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Penn State at Michigan State

Nov 27, 2021 • Completed

Season 2021RegularWeek 13

Away

Penn State

Big Ten

Final Score

27 - 30

PSMS

Home

Michigan State

Big Ten

Game Pulse

Immediate edge indicators from the box score.

Total Yards

Michigan State451
Penn State374

Passing Yards

Michigan State268
Penn State313

Rushing Yards

Michigan State183
Penn State61

Turnovers

Michigan State1
Penn State2

Game Conditions

Temperature28°F
Wind9 mph SE

Humidity

86%

Precipitation

0.00 in

Player Game Leaders

Top individual performers and full player box data.

Passing

Sean Clifford

Penn State

YDS: 313

Rushing

Kenneth Walker III

Michigan State

YDS: 138

Receiving

Jahan Dotson

Penn State

YDS: 137

Tackles

Cal Haladay

Michigan State

TOT: 11

Full Player Box

Box Score Comparison

Possession Split

Michigan State36:32
Penn State23:28

Stat Dominance

Team comparison across key performance areas

Game Story

Michigan State edges Penn State 30-27

Close

Michigan State defeated Penn State 30-27 in Week 13 of the 2021 regular slate, finishing with a 451-374 edge in total yards, and scoring 2 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing touchdowns.

Michigan State set the terms early in a game that finished 30-27. Tre Mosley 9 Yd pass from Payton Thorne (Matt Coghlin Kick) came with {'seconds': 9, 'minutes': 6} left in the first quarter, giving Michigan State the first major swing.

Michigan State's box score carried the story: 451 total yards, 183 rushing yards, and 268 passing yards. Penn State finished with 374 total yards, including 61 on the ground and 313 through the air.

Michigan State converted 9-18 on third down, went 3-4 on fourth down, the turnover count was 1-2, Michigan State led 17-14 at halftime. The explosive highlight was Matt Coghlin 22 Yd Field Goal.

Key Moments

  • Passing Touchdown

    Tre Mosley 9 Yd pass from Payton Thorne (Matt Coghlin Kick) (Michigan State led 14-0 over Penn State).

  • Passing Touchdown

    Jahan Dotson 27 Yd pass from Sean Clifford (Jordan Stout Kick) (Penn State led 7-14 over Michigan State).

  • Rushing Touchdown

    Kenneth Walker III 2 Yd Run (Matt Coghlin Kick) (Michigan State led 7-0 over Penn State).

  • Field Goal Good

    Matt Coghlin 22 Yd Field Goal (Michigan State led 17-14 over Penn State).

  • Passing Touchdown

    Jahan Dotson 30 Yd pass from Sean Clifford (Jordan Stout Kick) (Penn State led 14-14 over Michigan State).

  • Interception Return Touchdown

    Daequan Hardy 17 Yd Interception Return (Jordan Stout PAT failed) (Michigan State led 17-20 over Penn State).

Stat Callouts

  • Final score

    30-27

    Michigan State defeated Penn State.

  • Total yards

    451-374

    Michigan State held the yardage advantage.

  • Rushing yards

    183

    Michigan State averaged 3.9 yards per rush attempt.

  • Passing yards

    268

    Michigan State averaged 8.9 yards per pass attempt.

  • Third downs

    9-18

    Michigan State's conversion rate helped sustain possessions.

  • Opponent third downs

    5-13

    Penn State's offense worked through that conversion rate.

  • Turnovers

    1-2

    Turnover totals are listed winner first.

Analysis

Game Breakdown

StatisticMichigan StatePenn State
Total Yards451374
Passing Yards268313
Rushing Yards18361
First Downs2119
Third Down Efficiency9-185-13
Fourth Down Efficiency3-42-3
Total Penalties (Yards)7-502-17
Turnovers12
Completions / Attempts19-3023-34
Rushing Attempts4726
Passing TDs23
Rushing TDs20
Kicking Points63
Possession Time36:3223:28
View Michigan State Team PageView Penn State Team Page
Data sourced from NCAA game stats archive (2021)