UNIVERSITY PARK– Just when Penn State fans didn’t think it could get worse, it did.
Penn State followed an upset loss at UCLA with an equally, if not more shocking, home loss to Northwestern.
Northwestern overcame a 22.5-point spread to beat Penn State on its home turf and end any hope PSU had of making it to the College Football Playoff.
Northwestern got the scoring started with a field goal, set up when Penn State QB Drew Allar threw an endzone INT to Ore Adeyi.
Penn State answered with a 12-play, 87-yard touchdown drive that ended with an 11-yard run by Kaytron Allen.
But on the next drive, the Cats got the lead back on a 29-yard TD pass from Preston Stone to Griffin Wilde.
Penn State then took advantage of a muffed punt with a nine-play, 25-yard drive that ended with a four-yard TD run by Nicholas Singleton on fourth and two.
Northwestern ended the half on another field goal, aided by two personal foul penalties.
Nothing happened in the third quarter until Penn State receiver/punt returner Devonte Ross muffed a punt, which Northwestern recovered at the Penn State 9-yard line.
A sack by Zuriah Fisher for a 15-yard loss held Northwestern to a field goal, which it made to go ahead 16-14.
On the next drive, a 65-yard catch and run by Ross atoned for much of his previous mistake, and Penn State capitalized with a 1-yard QB sneak by Allar to put Penn State back ahead.
But on the next possession, a 9-yard touchdown run by Caleb Komalaufe gave the Cats a 22-21 lead, with the two-point conversion failing.
On the next possession, Penn State turned it over on downs, with QB Drew Allar suffering an injury on 3rd down.
Ethan Grunkemeyer came in for a play and was stuffed on an option run, effectively ending the game.
Penn State’s next game is next Saturday night at Iowa. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 on CBS.
