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Nittany Lions, Spartans Seek First Big Ten Win in 'Land Grant Trophy' Clash (Game Preview)

Penn State (3-6, 0-6 Big Ten) at Michigan State (3-6, 0-6 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, November 15

Time (EST): 3:30 PM

Location: Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, MI)

  • Average Home Attendance (2025): 72,132.40

  • Highest Home Attendance (2025): 75,085 (Oct 25, vs. No. 25 Michigan)

  • Capacity: 74,866

Game Promotions

  • Military Appreciation Day

  • Senior Day Celebration

Coverage


Storylines

Tale of the Tape: Land Grant Trophy Means More Now

In the first meeting since 2023, the Nittany Lions and Spartans fight for more than just a trophy.

Their seasons hang in the balance on Saturday as the winner sees their bowl eligibility hopes stay afloat while the loser sees theirs sink.


Chaz Coleman Still Day-to-Day

Freshman defensive end Chaz Coleman was not seen in practice on Wednesday and was reported as still being “day-to-day,” per interim head coach Terry M. Smith.

Coleman was inactive during the loss to No. 2 Indiana last Saturday and recovered a fumble against No. 1 Ohio State the previous week.


Spartans Placed on Three Years of Probation

Due to Level 1-standard violations during the Mel Tucker era, the NCAA has placed Michigan State on three years of probation.

The Spartans have also been forced to vacate 14 wins, the first program to do so since Arizona State’s 10 in 2021-22 when Herm Edwards was its head coach.


The Head-to-Head History of Penn State-Michigan State

*The Penn State and ESPN websites count the November 24, 2023 game as a road game for Penn State, while the Michigan State website counts it as a neutral-site game. It will be designated as a road game for Penn State.

Penn State is 19-18-1 against Michigan State all-time. Their last meeting was on November 24, 2023, when Penn State beat Michigan State 42-0 in a road game at Ford Field.*

Penn State is 6-11 against Michigan State on the road all-time, with their last road meeting being on November 24, 2023 (see above).

Penn State has won the last two head-to-head meetings dating back to 2022. Michigan State last beat Penn State on November 27, 2021 in a 30-27 home win.

Source: Winsipedia


Penn State at Michigan State: By The Numbers

Penn State

Offense

Michigan State

30.7

Points Per Game

25.6

184.7

Pass Yards Per Game

221.9

151.0

Rush Yards Per Game

125.8

44.44%

3rd Down %

37.50%

10 (1.11)

Turnovers (per game)

9 (1.00)


Penn State

Defense

Michigan State

22.3

Points Allowed PG

31.4

172.1

Pass Yards Allowed PG

227.0

153.7

Rush Yards Allowed PG

144.3

42.28%

Opponent 3rd Down %

44.35%

11 (1.22)

Takeaways (per game)

6 (0.67)


Players To Watch on Offense

Penn State (Spread Offense)

  • QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, R-Fr.

    • Overall (7 games)

      • Passing: 64-for-98, 562 yds, 2 TD, 4 INT

      • Rushing: 18 car, (-32) yds, 1 TD (sacked 7 times)

    • Conference (4 games)

      • Passing: 56-for-87, 457 yds, 2 TD, 4 INT

      • Rushing: 15 car, (-40) yds, 0 TD (sacked 7 times)

    • Away (2 games)

      • Passing: 34-for-56, 238 yds, 0 TD, 3 INT

      • Rushing: 10 car, (-38) yds, 0 TD (sacked 5 times)

  • RB Kaytron Allen, Sr.

    • Career Rushing Yards: 3,613

    • Yards needed to pass certain players for all-time Penn State rushing yards:

      • 230 to pass Saquon Barkley (2nd)

      • 319 to pass Evan Royster (1st)

    • Overall (9 games): 138 car, 736 yds, 10 TD

    • Conference (6 games): 104 car, 163 yds, 7 TD

    • Away (3 games): 57 car, 271 yds, 5 TD

    • Career vs. Michigan State (2 games): 36 car, 219 yds, 0 TD

  • WR Trebor Peña, R-Sr.+

    • Overall (9 games): 32 rec, 331 yds, 1 TD

    • Conference (6 games): 22 rec, 288 yds, 2 TD

    • Away (3 games): 9 rec, 45 yds, 0 TD

Michigan State (Multiple Offense)

*With no starting quarterback announced for Saturday, the numbers of both Aidan Chiles and Alessio Milivojevic will be shown below.

  • QB Aidan Chiles, Jr.

    • Overall (9 games)

      • Passing: 128-for-203, 1,392 yds, 10 TD, 3 INT

      • Rushing: 81 car, 227 yds, 6 TD

    • Conference (6 games)

      • Passing: 70-for-122, 736 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT

      • Rushing: 51 car, 104 yds, 5 TD

    • Home (5 games)

      • Passing: 80-for-126, 852 yds, 6 TD, 1 INT

      • Rushing: 51 car, 125 yds, 3 TD

  • QB Alessio Milivojevic, R-Fr.

    • Overall (6 games)

      • Passing: 42-for-65, 592 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT

      • Rushing: 19 car, (-41) yds, 1 TD (sacked 9 times)

    • Conference (5 games)

      • Passing: 42-for-64, 592 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT

      • Rushing: 19 car, (-41) yds, 1 TD (sacked 9 times)

    • Home (3 games)

      • Passing: 13-for-25, 160 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT

      • Rushing: 3 car, 2 yds, 0 TD

  • RB Makhi Frazier, So.

    • Overall (8 games): 108 rec, 493 yds, 2 TD

    • Conference (5 games): 43 rec, 287 yds, 0 TD

    • Home (5 games): 69 rec, 373 yds, 2 TD

  • WR Nick Marsh, So.

    • Overall (9 games): 46 rec, 554 yds, 5 TD

    • Conference (6 games): 30 rec, 360 yds, 2 TD

    • Home (5 games): 29 rec, 349 yds, 4 TD


Players To Watch on Defense

Penn State (4-2-5 Defense)

  • DE Dani Denis-Sutton, Sr.

    • Overall (9 games): 29 tot, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks

    • Conference (6 games): 20 tot, 2 TFL, 1 sack

    • Away (3 games): 5 tot, 0 TFL, 0 sacks

    • Career vs. Michigan State (2 games): 0 tot, 0 TFL, 0 sacks

  • LB Amare Campbell, Jr.

    • Overall (9 games): 67 tot, 7.5 TFL, 2 sacks

    • Conference (6 games): 45 tot, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack

    • Away (3 games): 19 tot, 3 TFL, 1 sack

  • S Zakee Wheatley, R-Sr.

    • Overall (9 games): 61 tot, 1 INT, 2 PD

    • Conference (6 games): 53 tot, 1 INT, 1 PD

    • Away (3 games): 29 tot, 1 INT, 1 PD

    • Career vs. Michigan State (3 games): 1 tot, 0 INT, 0 PD

Michigan State (4-2-5 Defense)

  • DE Jalen Thompson, Jr.

    • Overall (8 games): 23 tot, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks

    • Conference (5 games): 14 tot, 3 TFL, 1 sack

    • Home (4 games): 15 tot, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack

    • Career vs. Penn State (1 game): 1 tot, 0 TFL, 0 sacks

  • LB Jordan Hall, Jr.

    • Overall (9 games): 70 tot, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks

    • Conference (6 games): 43 tot, 0 TFL, 0 sacks

    • Home (5 games): 39 tot, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks

    • Career vs. Penn State (1 game): 12 tot, 1 TFL, 1 sack

  • CB Malcolm Bell, R-Sr.

    • Overall (9 games): 29 tot, 0 INT, 5 PD

    • Conference (6 games): 24 tot, 0 INT, 4 PD

    • Home (5 games): 9 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD


Quick Picks & Analysis

Bryan: This game will be determined by one simple question: which way will the ball bounce on Saturday? If the Nittany Lions build on their vertical passing game, watch out.

Penn State 30, Michigan State 28.


 
 
 

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