As Indiana coach Curt Cignetti made his way to the media tent after surviving an upset scare from Penn State at Beaver Stadium, he stopped to greet fans, accepting congratulations and taking selfies along the way.
When he finally arrived in the media tent, Cignetti, usually full of bravado, showed a glimpse of humility.
“The most improbable victory I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “And there couldn’t have been a better place to make it happen.”
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who took hit after hit yet never backed down, delivered what may have been the throw of the year to wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. After the game, Mendoza reflected on what the win meant to him.
“No matter what the record is, Penn State is still Penn State. Their fans are still Penn State fans,” he said. “These are game-winning drives you dream about growing up as a kid. I can say this is the top of my career right now.”
A Season Gone Sideways
A season that began with such promise, ranked No. 2 nationally and considered a trendy national championship pick, has unraveled into Penn State’s first six-game losing streak since 2004, with the first three losses resulting in the firing of head coach James Franklin.
Five of those six losses have come by less than a touchdown.
Interim coach Terry Smith pointed to a theme that has haunted the program since the early part of the season, a theme that started with the controversial Oregon game, when running back Noah Whittington’s fumble was overturned after replay determined his knee had “grazed” the turf before the ball came loose.
“You know, we’re all wanting the plays to go our way,” Smith said. “We’re talking blades of grass right back to the Oregon game. We’re just trying to get that call to go for us. Right now, we’re in that storm where we can’t get the blade of grass. So, I just want my guys to know I’m fighting every part of that storm for them, and we’re hoping to turn the tide.”
The pain has been excruciating for everyone involved with Penn State.
EDGE rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, who matched his season high in quarterback pressures (four) against Indiana and recorded his first sack since Nevada, was among the many defenders chasing Mendoza on that final, miraculous throw.
When Mendoza’s pass connected with Cooper, Dennis-Sutton turned, saw the extraordinary catch, and collapsed in frustration wondering what more he could have done.
That emotion carried into the postgame media session, where Dennis-Sutton spoke candidly about accountability.
“We just have to do our jobs better,” he said.
‘Morale’ Questioned
Reports prior to the Indiana game suggested the energy was low—claims Smith strongly rejected.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“They said there was no morale at practice, the lowest morale you’ve seen. Is that what you saw today?” Smith said. “Not today. These guys are busting their butts. They’re working hard, leading the locker room, and setting an example. We just have to figure it out.
“I’m not making excuses, but we’ve played at Iowa at night, then the number one and number two teams. It’s been a tough road. But we’ll come back next week and fight harder. No one will ever question whether a Terry Smith team plays hard.”
Indeed, the effort displayed against Indiana cannot be questioned.
Mendoza’s Magic and Penn State’s Misery
On the final drive, Mendoza’s precision was unstoppable. Three of his throws were indefensible perfect reads and pinpoint deliveries under pressure.
No defense can cover every blade of grass, and Mendoza’s ability to find the smallest windows is why he’s a Heisman candidate.
For Penn State’s players, coaches and fans, there’s no comfort in moral victories. Still, the adversity they have faced has forged a sense of character, resilience, and resolve.
“It’s life. You’re going to have adversity at times. Things aren’t going to go the way you want,” Dennis-Sutton said.
“Coach Terry (Smith) has done a great job emphasizing that we’re not quitting. You can’t quit in life. If you quit now, you’ll be a quitter forever. We’re just trying to roll with that, enjoy our last couple weeks, and appreciate our brotherhood. Nobody knows what Penn State will be next year, so we’re just loving each other and playing hard.”
Searching for Redemption
The last three weeks have tested Penn State like few stretches before: a night game at Iowa against the nation’s No. 4 scoring defense (13.7 points per game), followed by consecutive matchups with the nation’s top two ranked teams. In two of those contests, the Nittany Lions held late fourth-quarter leads—painful evidence of how close they’ve been.
Still, disappointment lingers.
“It’s extremely hard,” Smith admitted. “These guys work so hard. We go to practice tomorrow, they get a day off Monday, but they’re in watching film. We practice hard Tuesday and Wednesday. They’re getting after it.
“We’re straining these guys, and they don’t reap the reward. It’s difficult. I just feel bad for them they deserve more. They deserve victory. We’ll reset tomorrow, come back out, and try to get better.”
The final three weeks will offer an easier slate compared to recent competition. Bowl eligibility remains possible—but only if Penn State wins out.
And with how this season has unfolded, would they want it any other way?
