McSorley leads Penn State to Big Ten title game

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

Trace McSorley has gotten used to seeing extra defenders crowding the line of scrimmage this season and he’s become adept at taking advantage of it

With another defense selling out to stop star running back Saquon Barkley, McSorley completed 17 of 23 passes for 376 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 8 Penn State to a 45-12 victory over Michigan State and the Big Ten East title Saturday.

Penn State (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten, No. 7 CFP) edged No. 2 Ohio State for the East title, setting up a conference championship game against West winner Wisconsin next week in Indianapolis. The Nittany Lions beat the Buckeyes 24-20 at home Oct. 22.

“It’s almost like pick your poison,” McSorley said. “We’ve got so many weapons outside, if you want to try to load the box to stop Saquon and our run game, we’ve got enough weapons outside and if you want to try and stop that, we’ve got one of the best running backs in the country. He’s going to do what he does.”

But Barkley couldn’t get going and eventually left the game with a right leg injury.

The Spartans (3-9, 1-8) stacked the line of scrimmage and held Barkley to 9 yards in the first half on nine carries. Meanwhile, Michael Geiger kicked four field goals, the last giving Michigan State a 12-10 halftime lead.

McSorley, who set a school record for total offense in a season (3,348), and his speedy, physical receivers took over in the third quarter. The shifty, dual-threat quarterback threw deep touchdown passes on three straight drives to cue Penn State’s 35-0 second half.

“Disappointing outcome to a disappointing season,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. “Thought we played very well in the first half, especially the first quarter, came out and established ourselves early on but drove down the field four straight times and had to settle for field goals.”

McSorley found Chris Godwin down the sideline for 34 yards on Penn State’s first second-half possession and followed it with a 45-yarder to Mike Gesicki. Godwin got loose down the middle minutes later and McSorley hit him in stride for 59 yards to give Penn State a 31-12 lead.

“Trace did a great job of giving me a great, catchable ball and after that point, it’s just finishing the play,” Godwin said.