By Scott Brown

Published: Monday, November 19, 2012, 1:50 p.m.
Updated: Sunday, February 24, 2013

Penn State won't get to send Michael Mauti, the heart and soul of a team that has persevered in the aftermath of NCAA sanctions, out in style.

The senior outside linebacker has been ruled out for the Nittany Lions' regular-season finale Saturday against Wisconsin.

Penn State coach Bill O'Brien released a brief update Monday afternoon on Mauti, two days after he sustained what appeared to be his second serious knee injury in as many seasons and the third of his college career.

O'Brien did not offer any specifics on the injury, but he likely will provide an update Tuesday at his weekly news conference.

Mike Hull, a Canon-McMillan graduate, will take Mauti's place in the starting lineup when Penn State hosts Wisconsin in a 3:30 p.m. game.

Mauti, an All-American candidate, went down in the first quarter last Saturday after an Indiana player hit the fifth-year senior on the side of his left knee while Mauti was engaged with another blocker.

Mauti tore the ACL in the same knee in 2011, and he had battled back from his second major knee injury to become one of the most important figures in Penn State football history.

The 6-foot-2, 239-pounder helped convince many of his teammates to stay at Penn State after the NCAA sanctioned the football program in July and allowed players to transfer and suit up in 2012. Mauti proved to be as relentless on the field, and he was one of the driving forces behind Penn State recording a winning season in O'Brien's first year as head coach.

The Nittany Lions are 7-4, 5-2 in the Big Ten. They can finish second in the Leaders Division with a victory over Wisconsin.

Mauti had 96 tackles and three interceptions this season, ranking among the Big Ten's leaders in each category.

• Quarterback Matt McGloin was named co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 395 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-22 win over Indiana. McGloin set four school records while establishing a career-high in passing yards in a game and tying his career-high in touchdown passes in a game.

— Scott Brown

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