Penn State snaps losing streak, retains trophy with win over Michigan State

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Ethan Grunkemeyer threw two touchdown passes to Devonte Ross as Penn State snapped its six-game losing streak with a 28-10 victory over Michigan State Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

The Nittany Lions (1-6 Big Ten, 4-6) won their first game since a 52-6 romp past Villanova on Sept. 13 and avoided the ignominy of tying the school record for consecutive defeats.

Grunkemeyer completed 8-of-13 passes for 127 yards and Kaytron Allen carried 25 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns for Penn State, which kept alive their hopes to become bowl eligible.

Dani Dennis-Sutton had two of the Lions’ five sacks and blocked a punt in the second quarter, his third of the season, which tied a school record.

Penn State sent Michigan State (0-7, 3-7) to its seventh straight loss.

The Lions beat the Spartans for the fifth time in the last six meetings and retained possession of the Land Grant Trophy. They also gave interim head coach Terry Smith his first victory after three losses since replacing the fired James Franklin on Oct. 12.

The Lions used a 13-play, 76-yard drive that consumed more than nine minutes to put it away. Grunkemeyer tossed the ball to Ross, who streaked across the field and into the end zone from the 4.

Penn State pressured redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic throughout the game. Zion Tracy blitzed and stripped the ball from him, with Daryus Dixson recovering.

Allen then added a 26-yard touchdown with no Michigan State defenders on the left side of the field.

Two big plays set the tone in the first half.

On Michigan State’s first play, Elijah Tau-Tolliver burst through a large hole on the right side and outran King Mack and Dixson to the end zone for a 57-yard touchdown.

Penn State responded quickly, driving 75 yards and eating more than seven minutes off the clock to tie it. Grunkemeyer found Trebor Pena over the middle for a 25-yard gain before Allen took a direct snap and scored on an 8-yard run.

Dennis-Sutton and the rest of the Penn State defense hurried Milivojevic throughout the half. Keon Wylie made a tackle in the backfield inside the Lions’ 10 and had a third-down sack, forcing the Spartans to settle for a field goal.

Dennis–Sutton tied a school record with his third blocked punt of the season, but Nick Singleton was stopped for no gain on fourth down by the middle of the Michigan State defense.

In between fourth-down stops by Michigan State inside its territory, Grunkemeyer threw a deep strike to Ross for a 75-yard touchdown and a 14-10 lead.

It was the Lions’ longest completion since Tyler Warren’s 75-yard catch and run against Mississippi in the 2023 Peach Bowl.