EAST LANSING, Mich. — Terry Smith took off his headset, shuffled his way to the edge of the sideline and looked on as quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer took a knee at Michigan State, stamping Penn State’s first Big Ten win this season and first win of any kind in 63 days.

As the clock ticked away, quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien brushed by Smith’s side and began to say how emotional this victory was, one that snapped a grueling six-game losing streak. That skid — which started with the White Out vs. Oregon on Sept. 27 — saw James Franklin’s firing, Drew Allar’s season-ending injury and five gut-punch losses by one possession.

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