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Penn State vs Michigan State Position Grades

By Shane Lunnen

Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) celebrates with teammates wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) and cornerback John Reid (29) following the game against the Michigan State Spartans and winning the East Division Big Ten Championship at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions won 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) celebrates with teammates wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) and cornerback John Reid (29) following the game against the Michigan State Spartans and winning the East Division Big Ten Championship at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions won 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions players hold the Land-Grant Trophy following the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions won 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions players hold the Land-Grant Trophy following the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions won 45-12. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

Your Penn State Nittany Lions are the 2016 Big Ten East Division Champions.

Back at the end of September, who would have thought that would be a headline at the end of the regular season?  Penn State finished its improbable run to the top of the Big Ten East with a 45-12 victory over Michigan State on Saturday afternoon.

During Penn State’s eight-game winning streak, they have been a second-half team and Saturday was no different.  Down 12-10 to the Spartans at the break, the Lions proceeded to score 35 unanswered points on their way to the win.

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With Ohio State outlasting Michigan in double overtime, Penn State won the head to head tiebreaker over the Buckeyes, sending the Lions to Indianapolis to face Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game.

What a ride it has been.  At the end of September, the Lions stood at 2-2 after a 39 point beating at the hands of Michigan.  During halftime of the following week’s game against Minnesota, some students chanted to fire Franklin.  Now two months later, Happy Valley is happy again and James Franklin’s coaching seat couldn’t be more ice cold.

Enjoy this Nittany Nation.  It’s been a long five years, but oh is it so sweet.

Let’s take one last look at the regular season finale and grade out the positions.

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