Updated

Penn State star linebacker Michael Mauti will miss Saturday's season finale against Wisconsin with a left knee injury.

Coach Bill O'Brien made the announcement Monday. The team's worst fears came true after Mauti was carted off the field during the 45-22 win last week over Indiana.

Mauti's college career came to an early end. The senior leader and emotional anchor for the Nittany Lions was instrumental in helping to keep most of the team together after the NCAA levied landmark sanctions in the offseason for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

Mauti and fellow senior Michael Zordich made impassioned pleas to stick with the program two days after the penalties were announced. In the end, 10 players transferred, but more than 90 percent of the roster stayed.