg Pickel of PennLive.com:

But after everything the program has gone through over the past few years, he made sure his feelings were known about his players, per Audrey Snyder of DK Pittsburgh Sports:

However, he doesn't think his team is done surprising people, per Snyder:

It will have to start with an upset of No. 6 Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, which would be the Nittany Lions' final attempt to impress the committee enough to grant them entry into the College Football Playoff. 

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