Nov. 26, 2010
Watch a Video Scouting Report of the Michigan State Defense with Stefen Wieniewski
Watch a Video Scouting Report of the Michigan State Offense with Gerald Hodges
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State will host No. 11/10 Michigan State on Saturday in a critical Big Ten clash for both teams to conclude the regular season. The Nittany Lions will be playing their third Top 10 team this season and sixth team that has been ranked in the Top 25.
Eighteen Nittany Lions will be playing their final contest in Beaver Stadium and will be honored in a pre-game Senior Day ceremony. The winner of the important conference battle will claim the Land Grant Trophy.
The game, which is scheduled for a 12 p.m. kickoff, will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and will also air on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State (7-4, 4-3) has won four of its last five games and with a win would enhance its resume for a New Year's Day bowl game. The Spartans (10-1, 6-1) would earn no worse than a share of their first Big Ten title since 1990 with a win over the Nittany Lions.
In a series that dates back to 1914, Penn State has won the last to meetings to take a 14-12-1 series advantage. With the Nittany Lions' entry into the Big Ten in 1993, the teams have played in the regular season finale the past 18 years, with the victor taking possession of the Land Grant Trophy, a prize that honors Penn State's and Michigan State's unique place in history as the two pioneer land-grant institutions in the United States. The Nittany Lions earned 42-14 decision a year ago at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
The Nittany Lions and Spartans will be in opposite Big Ten divisions starting in 2011 and are not scheduled to meet the next two years.
The 18 seniors have helped the Nittany Lions earn a 38-12 record since the start of the 2007 season, among the best marks in nation. Among the 18 seniors are eight players who have been starters for most of the season (four on offense, three on defense, one specialist).
The 2010 seniors are: Saf - Tyler Ahrenhold; WR Brett Brackett; LB Chris Colasanti; Saf Andrew Dailey; T Lou Eliades; LB - Bani Gbadyu; Saf Kyle Johnson; C Doug Klopacz; DE Kevion Latham; CB - Shelton McCullough; DT Ollie Ogbu; TB Evan Royster; PK David Soldner; TE Jonathan Stewart; G Anthony Tortortelli; PK Collin Wagner; G/C Stefen Wisniewski and WR Graham Zug.
Although Penn State has won 13 of the 17 games vs. Michigan State since starting Big Ten play, seven of the games have been decided by seven points or less and all 17 have been high scoring. During the 17 contests, PSU and MSU have combined to score 1,060 points, an average of 62.3 points per game. The Nittany Lions have scored 608 points, an average of 35.7 ppg, while the Spartans have tallied 452 (26.6 ppg).
Penn State is coming off a 41-24 thumping of Indiana at FedExField in Landover, Md. Tied 24-24 late in the third quarter, safety Andrew Dailey (Massillon, Ohio) blocked an IU punt that Jamie Van Fleet (Williamsport, Pa.) returned 21 yards for a touchdown, sparking the Nittany Lions to their 14th consecutive victory over the Hoosiers. Making his third career start, sophomore quarterback, Matt McGloin (Scranton, Pa.) posted career-best passing numbers, completing 22 of 31 attempts for 315 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions against the Hoosiers.
Linebacker Nate Stupar (State College, Pa.) led the Penn State defense with a team-best 10 tackles, the second highest total of his career. Safety Drew Astorino (Edinboro, Pa.) made a diving interception on IU's next possession after the blocked punt to set up a Collin Wagner (State College, Pa.) field goal.
Ranked No. 10 in the BCS standings, Michigan State (travels to Happy Valley for the annual Land Grant Trophy showdown with at least a share of the Big Ten title and a potential BCS Bowl berth on the line. Tied atop the Big Ten standings with a 6-1 conference record, the Spartans kept pace by claiming a 35-31 come-from-behind win over Purdue in East Lansing last week.
The Michigan State offense is directed by junior quarterback Kirk Cousins, the Big Ten's leader in completion percentage (66.8). He has thrown for 2,553 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. At his disposal in the passing game are a gifted pair of receivers who rank among the conference's best in Mark Dell (49-761-6 TDs) and B.J. Cunningham (47-578-7 TDs). Sophomore Edwin Baker is the Spartans' main threat in the ground game, rushing for 1,069 yards and 12 touchdowns. Freshman Le'Veon Bell is another productive option out of the backfield (592 yards, 8 TDs).
The leader of the Michigan State defense is senior All-American linebacker Greg Jones. The Butkus and Bednarik Award semifinalist has totaled a team-best 95 tackles (41 solos) and also tops the Spartans in tackles for loss (8.0), quarterback hits (6), and forced fumbles (3) to go along with one sack, two interceptions, and three pass break-ups.
The Nittany Lions are eligible for their 37th bowl game under Joe Paterno, who is the all-time leader in bowl wins (24) and appearances (36).