STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Not long into the first quarter on Saturday, Penn State knew it was playing for a spot in the Big Ten championship game and it just took a while for the Nittany Lions to get rolling.

Thanks to Ohio State's win over Michigan, No. 7 Penn State clinched a share of the East Division title and a spot in next week's conference championship game against Wisconsin with a 45-12 victory over Michigan State in front of 97,418 at Beaver Stadium.

"This is just the beginning," Penn State coach James Franklin said. "The regular season is over and we have the opportunity to keep this family together for a few more weeks and see where it takes us.

"We'll enjoy this win for about an hour and this get started on Wisconsin. I'm humbled for this night, humbled for the type of support we get and thankful for the guys in that locker room. It's special. They've overachieved and we'll keep overachieving and want to continue to do that."

The Nittany Lions (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten) now have a chance to win their first Big Ten title since sharing it with Ohio State in 2008. They'll get that opportunity thanks to a near-perfect performance from sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley, who was 17 of 23 for a career-high 376 yards and four touchdowns.

Three of McSorley's scoring passes came in the decisive third quarter when Penn State scored 21 points and turned a 12-10 deficit into a commanding lead.

McSorley connected with junior wide receiver Chris Godwin on a 34-yarder to open the third quarter and followed with a 45-yarder to junior tight end Mike Gesicki. He capped the flurry with a 59-yard strike to Godwin and the rout was on as the fans at Beaver Stadium started to celebrate. Godwin finished with four catches for 115 yards.

Penn State redshirt freshman running back Andre Robinson added two late touchdowns, a 14-yard run and a 40-yard reception to cap the scoring.

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

"I don't even think we punted in the first half. Played very well defensively early on as well. In the third quarter, things sort of turned I guess. It was all Penn State in the second half.

"So a disappointing season. A disappointing end here, but we'll rally back."

Penn State truly got rolling late in the second quarter, and it's no coincidence that came after they found out about Ohio State's overtime win over Michigan. A roar was heard in Beaver Stadium and the Nittany Lions figured they knew why.

"The crowd just started violently cheering, really for no reason. I don't even think the game was going on," junior linebacker Jason Cabinda said. "And then I think we saw the little ticker. It said that Ohio State had won, so it was cool.

"You try to ignore it and you just put on the back burner and you think Michigan State and really we did ... but it was awesome obviously getting that information and being able to go out there and seal the deal."

Michigan State (3-9, 1-8) controlled much of the first half, outgaining Penn State 256-125, but its failure to get in the end zone was crucial as senior kicker Michael Geiger had four field goals to give the Spartans a 12-10 halftime lead.

Geiger hit from 28 yards and 38 yards to put Michigan State up 6-0 before Penn State answered thanks to the arm of McSorley, who had a key third-down connection with Godwin, which led to a 35-yard field goal from junior kicker Tyler Davis to cut the Michigan State lead to 6-3 with 13:11 left in the second quarter.

Michigan State scored again on its third drive of the game, this time a 33-yarder from Geiger to extend the Spartans' lead to 9-3 with 7:17 left in the second quarter. On the same drive, Michigan State lost junior quarterback Damion Terry for the game when he took a hit to the head.

McSorley continued to pick apart the Michigan State secondary late in the second quarter before Saquon Barkley put the Nittany Lions ahead 10-9 with 2:14 left in the first half on a 1-yard touchdown run.

Michigan State answered with one final drive, taking 14 plays to go 72 yards but getting stopped at the Penn State 3. Geiger added his fourth field goal -- a 21-yarder -- with 10 seconds left in the half.

NOTES: Junior TE Mike Gesicki had two catches for 64 yards and now has 610 career receiving yards, giving him the most in a season for a tight end in Penn State history. ... Penn State has now won eight straight in the Big Ten, its longest streak in the conference since going 8-0 in 1994 and longest overall since 2011. ... Michigan State junior DE Malik McDowell missed his third straight game with an injured left ankle and could very well have played his last game for the Spartans. McDowell is rated as one of the top defensive linemen in next spring's NFL Draft. Also not in uniform for Michigan State were sophomore CB Tyson Smith, fifth-year senior S Demetrious Cox, sophomore DB Jalen Watts-Jackson and sophomore RB Madre London. ... Junior QB Damion Terry received his first career start for Michigan State but left in the second quarter after taking a hit to the head.