COLUMBUS, OH– It’s been a tough season for the Penn State football offensively, but against America’s No. 1 defense, it put together what might be its signature drive of 2025 to this point.
Down 10-0 against Ohio State in the second quarter, QB Ethan Grunkemeyer engineered a 15-play, 75-yard drive that took almost eight minutes and got Penn State to within three.
Highlights of the drive included two 3rd and long conversions on Grunkemeyer passes, as well as a 13-yard and 16-yard reception by RB Nicholas Singleton. Singleton ended the drive with a three-yard touchdown run on 3rd and goal.
Singleton is a player Penn State needs to get going. After a career year in 2024 (1,099 yards, 12 touchdowns, 6.4 yards per carry), he’s been down in every statistic (274 yards, six touchdowns, 3.6 YPC). But the former five-star recruit has always been a quality receiver, eclipsing 300 yards in each of the last two seasons. Interim coach Terry Smith and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki have stressed the need to play to Singleton’s strengths more, and those strengths include his speed, which could best be utilized on the perimeter.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.The drive was also, to this point, Grunkemeyer’s finest hour in his brief tenure as Penn State’s QB.
He didn’t look like a guy just making his second career start. Instead, he looked like a seasoned vet. That’s the type of play Penn State will need to end 2025 on a positive note, and for Grunkemeyer to show that he can be the best option to lead Penn State in 2026.
