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STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (Ticker) -- From Sugar Bowl to Rose Bowl to despair. Eighth-ranked Penn State's season has become a disaster as it allowed No. 15 Michigan to drive for two touchdowns in the final 3 1/2 minutes before suffering a 31-27 loss that ended its chance at a Big Ten Conference championship. "We have to get together and see if we can get a win over a very good Michigan State team up in East Lansing and play for pride," said Penn State coach Joe Paterno. One week after their unbeaten season was ruined by Minnesota, the Nittany Lions (9-2, 5-2 Big Ten) collapsed in front of a sellout crowd of 96,840 at Beaver Stadium. "I'm more disgusted that upset this week," said Penn State fullback Mike Cerimele. "I don't think it's that anyone didn't play their hearts out, we just lost." Tom Brady ran for a five-yard touchdown with 3:26 to play and hit Marcus Knight for an 11-yard score with 1:46 left as the Wolverines (8-2, 5-2) won their second straight game in Happy Valley to take a 4-3 lead in the all-time series. "I think it was a great game with great plays," Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr said. "Both sides played great defense and had great effort and intensity. For us this was a very special victory." Michigan can still win the conference championship and go to the Rose Bowl, but it needs Wisconsin to lose to heavy-underdog Iowa. Wisconsin would win the title with a victory. The Nittany Lions went three-and-out following Brady's touchdown run and Michigan began the eventual game-winning drive on the Penn State 35-yard line after Diallo Johnson returned the ensuing punt 24 yards. Brady threw two incompletions but on third down connected with Knight for a 17-yard pickup to the 18. After a short run by Anthony Thomas, Knight broke free from safety Derek Fox and hauled in Brady's pass in the left corner of the end zone. "I knew we weren't going to lose that game," said Brady. "One of our goals is to refuse to lose. So we weren't done as long as there was time on that clock." "As a team, we have confidence that we can make a drive at the end of the game," said Thomas. Penn State did not go down easily, however. Kevin Thompson completed key passes to Eddie Drummond and Corey Jones to get the Lions into Michigan terrritory, and hit Drummond for 19 yards on fourth down to the Wolverines 34. But two plays later Ian Gold stripped Thompson of the ball and fellow linebacker Larry Foote recovered to seal the victory. "I really couldn't see anything (on the final play)," said Gold. "I saw the quarterback and I went after him. I guess I knocked the ball loose. I saw it sort of come out of his hands, but I thought he might have got it back. When I saw my teammates jumping up and down, I knew we got it." Penn State appeared to be in control until the final 3 1/2 minutes. Trailing 17-7, the Nittany Lions exploded for 20 straight points, taking a 27-17 lead on cornerback Bhawoh Jue's 46-yard interception return for a TD with 9:44 left. Two field goals by Travis Forney and Thompson's 38-yard touchdown pass to Drummond accounted for the other 13 points. "I think it's an emotional rollercoaster," said Forney. "Three weeks ago we were looking at the national championship." Thompson completed 19-of-37 passes -- it was the first time all season coach Joe Paterno went almost exclusively with one quarterback -- for 263 yards and was not intercepted. Drummond caught six passes for 106 yards and Chafie Fields totaled 96 yards on seven receptions. Thompson played well, but the Lions' rushing attack was a non-factor, managing just seven yards. Thomas racked up 127 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries while Brady completed 17-of-36 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns but was picked off three times. Thomas ran for a two-yard touchdown, Brady hit Knight for a 35-yard score and Hayden Epstein booted a 33-yard field goal in the first half for Michigan. Penn State's only points of the opening 30 minutes came courtesy of wide receiver Bruce Branch, who returned a punt 79 yards for a score. David Terrell caught six passes for a career-high 133 yards for the Wolverines.
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