Penn State coach Joe Paterno holds a bouquet of roses presented to him by Ronald Conzonire, a representative from the Roses Bowl, after Penn State won their NCAA college football game against Michigan State 49-18 and the Big Ten Championship in State College.

STATE COLLEGE — Deon Butler is finishing his Penn State career the way it started: With a Big Ten championship.

While coach Joe Paterno plans to return to the sideline in 2009, his standout receiving trio of seniors Butler, Derrick Williams and Jordan Norwood have played their last game at Beaver Stadium.

And what a way to go out.

They won the conference as freshmen, helping to send the 2005 Nittany Lions to the Orange Bowl.

They won the conference again as seniors, clinching a berth in the Rose Bowl following a 49-18 rout Saturday of Michigan State. The Nittany Lions (11-1, 7-1) moved up a spot to No. 6 in AP Top 25 released Sunday.

"I hope each and every one of them had a great experience," said the 81-year-old Paterno, talking like a glowing grandfather about his senior players. "I hope 10 years from now, they look back and say, 'By God, I am glad I went to Penn State."'

Paterno has said he will likely have surgery this week to fix an ailing hip that's kept him from pacing the sideline much of the season. He had that surgery Sunday.

Then it's back to practice to get the seniors ready for the last game of their college careers.

"We kind of just see him here as having an eternal life here. We knew he would be back for another or so," Butler said when asked about rumors this week of JoePa's retirement.

"But we cherished the moment because this was our last home game here and our last season," the personable receiver added. "I think that is more so what was on our minds."

All three of Butler's receptions against Michigan State went for touchdowns, from four, 70 and 59 yards. Williams, the playmaking centerpiece of the 2005 recruiting class, caught four passes for 51 yards, including a tough 32-yarder over the middle for a score.

Norwood also did his best work gliding across the middle, where he's most dangerous, catching five balls for 127 yards.

Together, they helped Daryll Clark break out of a mini-slump over the last three weeks as their quarterback threw for a career-high 341 yards and four touchdowns. Penn State set a school record with 419 passing yards.

Penn State's spread HD offense excelled on a snowy, chilly afternoon that normally would be more conducive to a running game.