Penn State dismissed Michigan State with relative ease Friday night at Ford Field. It was a team that looked possessed on both sides of the football for the first time in a while as they brought the Land-Grant Trophy back to University Park.
Drew Allar played with the poise and confidence he had at the beginning of the season. It showed in a big way. Allar ended the night with 292 yards and two touchdowns.
It was the type of beatdown Penn State had grown accustomed to early in the season, but it demonstrated a display of explosive plays that just had not been seen all year.
With that said … more from the game.
PENN STATE RBS RETURN TO FORM
Penn State’s running backs have not nearly had as successful of a season as they did in 2022. Both Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton have struggled at times this year and have not statistically performed to the standard they set as true freshmen a year ago.
On Friday night in Detroit, their performances were reminiscent of how they played last season. They BOTH were big factors in the ground and passing game, which was instrumental in the offense’s success.
Singleton finished with 118 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown and added 68 yards on two receptions. He showed the home run capabilities he was known for in 2022.
Allen rushed for 137 yards on 15 carries and hauled in three passes for 17 yards and a touchdown.
The duo made up six of Penn State’s 12 explosive plays against Michigan State.
These two. 😆🤞 pic.twitter.com/q2dVQbUC2v
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 25, 2023
PENN STATE FINDS A RHYTHM
For the first time since scoring on their first drive of the game against Maryland, Penn State came away with points on its first possession. It was a field goal, but it was a preview of how the game would go. Allar got into a rhythm, and it showed.
He played with confidence and spread the ball around in both the run game and the pass game. There were times when the Beau Pribula package was used and it didn’t seem like it hindered the offense when the personnel was on the field.
Getting Allar in a rhythm and scheming to fit the players rather than making the players fit the scheme was a message coach James Franklin expressed early in the week and it seems co-offensive coordinators Ja’Juan Seider and Ty Howle took that message to heart.
Allar and Pribula combined to find 10 different receivers. Allen, Singleton and Trey Potts all had rushes of 20-plus yards or more.
Penn State was able to keep Michigan State’s defense in conflict all game and it was a welcome sight for an offense that has struggled mightily at times.
DEFENSE DOES ITS THING
The defensive performance can only be summed up in one image. 
