Saturday’s win over Minnesota personified the โgritty, not prettyโ saying, and it showed when Penn State has its backs against the wall, they can come through.
It marked the third season in a row with 10-wins, the first time happened since 1980-82. It also was the exclamation point on an undefeated road season, just the second since joining the Big Ten in the 1993 season.
Now, Penn State will head home to wrap up the regular season against Maryland next week. Until then, here’s more from the game.
FRANKLIN’S GAME MANAGEMENT
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – NOVEMBER 16: Penn State Nittany Lions Head Coach James Franklin high fives players as they jog off the field after scoring during the college football game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Purdue Boilermakers on November 16, 2024, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire)
It’s not often that head coach James Franklin’s game management and late-game decision making is applauded but Saturday was an absolute masterclass in late game management and trusting his players in big moments.
Penn State was clinging to a one-point lead with 3:47 left in the game from its own 34-yard line when faced with a fourth-and-one. Franklin sent the punt team on the field and promptly called a fake punt with Luke Reynolds who took the snap and rushed 32 yards to set Penn State up with another first down and then some.
Fake punt ๐
It works, and No. 4 @PennStateFball is in business.#B1GFootball on CBS ๐บ pic.twitter.com/k6wdPuP7i3
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 23, 2024
Three plays later, it was quarterback Drew Allar who got the nod on fourth-and-one again and the junior quarterback came through with a well-executed tush push.
Penn State was faced with yet another fourth-and-one, this one with 1:02 left in the game. This time, Allar scrambled and found Tyler Warren for 11-yards, a first down, and to end the game.
All three fourth downs Penn State converted on the final drive of the game: pic.twitter.com/0Fe9Vtpb8W
— Lexie Linderman (@lexieleigh28) November 24, 2024
It was a well-executed drive and coupled with Franklin’s aggressiveness and trust in his team, showed Penn State is capable of coming through when they need to the most.
TOM ALLEN’S DEFENSE
The defense wasn’t able to get much going for it in the first quarter and had to deal with some special teams miscues which resulted in a short field after a blocked punt and two points on a blocked extra point.
THE PUNT IS BLOCKED! HUGE PLAY FOR MINNESOTA. pic.twitter.com/P74tZ2PvhJ
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 23, 2024
Penn State knows a thing or two about blocked kicks returned for scores
Unfortunately, it was on the wrong end of this blocked extra point by Minnesota that was returned for two!
— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) November 23, 2024
Allen’s squad came out of the half on fire and allowed six points total for the remainder of the game. The defense also allowed 69 and 58 yards respectively over the final two quarters. Zakee Wheatley recovered a fumble to start the quarter and from there it was all Penn State as the offense came through in a big way.
A fumble to start the 4th quarter and Penn State has it! pic.twitter.com/H3PMkDZV3C
— CBS Sports College Football ๐ (@CBSSportsCFB) November 23, 2024
Much has been said about the offense this year, but Allen’s defense has been superb especially in the second half of games this season. They’ll need to continue that next week against Maryland before preparing for what should be a home playoff game.
UNCHARACTERISTIC MISTAKES
Penn State struggled at times early in the game and on special teams especially. PSU had a punt blocked which resulted in a touchdown just one play later.
They followed that up with a 75-yard touchdown drive right before the half, but a blocked extra point was returned for two points.
Those two plays alone changed the complexion of the game, but at the end of the day Penn State was able to overcome them and escape with another victory.
