ATLANTA — In many games this year it’s been the same old story for Penn State on offense. Saturday’s Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss was no different.
Penn State was hit hard by opt-outs defensively which were announced mere hours before the game.
It also had to deal with the departure of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, who is now the head coach at Duke.
The losses of Chop Robinson, Kalen King and Johnny Dixon were massive, but offensively not much was different outside of Olu Fashanu’s opt-out.
That’s the issue for Penn State though, not much was different and that’s why PSU got the L against the Rebels.
PENN STATE HAD RECEIVING WOES
Much has been made about Penn State’s receivers or lack thereof this season. Saturday magnified that to the extreme. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter of the contest a wide receiver hauled in a pass for Penn State.
It was Liam Clifford who got that train out of the station albeit way too little and way too late. Penn State got away with a less-than-subpar wide receiver room for most of the season because of the lackluster Big Ten. Of course, the lack of receivers was exploited in a big way against both Michigan and Ohio State.
There were only four Penn State receivers who recorded targets, five if you count Omari Evans who was the only PSU player within 20 yards of Drew Allar’s interception in the first half.
The wide receiver room is the first place coach James Franklin needs to overhaul for next season and it should probably start as soon as they take off from the Atlanta airport.
ALLAR … OOF
Speaking of Allar, it wasn’t a great day for the sophomore quarterback. He struggled to hit receivers early and often overthrew his intended targets. His final pass of the game was the perfect summation of the season for Penn State’s offense … a throw behind a receiver who can’t haul it in.
His interception was so bad it elicited this response from a Penn State parent.
Victoria Leek is college football’s newest viral fan after her reaction to a Drew Allar interception 😂
“What the f— was that?”
🎥 @slmandelpic.twitter.com/OpZLBK8Y8K
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 30, 2023
Look, it’s not Allar’s fault that his top receivers Saturday were Tyler Warren and Nicholas Singleton, both non-receivers. There is still a lot of room for growth for Allar and the offense, but Saturday’s performance was much like every other big game for Penn State and company this season.
THE POWER OF POSITIVITY FOR PENN STATE
Not all was terrible for the Nittany Lions against Ole Miss.
Tyler Warren’s 75-yard reception was a thing of beauty for the tight end who has developed into Penn State’s top receiving target.
Tyler Warren with the great catch and serious YAC. 💥 pic.twitter.com/VgoTIcRoRR
📺: ESPN
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) December 30, 2023
He finished with five receptions for 127 yards.
Along with Warren, Singleton had himself a game on the ground and through the air. Singleton hauled in a receiving touchdown from backup quarterback Beau Pribula. He finished with 86 yards on four catches.
