This is a big one. Evan Royster had a pretty good shot at a mid-round selection in this year's NFL Draft. But after his junior campaign didn't produce the kind of smashing success many expected, No. 22 will return for his final season in the Blue and White. Well Evan, we're glad to have you.
Let's not kid ourselves. There's only one thing that really matters: Penn State beat the SEC's third-best team.
Other than that, however, here are some observations on the win.
Stat of the game: 38:21
That's how long the Penn State offense held onto the ball. While it was quite painful to see the Nittany Lions fail time and again to punch it into the end zone, keeping the ball away from Jordan Jefferson was critically important. The ball-control objective seemed to become even more critical as the game progressed, when Jefferson and the Tigers scored 14 unanswered points to take the lead. Had Penn State not run off at least five minutes (it ran off 5:57) on its final drive, LSU might not have had to panic the way it did in the final minute.
Offensive player of the game: Daryll Clark
Collin Wagner's performance is so close, but the final drive by Clark sealed the deal for me. Specifically, the five yard pass to Graham Zug on 3rd-and-four was a thing of poised beauty. Clark went out on the highest note next to a national title. He exorcised the comeback demons, while proving to the nation that Penn State was far from overrated in 2009.
Defensive player of the game: Navorro Bowman
The sentimental pick here would have been Sean Lee, who did play a fantastic final game in the Blue and White. I must go with Bowman, however. Not only did he lead the team in tackles (7) and TFL (1.5), Bowman made the single best decision of the game by taking his sweet time getting off the pile, with precious seconds ticking away on LSU's final drive. Propelling Bowman's decision from just a good one to an all-timer, he drew the crucial personal foul which moved LSU back 15 yards.
Play of the game: Moye's 37-yard touchdown catch
Oh, how we all thought the Penn State offense would actually score touchdowns from then on. Tigers cornerback Patrick Peterson was playing press coverage -- as was most of the LSU secondary -- so Derek Moye and the offense took immediate advantage. Moye's double move to break behind Peterson was eerily reminiscent of the one he used to score against Northwestern. The result was the identical, however. Six points. (I'm sure many of you will disagree strongly with me picking this play, but I think it really sent an early message to LSU that Penn State came to play ball)
Final Thoughts
When Penn State played aggressive football, the Nittany Lions roared to a 16-3 lead. Clark was allowed to throw on first down, while multiple receivers ran free, even if they didn't always haul in the pass. The success through the air allowed for some decent runs by Evan Royster and Stephfon Green. Penn State was dominating the LSU defense. All the while, the Nittany Lion defenders were having a field day of their own against a weak Tiger offensive line and thin running back corps.
But just when Penn State extended its lead to 13, old fashioned Paterno-Ball took over. It was way too soon against a way too talented team. Runs on first down, obvious passing situations on third and long. I nearly wanted to puke when the LSU offense woke up just as Penn State was winding itself into its conservative shell. We know what happened next.
I guess it was a good thing that LSU was allowed to come back and take a fourth-quarter lead. If Penn State wasn't forced to stage that comeback, would Clark's legacy ever have been vindicated with a legendary final drive? Probably not. I'll admit that I wanted a great, tough game; but Christ, that was a bit much.
Going into the 2010 preseason (holy crap, it's already preseason!), Penn State is in great shape, even with the loss of Navorro Bowman early to the NFL. Depending on whether or not any other juniors leave (Evan Royster), this team has a very strong core returning for next season. There's every reason to look forward to 2010. Of course, predicting anything in college football is about as simple as a hand of Texas Hold'em against Johnny Chan.
Final Stats - GoPSUsports.com
ESPN's Joe Schad reported today that Navorro Bowman will enter the 2010 NFL Draft.
While I can't say I'm trilled to see such a great player leave Penn State, I wish him only the best of luck at the next level. Thank you No. 11, for keeping "Linebacker U" alive and well.
Say what you want about how ugly some of the games were (Capital One, Outback), but there's no denying that with Ohio State's dominating Rose Bowl victory, the once-maligned conference played its collective hearts out this bowl season. New Year's Day was the highlight; let's take a look at what "they" are saying.
Outback Bowl: Auburn 38, Northwestern 35 (OT)
• This loss must have been particularly tough on NU alum Adam Rittenberg, who points out in his typical level-headedness that the Cats had plenty of chances to win the game prior to the final fake field goal.
• I hate linking to just a wire story, but you gotta love the CBSSports.com fan comments on any of the Big Ten-SEC game stories. Here we'll start with the Outback recap.
Capital One Bowl: Penn State 19, Louisiana State 17
• Penn State did it the usual way, with defense and ball control, writes Rittenberg.
• Evan Royster spoke with SportingNews.com's Brian McLaughlin about the field conditions, among other things.
• For more really funny SEC fan comments, let's see some of them for CBS's Capital One recap.
Rose Bowl: Ohio State 26, Oregon 17
• Over at TWWL, Ivan Maisel and Adam Rittenberg offer thoughts on Ohio State's victory.
• The Big Ten turned out to be New Year's Day's big winner, according to Matt Hayes at SportingNews.com.
• SI.com's Stewart Mandel also throws some praise the Buckeyes' way.
I know this was a crappy post. My apologies. But I have some big news coming your way this week that I just know will make up for it.
After nearly a month of constant oral diarrhea spewing from SEC fans' mouths about how Penn State had no chance against LSU, my inbox is now open.
So, LSU fans, your apologies should be emailed to:
ZombieNationPSU[at]gmail[dot]com
Be aware, however, that your emails are open for publishing on this web site. So if you don't want your words put out there for everyone to read, don't send it.
Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to your Penn State football Bowl gameday headquarters. 
Pregame
• Capital One Bowl Game Preview: PSU vs LSU
• Penn State depth chart (as of 12/31)
• Official Game Notes
• Penn State Roster
• Joe Paterno's Pre-Bowl Press Conference
• Big Ten Pick'em: Bowl Special
Postgame
• Game Recap: TBA
Kickoff/TV: Friday, January 1, 2010; 1 p.m. ET/ABC (Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Erin Andrews)
Weather Forecast: Scattered showers.
Series Record: Penn State leads, 1-0.
Host: Louisiana State Tigers
Record: 9-3 (5-3, SEC)
Last Game: Beat Arkansas, 33-30(OT)
Injuries: RB Charles Scott (clavicle) - out for season; RB Keiland Williams (ankle) - out for season; RB Richard Murphy (knee) - out for season; WR RJ Jackson (foot) - out; DT Akiem Hicks (undisclosed) - out
Key Players: (offense) QB Jordan Jefferson, WR Trindon Holliday, WR Brandon LaFell; (defense) LB Kelvin Sheppard, CB Patrick Peterson, DT Drake Nevis
Head Coach: Les Miles, 5th season at LSU, 51-14; 9th season overall, 79-35; 5-2 bowl record.
Season Statistics:
Offense - 129.6 rush/180.1 pass/25.5 points per game
Defense - 134.2 rush/192.4 pass/16.0 points per game
TO Margin - (+7)/(0.58) per game
Louisiana State, on paper -- For a team that has been out gained by 16 yards per game this season, the Tigers are quite fortunate to have reached nine wins. Louisiana State has lived off of its fantastic turnover margin (+7), and ability to start offensive drives with short fields, courtesy of probably the best return game in the nation (18.6 yds per punt return). That stat will be sure to strike fear into Penn State, particularly since speedster Trindon Holliday isn't the only one responsible for LSU's punt return success; Holliday averages 17.7 yards on 18 returns and one touchdown, while Chad Jones also added a score to his 21.5 yards per return on six attempts. But that's about as explosive as this LSU team has been in 2009.
Defensively, the Tigers have been stout, but not nearly as transmittable as in recent seasons. In the five seasons previous to 2009, LSU ranked 17th, 12th, 14th, 6th, and 7th in rush defense; the Tigers rank 44th coming into this game. LSU has given up more than 23 points on five different occasions this year, including 26 to Mississippi State and 30 in overtime to Arkansas in the season finale. The Tigers have plenty of talent on this side of the ball, but are definitely pregnable.
Going from decent to just plain mediocre, the LSU offense struggled in 2009 to just break 300 yards per game. Injuries were a huge factor in the lack of production, as the Tigers lost their top two running backs before the end of the season. With a lack of a run game, and an already shaky offensive line (Jordan Jefferson has been sacked 24 times), opposing defenses have been able to tee off on the Tigers' passing game.
Visitor: Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 10-2 (6-2 Big Ten)
Last Game: Beat Michigan State, 42-14
Injuries: RB Brandon Beachum (ACL) - out for season; FB Josh Matzkin (foot) - out; DE Pete Massaro (knee) - out for season; LB Michael Mauti (knee) - out for season; DT Brandon Ware (n/a) - out
Key Players: (offense) QB Daryll Clark, RB Evan Royster, WR Derek Moye; (defense) DT Jared Odrick, LB Navorro Bowman, LB Sean Lee
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 44th season at Penn State, 393-129-3; 23-11 bowl record
Season Statistics:
Offense - 173.6 rush/238.9 pass/29.7 points per game
Defense - 93.9 rush/183.2 pass/11.8 points per game
TO Margin - (+3)/(0.25) per game
Penn State, on paper -- The Lions are a good team, but most definitely not a great one. Penn State beat the teams it should have. In another fantastic job done by defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, the defense has posted its best statistical season in years, even with the loss of three defensive ends (one All-American) and four senior starters in the secondary from last season. The linebackers have been banged up this year, as Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman didn't play a full game together until mid-way through the season. Had both been healthy all year, one or both would have been given All-America recognition. Even in losses to Iowa and Ohio State, the Penn State defense held its own, even in the face of short fields and a sometimes anemic Lions offense.
On that offensive side of the ball, Penn State had some fantastic games this season (Illinois, Michigan, Northwestern, Michigan State), but also some putrid outings (Iowa, Ohio State). Against good defensive fronts, the Nittany Lions had trouble containing opponents' pass and run blitzes. That left Daryll Clark with little time to throw, and Evan Royster even less room to run. Much of the offensive woes have been centered around the constantly changing offensive line, which saw three different players at right tackle, and two different at left guard over the course of 2009. Yet, some bright spots have emerged for Penn State, specifically in the wide receivers and tight ends. Derek Moye has become a go-to guy on the outside, while Andrew Quarless finally played like the tight end everyone was hoping for the previous three seasons. Penn State will be looking to give Clark more than two seconds to throw.
Of course, none of that matters if the special teams break down, as they did in dramatic fashion against Iowa and Ohio State. The Hawkeyes were able to score on a blocked punt, and kept Penn State pinned deep in its own territory all game long, leading to a momentum-swinging safety. The Buckeyes tore apart Penn State's coverage teams, virtually winning the game solely on field position. The Nittany Lions should not be relied upon to win any game this season on field position.
On the field -- Penn State and LSU match up very well on both sides of the ball, with the slight edge to Penn State's defense over the Tigers' offense. I could totally see the Lions' front seven harass Jefferson into several mistakes, while Clark and the PSU offense should be able to move the ball well enough to score some points in this one. But if there's one glaring weakness in this year's Penn State team, it's the special teams and return coverage. How does a team like LSU win nine games while being out gained by 16 yards per game? Field position. That matchup scares the crap out of me. However...
The turf could be even scarier for both teams. Bad weather, combined with several football games in the Citrus Bowl this week alone, has left the field in horrid, if not dangerous condition. For a team like LSU, which relies solely on a speed player like Holliday, a chippy field could spell doom. One slip could ruin what should have been a big punt return, which could ruin LSU's chances for victory. Penn State doesn't rely on one specific facet of the game to win. With a healthy stable of running backs, and a defense that might be better than the Tigers' unit, the Lions should have enough in the tank to sneak out of Orlando with a much-needed Big Ten win over the SEC.
Prediction: No. 13 Penn State, 24 - No. 12 LSU, 20
Don't get all giddy. This could hurt Penn State just as much as LSU:
Conditions were so bad for the Miami-Wisconsin game Tuesday night players were replacing sod before snaps. Hurricanes running back Graig Cooper also injured his right knee without being touched. - APRemember last season at Purdue, when Penn State running backs were slipping and sliding all over the field, costing the Lions some points? Yeah, this could be worse, in a much more important game. More below the fold...
Wins and losses go only so far when trying to pick apart a bowl matchup. Penn State (10-2) has one more win than LSU (9-3), but far too many in the main stream media have gone with the Tigers to beat the Lions. Why? Well, I think we know: OMG-ESS-EE-SEE-SPEED! I will tell you one thing the pundits are not using to reach their Capital One Bowl predictions: facts.
I try not to shill for anyone, but it's tough to argue against Phil Steele's ability to predict college football seasons. So, why would predicting the bowl season be any different? It's not, really. You see, Steele uses facts and statistics to predict football games; not some empty public perception of a league (SEC) so dominant that not a single team could ever beat it. Sorry, but just because you call the SEC "fast" does not make its individual teams automatically better than the opposition.
Steele published one of the most interesting blog posts I've seen from any sane analyst this bowl season. This year’s top 10 differences in net yard rankings between bowl participants.
Why should Penn State fans care? Because the Lions are tied for first (w/Texas Tech-Michigan State) in Net Yard Ranking Difference (NYRD); the Lions are 43 spots ahead of LSU -- Penn State is No. 7 in NYRD nationally (+89.3 ypg), while LSU is No. 50 nationally (-45.3 ypg).
That's right, folks. The Tigers come into the Capital One Bowl having been outgained by their opponents by almost 50 yards per game.
The net yards difference between Penn State and LSU is 134.7 yards per game, which is the fourth-best (in favor of Penn St) going into the bowl season.
As Steele broke it down in normally-concise fashion, his stats showed that of the top five 2008-09 bowl teams with the biggest net yard differences (NYD), four of them won their bowl games; one of them included USC's 208.3 NYD over Penn State going into last season's Rose Bowl. So Lions fans have first-hand knowledge of what can happen when this stat is in your team's favor... or not.
Just to name a few teams that have a better NYRD than LSU: Oregon State, Arizona, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, South Carolina, Northwestern, Stanford, USC, Georgia, and Auburn. Including those SEC teams I just mentioned, a total of eight SEC teams have a better NYRD than the Tigers going into the bowl season.
To wrap this all up, I'd just like to remind pundits who seem to think LSU is a lock to win this game, that you are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.¹
**Just a quick update: Phil Steele picks Penn State by five.
It's been a while, but we're back.
Maybe they did, maybe they didn't...
W. F. Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
The Nittany Line
Zombie Nation
Nittany Whiteout
Penn State Clips
2 The Lion
Blue White Roundtable - Pre-Bowl Season Edition
1. Penn State finished off this season with 10 wins, but lost the only two games that were really in question. What will your lasting memory of the 2009 season be?
This program is finally back. Sure, we all said "We're Back!" in 2002, 2005 and 2008. But I thought for a while that 2009 would be the real measuring stick for the program's progress since the dark years. For Penn State to win 10 games, after losing entire units from a Rose Bowl squad, that is the sign of a powerhouse program. I don't care that Penn State lost to two teams that are going to BCS games. In case you didn't hear me, that was two teams that are going to BCS games.
2. Though they miss out on a BCS Bowl, the Nittany Lions will face off with a highly ranked SEC opponent in a New Year's Day bowl. What are your initial thoughts about the matchup with LSU in the Capital One Bowl?
I love it. With the prospect of facing Georgia Tech, Boise State or TCU in a bowl game, I was hoping for the Capital One bowl. LSU has won two national titles this decade (though, shaky ones), and hasn't lost a bowl game under Les Miles. You want to see the best non-BCS bowl game, watch this one.
3. When it's all said and done, where will Daryll Clark rank among Penn State QBs? What will you remember about Clark thinking back on the 2008 and 2009 seasons a few years from now?
He was a winner. I don't care about the "Big Game" dig on Clark. He won a shit load of games for Penn State, brought the team to a Rose Bowl and a Captial One Bowl. He's not going to be Wally Richardson 2. And if you can't see the differences between the two quarterbacks, then God help you.
4. Which seniors are you most sad to see go? If you could bring one of them back in 2010, who would it be?
I wish Sean Lee had one more shot. He was fantastic in all the games he played this season, and would have been a sure lock for 1st Team All-America had he not been injured. Lee's the kind of leader any great defense needs. He deserves more credit than he's being given right now, but the injuries have really hurt his draft stock. If he had one more season to play fully healthy, I think he would have gone down as the greatest linebacker ever to play at Penn State.
5. What are your feelings on the Fiesta Bowl matching up the two undefeated mid-majors, instead of setting up Iowa-Boise State and Georgia Tech-TCU matchups? Does it support a playoff argument?
I never got around this year to posting my playoff solution (like every other blog/writer), but I do like that the Fiesta Bowl is going to allow there to be fewer undefeated teams at the end of the season, no matter what. If TCU and Boise played GT and Iowa, the two Mid-Majors could win those matchups. Then, what if Cincy beat Florida? You'd have FOUR undefeated teams after the bowls. It's not nearly what I wish to see overall (have one more BCS standings come out right after the New Years bowls are played, then take the top two to the MNC), but three undefeated teams are better than four.
Lightning Round:
1. Do either Bowman or Royster (or both!) skip their senior seasons and enter the NFL Draft? Definitely Bowman, probably Royster. We haven't been so lucky lately in this area.
2. Who wins the MNC Game, Alabama or Texas? I'll hold out for Texas, for now.
3. Will you be heading down to Orlando to watch the Capital One Bowl live? Who wins? It's called a recession; and of course, Penn State wins.
4. Predict the draft stock of the following Nittany Lion seniors:
a) [Bowman/Royster] - Bowman: late 1st / Royster (if he goes): late 3rd, early 4th
b) Jared Odrick - 2nd
c) Sean Lee - 2nd
d) Andrew Quarless - 2nd, or early 3rd
e) Dennis Landolt - 5th to 7th
f) Daryll Clark - 4th to 6th
g) Mickey Shuler - free agent
h) A.J. Wallace - free agent
Penn State's senior quarterback Daryll Clark, and Michigan's senior defensive end Brandon Graham, have split the Chicago Tribune Silver Football Trophy vote for the best player in the Big Ten. It is the first time in the award's history (since 1924) that more than one player receives the honor.
On the Big Ten Network's exclusive announcement last night, Gerry DiNardo defended Clark's selection, "Some of it falls on Clark," BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo said, "but the majority of it should not. Penn State's offense is built to run the football... Did he make some bad decisions in those games? No question. But he hardly could get his feet set. It seemed like he had to start moving at 2.3 seconds."
In today's Tribune article, Big Ten beat reporter Teddy Greenstein jabbed Clark's selection, pointing out the cliche that DC can't win in the clutch, specifically this season. Clark is more likely to be a fourth- or fifth-round pick. The chiseled 6-foot-2, 230-pounder excelled this season in 10 games, completing 66.4 of his passes with a 22/6 touchdown pass/interception split... But in his team's two biggest games, against Iowa and Ohio State, he completed just 24 of 60 passes, firing four picks and one touchdown pass. Both were losses.
We all know that DiNardo's assessment is much more intelligent, not to mention backed up by actual football analysis. But let's not get into the negatives of this. Clark earned this by leading a severely depleted Penn State squad to another 10-win season and a New Years Day bowl berth. He has been a great leader for the Nittany Lions, and should be appreciated by all fans for it.
Past Nittany Lions who have been awarded the Silver Football are quarterbacks Michael Robinson (2005) and Kerry Collins (1994).
Penn State is already boasting one of the strongest recruiting classes in recent program history, by far the top crop in the Big Ten this year. But with the announcement of the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl rosters last week, the Nittany Lions will be the only program to send five committed recruits to play on a single roster, and is tied with Texas and USC for the overall lead of also five committed recruits.
Of course, the overall number of commitments to each team will change once the game reaches halftime, a traditional showcase when recruits make their commitments before the live national audience (Jan. 9, 2010 at 1 p.m. on NBC), but in terms of those going into the game with solid verbals to any school, Penn State one leading the pack.
Linebackers Khairi Fortt and Mike Hull, QB Paul Jones, RB Silas Redd, and FB Zach Zwinak will all play for the East squad. But that core group could expand by game's end. Running back Marcus Lattimore and DT Sharrif Floyd -- No. 2 and No. 1 respectively at their positions nationally -- are both seriously considering Penn State as one of their top schools. Should they both throw on a blue and white ball cap, it could be a late Christmas for Penn State recruiting.
Here are some former and current Nittany Lions who were invited to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl (since 2001): Levi Brown, Dan Connor, Jerome Hayes, Justin King, Derrick Williams, Maurice Evans, Jared Odrick, A.J. Wallace, Stefen Wisniewski, and Michael Mauti.
The five recruits going this year will be the most ever from any Penn State class.
The Patriot News broke the rumor/story earlier today, but now it's official. Penn State will face LSU in the Captial One Bowl on January 1 in Orlando. Stay tuned for more on the Nittany Lions' 23rd January bowl game under Joe Paterno.
Penn State moved up two spots in this week's BCS standings, released today. The No. 11 Nittany Lions received votes of confidence in both the Coaches' Poll and AP Poll, each voting Penn State ninth. The Harris Interactive Poll also placed Penn State in the No. 9 slot.
However, Penn State is being held back by a terrible No. 19 ranking by the BCS computers.
Joe Paterno always preaches to the media how he doesn't read the sports pages, watch television pundits, or read the internet. That's not so much the case when it comes to his players, though, as a certain quarterback didn't take to kindly to some "expert" analysis from ESPN's Todd McShay.
FOS:
Ok, so Daryll Clark has thrown a bunch of picks in the big games, but I hardly believe for a second, specifically in 2009, that it was Clark who lost those games. We'll get into all that in the season review coming in the next few weeks. But for now, Clark gets a big ole ZING! for the sound bite.
Penn State senior quarterback Daryll Clark, and junior linebacker Navorro Bowman swept the Big Ten's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week awards for their performances against Michigan State in the season finale.
Navorro Bowman
Bowman recorded 10 tackles (seven solo), with 3.5 TFL (minus-17), a sack and a pass break-up to lead another superb defensive effort in East Lansing. He tied a team season-high for TFLs in a game with 3.5, matching Jared Odrick's total from the Eastern Illinois game. Bowman posted his ninth career double figure tackle game.
Daryll Clark
Clark went 19 of 27 (70.4) for 310 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. The 310 yards were the third-highest in his career. He threw a career-high four touchdown passes vs. Michigan State for the second consecutive year, with scoring strikes of 29, 30, 32, and 27 yards.
Bowman and Clark's recognitions mark the sixth and seventh times this season a Nittany Lion has been selected Big Ten Player of the Week. Senior linebacker Sean Lee and senior punter Jeremy Boone also have been honored this year.
Link: GoPSUsports.com
Penn State moved up one spot to No. 13 in this weeks' BCS Standings. The Nittany Lions were voted No. 11 in both the USA Today Coaches' Poll and the Harris Interactive Poll. Even the computers bumped up Penn State, to No. 18.
Daryll Clark won't be missed by Michigan State fans, as the senior quarterback and Penn State overcame a slow start Saturday night in East Lansing to pound the Spartans 42-14. In two career games against Michigan State, Clark has thrown for 650 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Nittany Lions earned their 10th win of the season, and made a big statement for BCS bowl scouts looking at Penn State for a possible at-large bid.
But despite the final score, for nearly two full quarters, the battle for the Land Grant Trophy was a slugfest, with both teams held off the scoreboard until Penn State scored with 2:10 left in before halftime. Clark found a wide open Andrew Quarless for a 29-yard catch and run into the end zone, as Michigan State's secondary, which had shown some promise early, failed to stop Penn State's pass attack the rest of the game.
Clark finished the night by breaking Penn State records for career passing touchdowns (42), single season pass touchdowns (23), and single season pass yardage (2,770).
Michigan State was able to tie the game at seven going into halftime, putting together its best drive of the night, going 87 yards in only eight plays, capped by a reaching touchdown grab by tight end Charlie Gantt.
But the tie wouldn't last long after the teams trotted out of the locker rooms for the second half. True freshman wide receiver Curtis Drake -- a quarterback in high school -- took an end around from Clark, ran three steps, the lofted a pass into the end zone for Quarless. Penn State's scoring drive would only take three plays to go 66 yards, though 15 of those yards came courtesy of a Michigan State penalty. The score would launch a 28-0 run by the Nittany Lions in the third quarter, effectively ending any chance for the Spartans to pull the upset.
Penn State amassed 512 total yards on offense, while holding Michigan State to only 333 yards, which included a late touchdown bomb by the Spartans that gained 71 yards.
The Nittany Lions came into the game with the lingering sour taste of four first-half turnovers against Indiana the previous week, but would leave East Lansing error-free on offense, while senior linebacker Sean Lee and safety Nick Sukay each picked off a Spartan pass.
Junior linebacker Navorro Bowman -- possible first round 2010 NFL Draft pick -- led Penn State's defense with another spectacular game, logging a team-high 10 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss (minus-17 yards), a pass breakup and a sack.
With the victory, Penn State locked up a tie with Iowa for second place in the Big Ten. Northwestern's upset of Wisconsin helps to narrow Penn State's competition for an at-large BCS selection to just the Hawkeyes. Ohio State beat Michigan to claim the outright Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl berth.
The Nittany Lions are looking at possible bowl bids in the Orange, Fiesta, Capital One, or Outback Bowls. For Penn State, it will be the fourth January bowl game in five seasons.
Your Penn State football gameday headquarters.
Pregame
• Preview: No. 14 Penn State at Michigan State
• ABC/ESPN Coverage Map
• Penn State depth chart (as of 11/20)
• Official Game Notes
• Penn State Roster
• Joe Paterno's Press Conference
• Big Ten Pick'em: Week 12 2009
• ZN's CFB Top 25 :: Week 12 2009
• Poll Results: Penn State at Michigan State
Postgame
• Game Story:
• Game Review:
• Live Blog
Sixteen votes? Really? It was a better turnout for Indiana last week. I guess it's partly my fault, getting the poll going late this week. But still, c'mon people, this game will be the difference between a guaranteed 10-win season, or another four-loss adventure though mediocrity. Results, and a reminder about tomorrow's ZN Live Blog, below. 
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