Athletics

Penn State wins Big Ten East title

Lions defeat Michigan State 45-12 for first trip to Big Ten title game

Senior center Brian Gaia proudly rang the victory bell while holding the Big Ten East Division championship trophy following the NIttany Lions 45-12 win over Michigan State on Nov. 26. Credit: Curtis Chan / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- It was a historic Saturday night in Beaver Stadium, led by a 376-yard, four-touchdown passing performance by quarterback Trace McSorley and a second-half shutout on defense, No. 7 Penn State defeated Michigan State, 45-12, to clinch a share of the Big Ten East Division title and earn a trip to the Big Ten Championship next Saturday in Indianapolis.

It's Penn State's (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten) second Big Ten divisional championship and it will be its first championship game appearance since the conference adopted the format in 2011. Penn State owns three overall Big Ten titles and two divisional crowns since joining the conference in 1993.

Running back Saquon Barkley scored Penn State's first touchdown of the day in dramatic fashion. The Nittany Lions dominated in the second half on their way to a 45-12 victory over Michigan State on Nov. 26 at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Blue Band got things started with their traditional pre-game show prior to the Michigan State game Nov. 26 at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Nittany Lion led the team on to the field at Beaver Stadium prior to the Michigan State game on Nov. 26. Penn State defeated the Spartans 45-12. It was the Nittany Lions 8th consecutive win and earned them a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State safety Troy Apke (28) brought down Michigan State's Jamaal Lyles during first half action at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 26. The Nittany Lions defeated Michigan State 45-21. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Nittany Lion receiver DeAndre Thompkins eluded the grasp of Michigan State's Justin Layne during first-half action at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 26. Penn State's offense racked up 463 total yards against the Spartans on the way to a 45-12 victory. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State fans enjoyed a memorable day at Beaver Stadium as the Nittany Lions defeated Michigan State 45-12 and earned the first trip to the Big Ten Championship in school history. The Lions, the Big Ten East Division Champions, will take on Wisconsin Dec. 3 in Indianapolis. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Blue Band provided yet another sparkling performance at halftime of the Michigan State game Nov. 26. The halftime show consisted of some of the band's senior members favorite numbers from halftime performances over the past four years. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Safety Marcus Allen forced the ball free from Michigan State receiver Monty Madaris during second-half action at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 26. The Nittany Lions defeated the Spartans 45-12 and finished the regular season with 10 wins. Credit: Curtis Chan / Penn State. Creative Commons

Nittany Lion running back Andre Robinson powered his way for a 14-yard touchdown run during second-half action vs Michigan State on Nov. 26. Penn State outscored the Spartans 35-0 in the second half on the way to a convincing 45-12 win. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State kicker Joey Julius proudly showed who was the top team in the Big Ten East following the Nittany Lions 45-12 win over Michigan State on Nov. 26 at Beaver Stadium. Penn State finished the season 10-2 and earned a spot in the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis Dec. 3. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Nittany Lion fans celebrated as Penn State defeated Michigan State 45-12 at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 26. With the Penn State win, and a loss by Michigan earlier in the day, the Nittany Lions have earned the first trip to the Big Ten Championship game in school history. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Senior center Brian Gaia proudly rang the victory bell while holding the Big Ten East Division championship trophy following the NIttany Lions 45-12 win over Michigan State on Nov. 26. Credit: Curtis Chan / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Nittany Lions captured the Land Grant Trophy following their 45-12 win over Michigan State on Nov. 26. The Land Grant Trophy is traditionally awarded to the winner of the Michigan State vs Penn State game. The Nittany Lions are Big Ten Conference East Division champions and will face Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Running back Saquon Barkley scored Penn State's first touchdown of the day in dramatic fashion. The Nittany Lions dominated in the second half on their way to a 45-12 victory over Michigan State on Nov. 26 at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Blue Band got things started with their traditional pre-game show prior to the Michigan State game Nov. 26 at Beaver Stadium. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Nittany Lion led the team on to the field at Beaver Stadium prior to the Michigan State game on Nov. 26. Penn State defeated the Spartans 45-12. It was the Nittany Lions 8th consecutive win and earned them a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State safety Troy Apke (28) brought down Michigan State's Jamaal Lyles during first half action at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 26. The Nittany Lions defeated Michigan State 45-21. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Nittany Lion receiver DeAndre Thompkins eluded the grasp of Michigan State's Justin Layne during first-half action at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 26. Penn State's offense racked up 463 total yards against the Spartans on the way to a 45-12 victory. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State fans enjoyed a memorable day at Beaver Stadium as the Nittany Lions defeated Michigan State 45-12 and earned the first trip to the Big Ten Championship in school history. The Lions, the Big Ten East Division Champions, will take on Wisconsin Dec. 3 in Indianapolis. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Blue Band provided yet another sparkling performance at halftime of the Michigan State game Nov. 26. The halftime show consisted of some of the band's senior members favorite numbers from halftime performances over the past four years. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Safety Marcus Allen forced the ball free from Michigan State receiver Monty Madaris during second-half action at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 26. The Nittany Lions defeated the Spartans 45-12 and finished the regular season with 10 wins. Credit: Curtis Chan / Penn State. Creative Commons

Nittany Lion running back Andre Robinson powered his way for a 14-yard touchdown run during second-half action vs Michigan State on Nov. 26. Penn State outscored the Spartans 35-0 in the second half on the way to a convincing 45-12 win. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State kicker Joey Julius proudly showed who was the top team in the Big Ten East following the Nittany Lions 45-12 win over Michigan State on Nov. 26 at Beaver Stadium. Penn State finished the season 10-2 and earned a spot in the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis Dec. 3. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Nittany Lion fans celebrated as Penn State defeated Michigan State 45-12 at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 26. With the Penn State win, and a loss by Michigan earlier in the day, the Nittany Lions have earned the first trip to the Big Ten Championship game in school history. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Senior center Brian Gaia proudly rang the victory bell while holding the Big Ten East Division championship trophy following the NIttany Lions 45-12 win over Michigan State on Nov. 26. Credit: Curtis Chan / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Nittany Lions captured the Land Grant Trophy following their 45-12 win over Michigan State on Nov. 26. The Land Grant Trophy is traditionally awarded to the winner of the Michigan State vs Penn State game. The Nittany Lions are Big Ten Conference East Division champions and will face Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The victory extended Penn State's winning streak to eight for its longest since tallying nine in a row in 2008. It's also Penn State's sixth 10-win regular season since joining the Big Ten and its first since 2009. Penn State has eight Big Ten wins for just the second time, and the Nittany Lions also finished the regular season 7-0 at home for the first time since 2008.

Penn State trailed Michigan State (3-9, 1-8 Big Ten), 12-10 at halftime, but true to form, the Nittany Lions rallied in the second half, outscoring the Spartans, 35-0.

McSorley led an offensive onslaught in the third quarter on Penn State's first three offensive possessions, throwing touchdown passes of 34 yards to Chris Godwin, 45 yards to Mike Gesicki and 59 yards again to Godwin to build a 31-12 lead.

Senior linebacker Brandon Bell led the Penn State defense with 18 tackles. The unit surrendered 256 yards and four field goals in the first half, but yielded just 87 yards and no scores in the second half. The Nittany Lion defense has now held opponents without a touchdown in back-to-back games for the first time since 2009 and the first time since 2006 in Big Ten games.

Last Updated November 28, 2016

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