The chains kept moving as he methodically moved the Nittany Lions downfield, trailing by four points with just under two minutes to play.

A shot at winning a Big Ten championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl waited at the other end of the field — Thompson's last chance to make the disappointment of last week's loss to Minnesota vanish.

Then, Michigan linebacker Ian Gold blindsided Thompson and knocked the ball out of his grasp, almost guaranteeing Penn State a third straight trip to a Florida bowl game.

Michigan 31, Penn State 27 — all thorns, no roses for the Lions.

"I don't know how you measure that," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "We have been talking all week about winning this one for the seniors and hopefully for Jerry (Sandusky). There is a lot of emotion, but it takes more than that to get you ready to play. But yeah, you feel bad for them."

In all, 25 seniors and one retiring defensive coordinator saw their last game at Beaver Stadium crumble with 3:21 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Following a Michigan touchdown run by senior quarterback Tom Brady, which cut the Penn State lead to a mere three points, the Lions offense had the fate of the game and the destination of their postseason plans resting on their shoulders.

With a couple of first downs, the game, by all means, would have been over. With a couple of 10-yard pickups, the Wolverines wouldn't have had the chance to be the first team to defeat Penn State in three consecutive years since Alabama did it in the late 1980s.

With a three and out, the Lions gave Michigan a chance.

"That was a situation where they had to get the ball back or the game was over," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "And they did."

Following a Pat Pidgeon punt that placed the Wolverines on the Penn State 35-yard line, Brady threw two straight incomplete passes before hooking up with wide receiver Marcus Knight for a 17-yard reception and a first down.

Two plays later, Brady would find Knight again — this time in the corner of the south end zone.

The late touchdown erased a late fourth-quarter lead for the Lions in consecutive weeks and leaves Penn State's streak of playing in nine straight New Year's Day bowl games in jeopardy as the Lions head into Michigan State next weekend.

The late touchdown erased the memories of upsets at the hands of Illinois and Michigan State for the Wolverines and has them on pace to compete for a Bowl Championship Series game.