TEAM
- Michigan State leads the all-time series, 17-15-1.
- The Nittany Lions are now 14-9 in Land Grant trophy games.
- Penn State is now 71-23-5 on Homecoming, including a 0-3-1 mark against the Spartans.
- Penn State's 15 pass breakups against the Spartans are the most since having 16 PBU against Purdue in 2000.
- The Nittany Lions had their streak of 20-point games snapped at 28 against the Spartans. The streak is second the second-longest in Big Ten history and was the second-longest active streak in FBS.
- Penn State has scored first in its last nine games.
- Penn State had scored on 26-straight trips to the red zone (including 24 touchdown drives) before missing a field goal in the third quarter.
- The Nittany Lions have made their last 179 extra point attempts.
- The Nittany Lions had 205 rushing yards against the nation's No. 1 rushing defense to extend its streak to nine consecutive games with 200 or more rushing yards.
- The loss to the Spartans also snaps Penn State's streak of 21 consecutive wins over unranked opponents.
- Prior to today, the longest rush that Michigan State had allowed this season was a 16-yard run against Central Michigan. RB Miles Sanders had a 78-yard run in the first quarter, the longest against Michigan State since Mike Weber of Ohio State had an 82-yard rush on November 11, 2017.
OFFENSE
Trace McSorley
- QB Trace McSorley became the all-time leading passer in Penn State history with his 192 yards passing today, giving him 8,610 yards in his career. He passed Christian Hackenberg, who had 8,457 yards in his Nittany Lion career.
- McSorley extended his streak for consecutive games with a touchdown pass to 34, dating back to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. It is the longest active streak in FBS and the fifth-longest streak in FBS Autonomy Five history.
- With 37 rushing yards, McSorley upped his career total to 1,346 rushing yards to move him into 32nd place in program history.
- With 19 completions against MSU, McSorley now has 620 career completions to move into second place in program history, passing Zack Mills (606; 2001-04) for the position.
Miles Sanders
- RB Miles Sanders' 162 yards rushing today give him 1,075 for his career. He becomes the 45th Nittany Lion with at least 1,000 rushing yards. He ranks 43rd in program history in rushing yards.
- Sanders 162 yards marked the third 100-yard rushing game of his career, and first since a 200-yard effort earlier this season against Illinois.
- Sanders had a career-long 78 yard rush in the first quarter. His previous long was a 57-yard run at Rutgers in 2016.
KJ Hamler
- WR KJ Hamler had a touchdown catch for the fifth time in six games.
- Hamler caught a career-high five passes, topping four receptions against Ohio State.
Cam Sullivan-Brown
- WR Cam Sullivan-Brown had the first catch of his career, a 7-yard grab, in the second quarter.
Mac Hippenhammer
- WR Mac Hippenhammer had a career-high three catches. Previously, he had one reception on three occasions with the last coming against Ohio State in the previous game.
- Hippenhammer had a 21-yard reception in the fourth quarter, his third catch this season 20 or more yards.
Nick Bowers
- TE Nick Bowers set career highs for both receptions and receiving yards. His three catches for 18 yards topped one catch for 15 yards against Nebraska in 2017.
Pat Freiermuth
- TE Pat Freiermuth tied a career high with three receptions, matching three receptions against Ohio State earlier this season.
- Freiermuth made a 25-yard grab in the third quarter, his third catch this season 23 or more yards.
DEFENSE
Garrett Taylor
- S Garrett Taylor had a career-high five pass breakups. His previous high was one PBU on three occasions.
- Taylor's five PBUs tie the most by the Penn State player since Amani Oruwariye had five against Michigan State in 2017.
- Taylor record his first career forced fumble at the goal line in the second quarter.
- Taylor grabbed the second interception of his career in the third quarter. This was his second-straight game with a pick.
Yetur Gross-Matos
- DE Yetur Gross-Matos set a career high with 2.5 tackles for loss, bettering his 2.0 tackles for loss performance against Kent State earlier this season.
- Gross-Matos forced the first fumble of his career late in the third quarter.
Koa Farmer
- LB Koa Farmer broke up a pass in the third quarter, marking the third time he broke up a pass in his career. It is his first PBU since Michigan State in 2017.
Kevin Givens
- DT Kevin Givens tallied one sack on the day, matching a career best. He's had one sack in seven different games with the last coming at Maryland in 2017.
Donovan Johnson
- CB Donovan Johnson posted a career high four tackles. Johnson recorded two tackles in two different games with the last coming against Illinois.
- Johnson recorded his second career pass breakup in the first quarter. He also had one against Kent State.
PJ Mustipher
- DT PJ Mustipher tied a career high with two tackles. It marks the third time this season with two tackles, with the last time coming against Illinois.
Shaka Toney
- DE Shaka Toney earned his first career pass breakup in the fourth quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jake Pinegar
- K Jake Pinegar made both of his extra point attempts against the Spartans. He is 35-for-35 in his career.
Blake Gillikin
- P Blake Gillikin had a career-high 364 punting yards on eight punts. His previous high was 312 yards against Ohio State earlier this season. His eight punts matched a career-high, previously earned against Ohio State.
- Gillikin had a long punt of 52 yards, which was his 33rd career punt of 50 or more yards.
- Gillikin landed a punt at the Michigan State 15 in the third quarter, his 58th career punt inside the 20.
KJ Hamler
- KR KJ Hamler tied a career best with three kick returns. He also had three against Ohio State.
Drew Hartlaub
- S Drew Hartlaub recorded his first career tackle on a kickoff return in the second quarter.