Penn State running back Kaytron Allen (13) celebrates during an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Sam Balkansky)

Following is Neil Rudel’s report card from Penn State’s 28-10 victory over Michigan State on Saturday at Spartan Stadium:

Quarterback: C

Grunk went 8-of-13 for 127 — including 75-yard TD to Ross. Rest of night, just fair. Fumbled snap but recovered. Holds the ball too long, even with time. Not hitting targets in stride. Upside is no turnovers. Clifford got one snap.

Running backs: B+

Allen is peaking. His 181 yards (two TDs) on 25 carries marked career high and pulled within 138 of Evan Royster’s career mark (3932). Caught two for 10. Singleton (15-56) stopped in short yardage twice. Duo had 42 touches. No other backs carried.

Offensive line: B+

Best game of the season. Rucci started at OT but was replaced by Donkoh. Both Shanahan and Cooper saw backup guard snaps, and Cooper cleared Allen’s 26-yard TD. Backup C Rulli spelled Dawkins on Allen’s other TD. Unit pass protected well.

Receivers/Tight end: C+

Ross (2-79, 2 TDs) led the way followed by Pena (4-38). Reynolds dropped his only target. No TE caught a pass, highly unusual. Hudson missed a reception but it was also behind him. Group blocked well.

Offensive coaching: B

Kotelnicki, beaten up all year, cashed in twice in the red zone with creativity. Also recognized that the O-line was dominating, so smart to grind it out. Bad third-down conversion rate (2-10) kept the game close. Fourth down better at 2-4.

Defensive line: B

Would be an A if not for roughing penalties (DDS, Sutton) while leading 21-10. Sutton had two sacks and also blocked a punt. Harvey (44) and White (45) each had a QB hurry. Sparty’s QB was uncomfortable all game.

Linebacker: C

Michigan State’s 57-yard TD — on first play — blew right past DeLuca. Campbell led all tacklers with nine and Wiley (32) added four with a TFL. Loss of Rojas and offseason transfer of Ta’Mere Robinson hurt the group.

Secondary: A

Milivojevic needed 27 attempts to gain 128 yards, just 4.7 per attempt. Tau-Tolliver caught eight for 73 — 68 after catch. Top receiver Marsh (2-5) checked. Dixson, Tracy, Washington, Wheatley made sure tackles.

Defensive coaching: B+

It has taken Knowles far too long to unleash these athletes, but at least he did. Game-clinching turnover came on double corner fire (Tracy/Dixson). Zero points allowed in the last 37 minutes.

Special teams: A

Surprised Terry didn’t opt for a 40-yard field goal to make it 17-10 in the first half on fourth-and-2. Barker has been automatic from that range. Sutton’s third punt block ties a season record held by Jack Ham (also No. 33) and Andre Collins. Nwosu punted well.

The other guys: D

This is a program in trouble. Now 0-7 in the Big Ten and losers of seven straight. The coach, Jonathan Smith, is only in his second year so the rebuild hasn’t kicked in. Sparty couldn’t block or stop the run and practically got its QB killed.

Overall: B

When you’ve lost six straight and limped into Lansing with an interim coach and backup QB, any win can be savored. The Lions knew they were the better team and, finally, acted like it.