ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- On an afternoon that featured some of the most storied programs in college football history, all playing games of massive consequence, two programs, both steeped in tradition, played a game for the ages.

Penn State entered Michigan Stadium led by a group of seniors desperate to continue the Nittany Lions' improbable march toward Joe Paterno's sixth unbeaten season and validate their otherwise disappointing Penn State careers.

But they came face to face with a Wolverines team that was just plain desperate, and, after Mario Manningham caught the game-winning touchdown pass with no time left on the clock in Michigan's 27-25 victory, Penn State's dreams of perfection were dashed.

"I'm disappointed for this bunch of kids. They have been great to work with," Paterno said. "They stuck in there today."

Undoubtedly -- the game was a schizophrenic and frenetic affair of staggering highs and lows that turned into a staring contest between a pair of enormously gutsy quarterbacks in Penn State's Michael Robinson and Michigan's Chad Henne, in which neither blinked.

The shootout began in the second half with Michigan leading 3-0. The Wolverines charged straight out of the tunnel and down the field on a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, and it appeared as though that might be enough to win this classic, Big Ten defensive struggle.

But then Robinson got going.

The fifth-year senior did his best to carry his team on his broad shoulders, making something out of nothing on a fumbled snap, turning it into a miraculous 56-yard pass to Terrell Golden.

Three failed plays later, Kevin Kelly kicked a 25-yard field goal.

The Lions landed a smart right hook on their next possession, when a Robinson run capped off a touchdown drive.

Penn State seemed to land a haymaker when Alan Zemaitis literally ripped the momentum -- and the ball -- from Henne's hands and took it 35 yards, ball held aloft, to the end zone. Then, Kelly, Penn State's 175-pound freshman kicker, put his head down and charged through three Michigan defenders and into the end zone for a two-point conversion following a botched snap on the extra-point attempt.

But the Wolverines, though stunned, stood their ground and returned fire.

A beautiful 33-yard touchdown throw from Henne to Manningham and a two-point conversion ran in by Michigan tailback Mike Hart evened the game. When Garrett Rivas booted a 47-yard field goal to put Michigan up 21-18, and Robinson threw an interception on the next possession, the momentum had switched back to the maize and blue.

Robinson got his chance at redemption and made good, willing Penn State to a 13-play, 81-yard touchdown drive with Derrick Williams on the sidelines, lost for the season with a broken left arm.

Robinson's drive is one that would have had its own chapter in Penn State history had Henne not done him one better.

The only mistake that Robinson made was leaving too much time on the clock, one second too many as it turns out.

Henne made him pay dearly.

The sophomore signal caller started with excellent field position after a 41-yard kickoff return by Steve Breaston and quickly moved the ball downfield.

After Michigan coach Lloyd Carr petitioned the referees for, and was granted, two added seconds that had run off after he had called a timeout, Michigan found itself on the Penn State 10-yard line with six seconds left.

An incompletion to Breaston could have ended the game, but the pass hit the ground with one second remaining on the game clock. That one second will likely haunt this team for a long time.