One more time.

For every senior, whether in the stands or on the field, tomorrow afternoon is bound to be emotional.

Finality is looming over Beaver Stadium. Whether it's overlooking the countryside, watching 100,000 other sets of eyes scan the field or embracing a friend after every score, the noon contest against Michigan State is the last Penn State football experience for most seniors.

Some 23 names will be recognized; some known, some unknown. And while offensive tackle Levi Brown isn't an emotional person, he made no promises about tomorrow.

"I'm trying not to think about it too much. I'm not a big guy on getting teared-up and everything like that, but I can't say that I won't," he said.

Joe Paterno is expected to attend the game in the coach's booth and may not make a cameo on the field, but there'll likely be enough "Joe Pa-ter-no" chants and "Roll up your pantleg" signs to make up for the 79-year-old's absence on the field. Paterno has seen 56 Senior Days in Happy Valley.

It will be defensive end Tim Shaw's last Senior Day, and he admitted he's had some mixed feelings about it.

"It's a good feeling and then it's kind of a shaky feeling, like you don't want to let it go," he said.

A victory would clinch at least an Outback Bowl, while a loss and a Purdue win would likely qualify the Nittany Lions for the Alamo Bowl. It's not the season they were hoping for, but if Penn State wanted to reflect upon a worst-case scenario -- it could just glance over to the opposing sideline.

Spartans head coach John L. Smith will coach his final game tomorrow, as he's being forced out for not meeting expectations. And the Spartans (4-7, 1-6 Big Ten) will end their season, win or lose, without a bowl game.

"What I hear about Michigan State, they're pretty talented. But you just don't know what you're gonna get," wideout Derrick Williams said. "They just haven't had some breaks."

Whether it's losing to Notre Dame by a field goal in a historical collapse or edging Northwestern by three points in one of the greatest comebacks in college football, Michigan State has been all over the map this season.

And the quarterback position is no more stable.

Penn State safety Anthony Scirrotto said the defense has had to watch film from both starter Drew Stanton and backup Brian Hoyer this week. Stanton suffered a concussion, and his status for tomorrow is uncertain.

"They're both great athletes. Stanton, he runs a little bit more than the other one," Scirrotto said. "But they can both do some damage if they have open receivers."

Stanton is second in the team in rushing (110 carries, 445 yards) and has thrown 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. It's his final game as a senior, too, and it's a possibility he won't even take a snap.

But for both teams, tomorrow should be an emotional game. Some players, like Brown, might shed a tear. But others, like punter Jeremy Kapinos, are still trying to keep the mood light-hearted.

"I've been here for four-and-a-half years," Kapinos said. "I'm kind of getting tired asking for money, so I want to make some of my own -- it's a little frustrating, being 22 years old, asking for a little change from your parents."