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The Land Grant Trophy, which has never been described as beautiful, goes to the winner of the Penn State-Michigan State football game.

It’s a prized possession to interim head coach Terry Smith and the Nittany Lions, who have won the last two meetings.

“It’s very important that we maintain control of the Land Grant Trophy,” Smith said. “It’s a good battle between two state universities. Our guys take a little pride in wanting to carry that trophy off the field.”

Penn State and Michigan State are 0-6 in the Big Ten, 3-6 overall and in the middle of six-game losing streaks. They’ve long been out of championship contention.

But a win Saturday at 3:30 (TV-CBS) at Spartan Stadium keeps one of them in contention for a bowl berth and helps them salvage something from a lost season.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, it’s teaching our locker room some valuable lessons of perseverance, of not quitting or giving up,” Smith said. “Just keep working forward and this too shall pass. We have to know in our process that we’re doing the right thing.”

The Lions played their best game of the season last week in a last-minute 27-24 loss to No. 2 Indiana. They outgained the Hoosiers, held them to nearly 20 points below their season average and scored the most points that Indiana has allowed.

They led 24-20 with less than two minutes to go and had the Hoosiers pinned back at their 13-yard line after a first-down sack by defensive tackle Zane Durant. Fernando Mendoza, though, completed five passes, including a brilliant 7-yard touchdown throw and catch to wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for the game-winner with 36 seconds left.

It was Penn State’s fifth loss by six points or less.

“We felt like we played a lot better than we did the last three weeks,” Smith said. “We feel like we’re super close. I gave an analogy to the team. We talked about a pencil sharpener. If you pull the pencil out of the sharpener too soon, it’s not ready to write. That was us on Saturday.

“This week we’re going to show the finished product. The pencil will be sharpened and ready to write.”

Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer continued to make progress in his third start at quarterback, completing 22-of-31 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

“The game has definitely started to slow down,” Grunkemeyer said. “Part of it is stuff we worked on in practice. Slowing my feet down a little bit. Slowing my eyes down a little bit. Seeing people out of their breaks. Making sure guys win before moving on.”

Michigan State made a change at quarterback in its last game, a 23-20 overtime loss at Minnesota two weeks ago. Alessio Milivojevic, also a redshirt freshman, was 20-for-28 passing for 311 yards and one TD and was sacked seven times.

Spartans coach Jonathan Smith said he wasn’t sure whether Milivojevic or Aidan Chiles will start against Penn State or if he’d use both of them. Milivojevic is more of a pocket passer, and Chiles is more of a dual threat.

Terry Smith has implored this week that if the Lions quit now, they’re going to be quitters forever.

“I think that’s life,” Durant said. “My dad told me that when I was a younger kid. I’m already instilled with that. Some of the guys need to hear that so they don’t give up fighting.”

Penn State will try to avoid matching the longest losing streak in school history, set by the 1931 team that fell to Dickinson, Colgate, Lafayette and Lehigh during its seven-game skid.

“I feel like we’re moving in the right direction,” Smith said. “We’re still not quite there. We’re going to come out blazing. We’re going to Michigan State to win the game, not to let it fall to us.”

————

Rich Scarcella’s pick

Penn State 27, Michigan State 20

The Nittany Lions can pick up their first win since Sept. 13 if they carry momentum from last week’s performance against Indiana to East Lansing. The Spartans have allowed at least 30 points in six of their nine games and opponents have sacked their quarterbacks 30 times. Look for Penn State to create pressure on defense and to throw downfield on offense.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The Land Grant Trophy, which has never been described as beautiful, goes to the winner of the Penn State-Michigan State football game.

It’s a prized possession to interim head coach Terry Smith and the Nittany Lions, who have won the last two meetings.

“It’s very important that we maintain control of the Land Grant Trophy,” Smith said. “It’s a good battle between two state universities. Our guys take a little pride in wanting to carry that trophy off the field.”

Penn State and Michigan State are 0-6 in the Big Ten, 3-6 overall and in the middle of six-game losing streaks. They’ve long been out of championship contention.

But a win Saturday at 3:30 (TV-CBS) at Spartan Stadium keeps one of them in contention for a bowl berth and helps them salvage something from a lost season.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, it’s teaching our locker room some valuable lessons of perseverance, of not quitting or giving up,” Smith said. “Just keep working forward and this too shall pass. We have to know in our process that we’re doing the right thing.”

The Lions played their best game of the season last week in a last-minute 27-24 loss to No. 2 Indiana. They outgained the Hoosiers, held them to nearly 20 points below their season average and scored the most points that Indiana has allowed.

They led 24-20 with less than two minutes to go and had the Hoosiers pinned back at their 13-yard line after a first-down sack by defensive tackle Zane Durant. Fernando Mendoza, though, completed five passes, including a brilliant 7-yard touchdown throw and catch to wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for the game-winner with 36 seconds left.

It was Penn State’s fifth loss by six points or less.

“We felt like we played a lot better than we did the last three weeks,” Smith said. “We feel like we’re super close. I gave an analogy to the team. We talked about a pencil sharpener. If you pull the pencil out of the sharpener too soon, it’s not ready to write. That was us on Saturday.

“This week we’re going to show the finished product. The pencil will be sharpened and ready to write.”

Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer continued to make progress in his third start at quarterback, completing 22-of-31 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

“The game has definitely started to slow down,” Grunkemeyer said. “Part of it is stuff we worked on in practice. Slowing my feet down a little bit. Slowing my eyes down a little bit. Seeing people out of their breaks. Making sure guys win before moving on.”

Michigan State made a change at quarterback in its last game, a 23-20 overtime loss at Minnesota two weeks ago. Alessio Milivojevic, also a redshirt freshman, was 20-for-28 passing for 311 yards and one TD and was sacked seven times.

Spartans coach Jonathan Smith said he wasn’t sure whether Milivojevic or Aidan Chiles will start against Penn State or if he’d use both of them. Milivojevic is more of a pocket passer, and Chiles is more of a dual threat.

Terry Smith has implored this week that if the Lions quit now, they’re going to be quitters forever.

“I think that’s life,” Durant said. “My dad told me that when I was a younger kid. I’m already instilled with that. Some of the guys need to hear that so they don’t give up fighting.”

Penn State will try to avoid matching the longest losing streak in school history, set by the 1931 team that fell to Dickinson, Colgate, Lafayette and Lehigh during its seven-game skid.

“I feel like we’re moving in the right direction,” Smith said. “We’re still not quite there. We’re going to come out blazing. We’re going to Michigan State to win the game, not to let it fall to us.”

————

Rich Scarcella’s pick

Penn State 27, Michigan State 20

The Nittany Lions can pick up their first win since Sept. 13 if they carry momentum from last week’s performance against Indiana to East Lansing. The Spartans have allowed at least 30 points in six of their nine games and opponents have sacked their quarterbacks 30 times. Look for Penn State to create pressure on defense and to throw downfield on offense.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos