UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- When Derrick Williams signed with Penn State four years ago, the Nittany Lions were at the bottom of the Big Ten Conference standings.

During a dismal five-year stretch from 2000-04, the program had suffered through four losing seasons and had stumbled to a 26-33 record.

Yet that didn't deter Williams, a wide receiver and the nation's No. 1 recruit from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md.

He wanted to play for legendary coach Joe Paterno, who was under fire at the time. And Williams wanted to help the Lions end their slide and return to prominence.

He succeeded, as did 16 other seniors who will be playing their last home game Saturday at Beaver Stadium when No. 7 Penn State (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) faces No. 17 Michigan State (9-2, 6-1).

"Everything that I set out to do, I've accomplished with the help of my teammates," Williams said. "It's been a great time. It wasn't just me. ... It was guys like A.Q. Shipley, Tyrell Sales and everybody else like that who's been through the program that was ready for a change."

A win against the Spartans would give the Lions' departing seniors their second Big Ten crown, their third January bowl game -- they would advance to the Rose Bowl -- and their fourth postseason game.

They also would become the first Penn State class since 1997 to reach 40 wins in four seasons.

"That's incredible," Williams said. "There's not too many teams that can say that."

Penn State's seniors have compiled a 39-10 record since 2005, tying it for the eighth-best winning percentage in the country.

"I think we've accomplished a lot," wide receiver Deon Butler said. "A lot of people were kind of doubting us when we first came in. We didn't have a lot of star power in our class, we only had a couple guys, but nothing that was really going to turn around a program.

"We just continued to work hard and just peck away at it and get better. I guess people would say there were a lot of overachievers in this class."

Thirteen seniors have been starters most of the season -- six on offense, six on defense and one specialist.

On offense are record-setting wide receivers Williams, Butler and Jordan Norwood, left tackle Gerald Cadogan, left guard Rich Ohrnberger and center Shipley. Defensively, there is end Josh Gaines, cornerbacks Tony Davis and Lydell Sargeant, safeties Mark Rubin and Anthony Scirrotto, and outside linebacker Sales. Record-breaking kicker Kevin Kelly is the other starter.

Shipley, from Moon High School, and Sales, from Butler High School, are fifth-year seniors who redshirted in 2004.

Butler became the Lions' all-time receptions leader last weekend against Indiana, pushing his total to 172. Williams ranks third with 153 and Norwood fourth with 150.

"We're missing our one guy, Justin [King]," said Butler, a former walk-on and defensive back. "He left a little early on us [to enter the NFL draft], but besides that, us three have been together for a long time.

"Emotionally, I'm definitely going to be running high. Everyone's talking about what they're going to do. I already told them I might cry. I'm not going to hold it back.

"It's a special place, and to be able to run out of the tunnel for the last time, you never think it ends when you're here, so it's definitely going to sink in."

Even though Penn State's perfect season and national championship hopes were dashed by a 24-23 loss to Iowa, a trip to Pasadena, Calif., for the first time in 14 years would be a decent consolation prize for the seniors.

Penn State has been exceptional on Senior Day. The Lions have won their final home game eight years in a row, and have captured 17 of their past 18 overall. Penn State's only loss during that span came in 1999 against Michigan and quarterback Tom Brady.

"It's sad to have this come to an end," Norwood said. "It has been great for myself. I have met a lot of great guys. I have known a lot of guys these last four years. It will be a great way to end it."