Final score predictions for Penn State vs. Michigan State in Week 12
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Penn State heads back on the road in search of an elusive win in Big Ten play. Their search for a conference win will cross paths woth a Michigan State team on a similar quest. The importance of the Land-Grant Trophy has rarely been this low from both angles, but this is how the 2025 season has played out to this point.
In addition to battling for the Land-Grant Trophy, Penn State and Michigan State are also now fighting for bowl eligibility. The team that comes up short this week will be ineligible for postseason play this season unless any exemptions come into play for teams failing to meet the NCAA win minimum for bowl eligibility. Can Penn State snap its losing ways on the road in East Lansing this weekend?
Here are our final score predictions for this weekend's home game against Michigan State.
Sam: Penn State 30, Michigan State 27
- Player of the game: DT Zane Durant
Penn State showed improvements on both sides of the ball against Indiana last week, and I think the team will finally put it together for a win against Michigan State. Defensively, Jim Knowles found something last week with his blitzes, which should be able to put the Spartans’ quarterback in trouble. Offensively, Ethan Grunkemeyer is looking more comfortable each week. If he avoids turning it over and the running backs continue to play well, then Penn State should get the win.
Christopher: Penn State 31, Michigan State 20
- Offensive Player of the Game: Trebor Pena
- Defensive Player of the Game: Zane Durant
This could finally be the game where some of Penn State's demons get vanquished this season. After perhaps their most spirited losing effort all year, they go on the road against a Michigan State team that is seemingly going through an identity crisis of their own. We don't know whether it will be redshirt freshman Alessio Milivojevic or veteran Aidan Chiles at the helm of the offense after what seemed to be a bizarre bye week and in every statistical category, the Spartans rank in the bottom half of the Big Ten. I fully expect Ethan Grunkemeyer to come out hot and the defense to carry over their stellar performance from last week. While a win certainly won't mean all that much for the Nittany Lions, it could be a huge weight off their back in what has quickly turned into a lost season.
Andrew: Penn State 28, Michigan State 17
- Offensive Player of the Game: Trebor Peña
- Defensive Player of the Game: Zane Durant
Thoughts: Penn State has made significant jumps over the past couple of weeks and could be getting its first win in weeks. Ethan Grunkemeyer has shown strides of what he can do while the run game opened up for Nick Singleton against Indiana. If the Nittany Lions build off that, despite the loss a week ago, it could bring the Land Grant Trophy back to Happy Valley.
Kevin: Penn State 31, Michigan State 17
- Offensive player of the game: Nicholas Singleton
- Defensive player of the game: Dani Dennis-Sutton
Maybe I'm a sucker at this stage, but I think we saw a good display from Penn State last week. And that is enough for me to think they may just be able to celebrate a win for the first time since mid-September. For as tough a season as Penn State has been having, Michigan State is still about a touchdown underdog at home for a reason. If Penn State can play defense the way it did last week against Indiana, and if Ethan Grunkemeyer continues to build some confidence, I see no reason why Penn State should be coming home with a loss this weekend. I'm also looking for a solid effort from Nicholas Singleton after his fourth-quarter heroics last week.
See our Week 12 Big Ten picks for the rest of this weekend's conference schedule.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Final score predictions for Penn State at Michigan State in Week 12
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