EAST LANSING, Mich. -- As the final seconds wound down yesterday in Penn State's 42-14 victory against Michigan State, the Nittany Lion mascot held an orange up in the air.

Now Penn State (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) will have to wait until the BCS selections are announced Dec. 6 to find out if it will receive an at-large berth to the Jan. 5 Orange Bowl in Miami.

"We'd absolutely love to be in a BCS game," said center Stefen Wisniewski. "That's the big stage as far as bowl games are concerned, and we feel like we belong there."

Quarterback Daryll Clark finished the regular season in grand fashion as Penn State scored 35 points in the second half to sink the Spartans (6-6, 4-4) and clinch their 21st 10-win season under coach Joe Paterno.

Clark was 6 of 6 for 130 yards and three touchdowns in the third quarter when the Lions scored 28 points. He had four touchdown passes overall, tying his career high, and completed 19 of 27 attempts for 310 yards.

Clark also set school records for most career touchdown passes (42) and single-season marks for touchdown passes (23) and yards (2,787) against a Michigan State secondary that has allowed 29 touchdown passes this season.

"It's very exciting," Clark said. "I'm very proud and I'm fortunate I am able to share these things with the guys. Without them, I don't think my name is even mentioned in the record books."

Tight end Andrew Quarless caught two touchdown passes for the first time in 35 games. He snagged a 29-yard reception from Clark late in the second quarter and a 14-yarder from wide receiver Curtis Drake on a trick play in the third.

Wide receiver Graham Zug had four catches for 99 yards and caught touchdown passes of 32 and 27 yards from Clark in the third quarter. Clark also tossed a 30-yard scoring strike to fullback Joe Suhey.

"I just felt good, like I was in a zone, in the third quarter," said Clark, who has eight career touchdown passes against the Spartans.

Penn State must finish in the top 14 of the BCS rankings to be eligible for an at-large bid. The Lions currently occupy that spot, while Iowa (10-2, 6-2) is No. 13.

"We've played pretty good football, and I think we're a pretty good football team," Paterno said.

"I think we can play with anybody."

Ohio State already has clinched the Big Ten's automatic berth in the Rose Bowl. The Big Ten likely will get a second berth to a big-money BCS game. The choice will come down to Penn State or Iowa, which beat the Lions, 21-10, at home in late September.

"We have quite a tradition with both teams," said Orange Bowl representative Michael Kosnitzky, who attended the game yesterday and talked to Penn State president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley in their suite. "We'll factor in a whole lot of things in making the final determination."

Tailback Evan Royster went over the 1,000-yard mark for the second year in a row with his first carry of the game, a 21-yarder. He finished with 13 carries for 114 yards. Backup quarterback Kevin Newsome also scored on a 1-yard run with 2:53 to play.

The Lions, who were tied with the Spartans, 7-7, at halftime, improved to 12-0 when Royster runs for 100 yards or more and piled up 512 yards offense while holding Michigan State to 333.

Outside linebacker Navorro Bowman had a team-leading 10 tackles, including 3 1/2 for losses, and he registered the lone sack.

Outside linebacker Sean Lee and free safety Nick Sukay had third-quarter interceptions that set up touchdowns.

"We didn't like the way their offense scored to end the first half," Lee said.

"That really kind of made us fired up for the second half."

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NOTES -- Starting right cornerback A.J. Wallace (concussion) watched from the sideline in sweats and true freshman Stephon Morris made his first start. Cedric Jeffries worked as the nickel back. ... Drake replaced Chaz Powell (sprained right shoulder) as the slot receiver. Powell, injured in the first half against Indiana, is expected to be out 4-6 weeks and hopes to be ready for the bowl game. ... Collin Wagner missed field goals of 38 and 51 yards in the first half.

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