In a college football weekend of upsets, Michigan State was one of many by upsetting No. 8 Penn State.

Michigan State was all in from the beginning. They weren’t here to play safe, they were taking big risks to earn the big reward, and it worked. This is the second year in a row Michigan State used a last minute score to beat Penn State.

With 5:19 left to play, Michigan State lined up for a field goal to tie the game, but faked it. Their attempt failed when Garrett Taylor blocked the pass, but Michigan State wasn’t giving up yet. Their defense stepped up and held Penn State to seven plays on their next two possessions. Now Michigan State had the ball with a little over a minute to play, and down by 3 points. The game would have been over with 0:58 with an interception from Amani Oruwariye.  Oruwariye jumped in from of the pass and tried to catch the ball but it slipped out of his hands, and so did the game. Michigan State was moving down the field, but running out of time. With a 3^rd and 2 at the Penn State 25 and 0:19 left to play, the safe move would be to set up a field goal to tie the game and go into overtime. As we saw though, the Spartans weren’t here to play safe, they were here to win. Brian Lewerke threw a perfect 25 yard pass to Felton Davis III for the touchdown and the win. It was Oruwariye defending Davis who gave up the touchdown, the same player who would have ended the game 40 seconds earlier.

Even with the loss, Penn State running back Miles Sanders had quite the game. Sanders ran for 162 yards and one touchdown. His one touchdown was a 78 yard run that showed off his athleticism and physicality. Sanders made breaking several tackles through the whole Michigan State defense look easy.

Penn State lost to Ohio State and Michigan State back to back last season as well, but were able to come back in the season and beat Washington in the Fiesta Bowl. The Nittany Lions are hoping to comeback the same way this year, even with several top teams left to play, including Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. Michigan State was able to recover in this game after their week 6 loss to Northwestern. The Spartans schedule isn’t any easier, with Michigan and Ohio State still left to play.