Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Post-Game Quotes: Penn State
11/15/2025 7:52:00 PM | Football
Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith
Opening statement…Â
We got beat tonight...Congratulations to them, they earned that win beating us. I thought in the game, we really wanted the game to kind of be tight throughout in regards to – you want to call it sloppy, physical, thought that was taking place, and the score sat at 14 to 10 for a lot of the game. Punting, field position, they are good on defense, and we did think we had to create a couple of opportunities situationally to take a shot, and we just did not capitalize a couple of times. I think by the first half, we get a possession start on their 45-yard line, we go four and out, you're not going to get many opportunities like that on a short field. Didn't take advantage of that. 
And then into the second half. I think about the first series, we go down there and its third-and-4. Really, we're going two-play thinking, and get into the wrong direction on the play and hit us in the backfield, and now we end up punting. 
But that was an opportunity with field position to continue to drive. We didn't do it. And then at the end, you got one red zone chance, they are up two scores at that point, then we got the sack-fumble and they were to separate from there. Proud of some defensive effort, fourth down stops. 
I thought they kept us in it throughout the night, gave up the one 75 yarder that was the bust. Outside of that, I thought they really battled to keep us within striking distance throughout the night, and then it got away from us at the end there with the sack-fumble that I mentioned.Â
On keeping the team fighting back…Â
Well, I think they're about fighting back, and they continue to grind. I mean, I even thought the way we practiced this week heading into this, and really with the way these guys played throughout the game. 
I mean, they are playing hard and going that drive, they are making them earn it. This isn't enough a drive full of explosive plays. Yeah, it turned in four or five and kept lining it up again and lining it up again and credit to Penn State they were finishing. You're speaking to in the fourth quarter there, but I think on our end, these guys are going. We're working, we got to get better. 

On junior QB Aidan Chiles in street clothes during the game and redshirt-freshman QB Alessio Milivojevic getting sacked 12 times in two starts…Â
Aidan tweaked his foot during practice and it didn't look good for the game, so the majority of the work the last half of this week, Alessio was able to get. 
I thought he prepared really well. We do want to work to protect him, and again, it's 11 man football and protection. That's why I get a couple of times early in the game, didn't feel like protection was a big issue. 
We did run into it in the second half where we're trying to push it down the field a couple times. I thought he avoided well, Alessio showed a little bit of athleticism. I thought he showed a few reps for the ball was getting out of his hand, getting to his third and fourth read. We're running flanker drive, he hits (Michael) Masunas and that's the third read. So back to it, yes, we got to protect with the five guys in front of him, the schemes, schematics. 
But you got to pick and choose once in a while to be able to try and push it down the field and you run that risk.
On what the offense wasn't able to do that he would've liked…Â
Well, selectively, a couple of shots. I do think one sack, we've got a play way down the field open. Schematically, some selective explosive plays, but we needed to be efficient in the run game and in some of the possession pass game to stay and maintain some drives, and we didn't do it that well enough.
On what the offense needs to do to be competitive with Iowa next Saturday… Â
Yeah, we're going to need to find ways - we have the one explosive run and then, yeah, it's pretty slim pickings as it goes along. Each team's a little bit different schematically with matchups and all of that. 
But we want to have some balance offensively. The run and the pass game wasn't good enough tonight.
On the message to the team to make sure they keep going forward after being eliminated from postseason play… Â
The message to the team in the locker room is heavy about the seniors, who just played their last game in the stadium. Talk about the respect for everyone in the room individually, but also the respect for the amount of work that's been put in. 
And so we got two more opportunities and that'll be a message of still finishing this thing the right way.
Michigan State redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic
On throwing with pressure...
It's tough, but I trust the o line fully and I'm gonna stick in there. If I can, I'm gonna go make a play.
On the final drive...
Obviously, the couple hits, they had two flags pulled on them. Big boost for the drive. And then got us with a look at the end and it ended up not our way. But, I gotta get the ball out faster.
On the difference between having success or not on third down...
We had some struggles, but I think it's just execution. I think we just need to execute at a better level and they're giving us some tough looks, but it goes down to us, all about us and our execution.
On bringing a 'glass half full' attitude bring in the huddle...
It's just keeping that positive attitude at all times. When things aren't going your way there is no point to get negative. That's not gonna help at all. I think just keeping that positivity, keeping the guys going, keeping the energy up.
On importance of Elijah Tau-Tolliver today...
He's doing great, He played amazing today. He fought. He fought like everyone else. He was big for us today.
Michigan State redshirt junior defensive line Alex VanSumeren
On the defensive effort today...
I am proud of the guys fighting. That's the mission is to get on the field is to fight and to go give it everything you've got. It stings. It's a bitter pill to swallow not being able to get the job done. Going from here there is no choice other than to keep going and knowing we'll get through to the other side.
On the feeling in the locker room and sideline when you are so close...
Speaking for the defense, we felt good out there. We were getting stops early, early three and outs. We were stopping the run. We'll have to go back and watch the tape and everything, but we were kinda getting in a good groove it felt like. There was no doubt that we were gonna win the game. Our confidence was great. You know, we felt good.
On the long fourth-quarter drive...
They got good running backs. They are hard runners. We knew that going into it. We just needed to rally more guys around the football because they were squeaking yards out after contact.
Penn State Head Coach Terry M. Smith
Opening Statement:
Just a couple of notes real quick. The one offensive drive went 13 plays, 76 yards, all rushing. That was a critical drive in the game, a statement drive. We hadn't finished at all this season, and this was the first game we truly finished, and that drive there was a statement to finish. Second half, defense had a shutout. Offense ran for 240 yards. Kaytron (Allen), 181 yards. I thought our offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, and I thought they dominated the line of scrimmage and dominated the game. I thought our defense got after it, we're starting to take shape on the defensive side and create some havoc, get some takeaways, get some stops when we need them. So those are positive things. Defensively, on third down (and fourth down), Michigan State was one for twelve, which is outstanding for us. We've got to continue to improve in that. That was a true weakness early on. I thought Ethan, in the first half, played so-so. But then I thought he made critical decisions in the second half, using his legs. It was some critical first downs, and just led us to victory. I thought he did a great job in the second half, and then Kaytron was just unbelievable. Happy for him for a career-high day.
On seeing the hard work from the kids after taking over...
Yeah, I'm just super happy for our kids. I'm super happy for our program. I'm super happy for our fans and our following. We deserve this game. We now know again what it feels like to win, and we just got to build on this with momentum.
On how it felt personally to see his players celebrate the way they did (Lifting him, etc...)....
Yeah, it's always a special moment when people celebrate you that way. It's very humbling. I love those guys to death. I would do anything for them. They play so hard for us. It was just a great moment. I'm sitting here soaking wet…But I wouldn't have it any other way. It was just a great moment for Penn State Football.
On thoughts during the last minute of the game and message to players after...
I was a little bit distracted. I told the offense, take a knee. They were asking, should we go in and score, should we take a knee? I said no. Victory formation is the best football formation. Let's end the game on our terms. And then Danny O'Brien, our QB coach, walked up to me and he said, "I don't normally get emotional." I'm looking sideways like, we don't never have these conversations. And then the bucket hit me. So it was the setup. It was fun, it was good. As a coach, you relish in those moments because you pour your heart and soul into the players, and you hope that they respect and honor you back by playing hard.Â
On the importance of finishing the game...
Yeah, win by any means necessary. And we know between Kaytron and Nick Singleton, they have to touch the ball. I don't know the statistics. You guys would know, however many touches they had, but I think it was close to forty. Forty-three. And I always said to you guys if they're touching the ball, it means we have a chance to win. And man, did we win today behind those guys. We're gonna play Penn State Football. This was an old-school Big Ten game. We dominated up front, and we threw the ball when necessary, and it was efficient. The touchdown pass to Devonte was huge. It was critical because it showed them that we can throw the ball down the field, and it backed them just enough to allow us to run the football.
On Dennis-Sutton's performance and importance to team...
I'm super proud of him. You know, he's been working really, really hard. He's one of our leaders. In today's times, on some teams, guys like that will opt out. His effort today, two sacks, a blocked kick, it's incredible. His relentless pressure, he just plays so hard. He gives everything. I really appreciate it. His leadership means everything to me, to us, and to our defense.
On where this moment ranks throughout career experiences...
I'm really happy. I'm just happy for those guys in the locker room. For all of you that are parents, you understand exactly what I'm saying. These are my kids, and there's nothing more than to make your kids happy. The sacrifice we do as parents for our kids, that's what I'm happy about. Obviously, this is a great moment for me, for my family. It's just humbling to be honest.
On message to team after win...
Tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we reset. And I've said that to you guys every Saturday I've came in here after the losses. Nothing changes. We're going to reset tomorrow. We're going to learn from our mistakes. We're going to continue to improve and get better. We have Nebraska coming in. These games are pivotal. We're playing for our life to make a bowl game, and we took a huge step today, getting back in the win column.
Â
Opening statement…Â
We got beat tonight...Congratulations to them, they earned that win beating us. I thought in the game, we really wanted the game to kind of be tight throughout in regards to – you want to call it sloppy, physical, thought that was taking place, and the score sat at 14 to 10 for a lot of the game. Punting, field position, they are good on defense, and we did think we had to create a couple of opportunities situationally to take a shot, and we just did not capitalize a couple of times. I think by the first half, we get a possession start on their 45-yard line, we go four and out, you're not going to get many opportunities like that on a short field. Didn't take advantage of that. 
And then into the second half. I think about the first series, we go down there and its third-and-4. Really, we're going two-play thinking, and get into the wrong direction on the play and hit us in the backfield, and now we end up punting. 
But that was an opportunity with field position to continue to drive. We didn't do it. And then at the end, you got one red zone chance, they are up two scores at that point, then we got the sack-fumble and they were to separate from there. Proud of some defensive effort, fourth down stops. 
I thought they kept us in it throughout the night, gave up the one 75 yarder that was the bust. Outside of that, I thought they really battled to keep us within striking distance throughout the night, and then it got away from us at the end there with the sack-fumble that I mentioned.Â
On keeping the team fighting back…Â
Well, I think they're about fighting back, and they continue to grind. I mean, I even thought the way we practiced this week heading into this, and really with the way these guys played throughout the game. 
I mean, they are playing hard and going that drive, they are making them earn it. This isn't enough a drive full of explosive plays. Yeah, it turned in four or five and kept lining it up again and lining it up again and credit to Penn State they were finishing. You're speaking to in the fourth quarter there, but I think on our end, these guys are going. We're working, we got to get better. 

On junior QB Aidan Chiles in street clothes during the game and redshirt-freshman QB Alessio Milivojevic getting sacked 12 times in two starts…Â
Aidan tweaked his foot during practice and it didn't look good for the game, so the majority of the work the last half of this week, Alessio was able to get. 
I thought he prepared really well. We do want to work to protect him, and again, it's 11 man football and protection. That's why I get a couple of times early in the game, didn't feel like protection was a big issue. 
We did run into it in the second half where we're trying to push it down the field a couple times. I thought he avoided well, Alessio showed a little bit of athleticism. I thought he showed a few reps for the ball was getting out of his hand, getting to his third and fourth read. We're running flanker drive, he hits (Michael) Masunas and that's the third read. So back to it, yes, we got to protect with the five guys in front of him, the schemes, schematics. 
But you got to pick and choose once in a while to be able to try and push it down the field and you run that risk.
On what the offense wasn't able to do that he would've liked…Â
Well, selectively, a couple of shots. I do think one sack, we've got a play way down the field open. Schematically, some selective explosive plays, but we needed to be efficient in the run game and in some of the possession pass game to stay and maintain some drives, and we didn't do it that well enough.
On what the offense needs to do to be competitive with Iowa next Saturday… Â
Yeah, we're going to need to find ways - we have the one explosive run and then, yeah, it's pretty slim pickings as it goes along. Each team's a little bit different schematically with matchups and all of that. 
But we want to have some balance offensively. The run and the pass game wasn't good enough tonight.
On the message to the team to make sure they keep going forward after being eliminated from postseason play… Â
The message to the team in the locker room is heavy about the seniors, who just played their last game in the stadium. Talk about the respect for everyone in the room individually, but also the respect for the amount of work that's been put in. 
And so we got two more opportunities and that'll be a message of still finishing this thing the right way.
Michigan State redshirt freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic
On throwing with pressure...
It's tough, but I trust the o line fully and I'm gonna stick in there. If I can, I'm gonna go make a play.
On the final drive...
Obviously, the couple hits, they had two flags pulled on them. Big boost for the drive. And then got us with a look at the end and it ended up not our way. But, I gotta get the ball out faster.
On the difference between having success or not on third down...
We had some struggles, but I think it's just execution. I think we just need to execute at a better level and they're giving us some tough looks, but it goes down to us, all about us and our execution.
On bringing a 'glass half full' attitude bring in the huddle...
It's just keeping that positive attitude at all times. When things aren't going your way there is no point to get negative. That's not gonna help at all. I think just keeping that positivity, keeping the guys going, keeping the energy up.
On importance of Elijah Tau-Tolliver today...
He's doing great, He played amazing today. He fought. He fought like everyone else. He was big for us today.
Michigan State redshirt junior defensive line Alex VanSumeren
On the defensive effort today...
I am proud of the guys fighting. That's the mission is to get on the field is to fight and to go give it everything you've got. It stings. It's a bitter pill to swallow not being able to get the job done. Going from here there is no choice other than to keep going and knowing we'll get through to the other side.
On the feeling in the locker room and sideline when you are so close...
Speaking for the defense, we felt good out there. We were getting stops early, early three and outs. We were stopping the run. We'll have to go back and watch the tape and everything, but we were kinda getting in a good groove it felt like. There was no doubt that we were gonna win the game. Our confidence was great. You know, we felt good.
On the long fourth-quarter drive...
They got good running backs. They are hard runners. We knew that going into it. We just needed to rally more guys around the football because they were squeaking yards out after contact.
Penn State Head Coach Terry M. Smith
Opening Statement:
Just a couple of notes real quick. The one offensive drive went 13 plays, 76 yards, all rushing. That was a critical drive in the game, a statement drive. We hadn't finished at all this season, and this was the first game we truly finished, and that drive there was a statement to finish. Second half, defense had a shutout. Offense ran for 240 yards. Kaytron (Allen), 181 yards. I thought our offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, and I thought they dominated the line of scrimmage and dominated the game. I thought our defense got after it, we're starting to take shape on the defensive side and create some havoc, get some takeaways, get some stops when we need them. So those are positive things. Defensively, on third down (and fourth down), Michigan State was one for twelve, which is outstanding for us. We've got to continue to improve in that. That was a true weakness early on. I thought Ethan, in the first half, played so-so. But then I thought he made critical decisions in the second half, using his legs. It was some critical first downs, and just led us to victory. I thought he did a great job in the second half, and then Kaytron was just unbelievable. Happy for him for a career-high day.
On seeing the hard work from the kids after taking over...
Yeah, I'm just super happy for our kids. I'm super happy for our program. I'm super happy for our fans and our following. We deserve this game. We now know again what it feels like to win, and we just got to build on this with momentum.
On how it felt personally to see his players celebrate the way they did (Lifting him, etc...)....
Yeah, it's always a special moment when people celebrate you that way. It's very humbling. I love those guys to death. I would do anything for them. They play so hard for us. It was just a great moment. I'm sitting here soaking wet…But I wouldn't have it any other way. It was just a great moment for Penn State Football.
On thoughts during the last minute of the game and message to players after...
I was a little bit distracted. I told the offense, take a knee. They were asking, should we go in and score, should we take a knee? I said no. Victory formation is the best football formation. Let's end the game on our terms. And then Danny O'Brien, our QB coach, walked up to me and he said, "I don't normally get emotional." I'm looking sideways like, we don't never have these conversations. And then the bucket hit me. So it was the setup. It was fun, it was good. As a coach, you relish in those moments because you pour your heart and soul into the players, and you hope that they respect and honor you back by playing hard.Â
On the importance of finishing the game...
Yeah, win by any means necessary. And we know between Kaytron and Nick Singleton, they have to touch the ball. I don't know the statistics. You guys would know, however many touches they had, but I think it was close to forty. Forty-three. And I always said to you guys if they're touching the ball, it means we have a chance to win. And man, did we win today behind those guys. We're gonna play Penn State Football. This was an old-school Big Ten game. We dominated up front, and we threw the ball when necessary, and it was efficient. The touchdown pass to Devonte was huge. It was critical because it showed them that we can throw the ball down the field, and it backed them just enough to allow us to run the football.
On Dennis-Sutton's performance and importance to team...
I'm super proud of him. You know, he's been working really, really hard. He's one of our leaders. In today's times, on some teams, guys like that will opt out. His effort today, two sacks, a blocked kick, it's incredible. His relentless pressure, he just plays so hard. He gives everything. I really appreciate it. His leadership means everything to me, to us, and to our defense.
On where this moment ranks throughout career experiences...
I'm really happy. I'm just happy for those guys in the locker room. For all of you that are parents, you understand exactly what I'm saying. These are my kids, and there's nothing more than to make your kids happy. The sacrifice we do as parents for our kids, that's what I'm happy about. Obviously, this is a great moment for me, for my family. It's just humbling to be honest.
On message to team after win...
Tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we reset. And I've said that to you guys every Saturday I've came in here after the losses. Nothing changes. We're going to reset tomorrow. We're going to learn from our mistakes. We're going to continue to improve and get better. We have Nebraska coming in. These games are pivotal. We're playing for our life to make a bowl game, and we took a huge step today, getting back in the win column.
Â
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