Tag: nittany lions

Dec 6, 2024; Boise, ID, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) is interviewed by Fox Sports reporter Allison Williams after the game against the UNLV Rebels at Albertsons Stadium. Boise State beats UNLV 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images

Penn St. big favorite in CFP quarterfinal, but Boise St. undeterred

Posted on | by Field Level Media

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sixth-seeded Penn State and No. 3 seed Boise State enter their College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday with perfect records in their Fiesta Bowl history.

The Broncos, who earned a bye into the matchup in Glendale by winning the Mountain West title, are 3-0 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Penn State, which advanced to the quarterfinals after beating visiting SMU 38-10 last week in the opening round, is 7-0 in the Fiesta Bowl.

No other school has won more Fiesta Bowls. Arizona State and Ohio State each have five wins in the bowl’s history.

“Our guys are very aware of our history here at Penn State,” coach James Franklin said after a practice this week in Phoenix. “We spend a lot of time in the offseason talking about those things, or former players come back and talk to our guys.”

Boise State (12-1) won its three Fiesta Bowls between 2007 and 2014, including a 43-42 classic in overtime over Adrian Peterson and Oklahoma in 2007.

The Broncos were underdogs in that game and in wins over TCU in 2010 and Arizona in 2014.

They were 10.5-point underdogs to Penn State (12-2) when the Fiesta Bowl line opened.

“We might not have what everybody else has, but we definitely have enough,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “We’re going to continue to push forward.”

Boise State is the last non-Power 4 conference team to win the Fiesta Bowl.

“Boise State has been built on earning our right to play against one of the top football teams in the country like Penn State,” Danielson said. “I believe in our team … please count us out. People, media, count us out. I know how we are going to work, and I know we are going to work to play our absolute best.”

Franklin, an assistant coach at Washington State and Idaho State in 1998 and 1999, respectively, appreciates the Boise State program after coaching in the area.

“Boise State has the ingredients to succeed,” Franklin said. “It’s in the university. It’s in the community. It’s embedded there. And that’s why you’ve seen so many people be able to go there and have success.”

Franklin also praised running back Ashton Jeanty for what he means to Boise State being in the playoffs.

“I think it starts and ends with Jeanty,” Franklin said. “He can run away from you and score from a distance. Breaks a ton of tackles — 1,300 yards of his rushing yards are after contact, which is like a ridiculous stat.”

Jeanty, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, has 344 carries for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns. He took home the Maxwell Award as the most outstanding player in the sport and was a unanimous All-American selection.

Jeanty is 132 yards from breaking the NCAA single-season rushing record set by Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988.

Danielson is similarly in awe of Penn State senior tight end Tyler Warren.

Warren, who has a team-best six TD receptions, leads the Nittany Lions in receptions (92) and receiving yards (1,095). Both of those marks are single-season Big Ten records for tight ends. He won the Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end and finished seventh in the Heisman voting.

“Tyler Warren is elite,” Danielson said. “That’s not just my opinion; I’m very positive he’s going to be the first tight end taken off the board in the NFL draft because of that.

“He can do it all. He is extremely violent at the point of attack. He can catch every ball. He’s one of their top targets on all downs. And he can play wildcat and throw the ball. You talk about just an extremely gifted athlete, we’ve got to know where (Warren) is at all times.”

–Javier Morales, Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) reacts following a sack on Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (not pictured) during the second quarter in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

No. 6 seed Penn State advances in CFP with easy win over SMU

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dominic DeLuca and Tony Rojas returned interceptions for touchdowns and No. 6 seed Penn State advanced in the College Football Playoff with an easy 38-10 victory over No. 11 seed SMU on Saturday afternoon at University Park, Pa.

DeLuca also had another interception as the Nittany Lions (12-2) built a 28-point halftime advantage in Happy Valley. Penn State will face No. 3 seed Boise State (12-1) in a quarterfinal game at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 31.

Nicholas Singleton rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown and Kaytron Allen had 70 yards and two scores for the Nittany Lions, who thrived in cold weather that was 25 degrees (feels like 12) at kickoff. Drew Allar completed 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards.

Kevin Jennings threw three first-half interceptions for an SMU team that was overmatched from the outset. The Mustangs (11-3) were the final team to earn an at-large bid into the 12-team field, edging Alabama.

Jennings completed 20 of 36 passes for 195 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Roderick Daniels Jr. Brashard Smith had 163 all-purpose yards (77 kickoff, 62 rushing, 24 receiving) for the Mustangs.

Penn State outgained SMU 325-253.

Jennings’ first interception came when DeLuca picked off the throw at the SMU 23-yard line and ran in for the score with 6:08 left in the opening quarter.

His second interception came when Rojas nabbed his pass and meandered 59 yards for a score to give Penn State a 14-0 lead with 13:09 left in the first half.

SMU was threatening to get on the board five minutes later when DeLuca batted a Jennings pass in the air and caught it at the Nittany Lions’ 11 and returned it 14 yards.

Penn State then traveled 75 yards on nine plays to push the lead to 21. Allen capped the drive with a 25-yard run around the left side with five minutes left in the first half.

Singleton scored from the 1 with 1:03 left to give the Nittany Lions a 28-point halftime edge.

SMU got on the board in the third quarter on a 28-yard field goal by Collin Rogers. Penn State got the three points back on Ryan Barker’s 40-yard field goal with 8:13 left in the period.

Allen tacked on a 4-yard run to boost the Nittany Lions’ lead to 38-3 with 12:56 left in the contest.

Jennings hit Daniels from 28 yards out with 7:31 to play.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) runs with the ball against the Maryland Terrapins during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

No. 4 Penn State runs away from Maryland, into Big Ten title game

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 4 Penn State tripped out of the gates, then lapped visiting Maryland for a 38-7 victory Saturday in State College, Pa.

Win No. 11 on the season sends the one-loss Nittany Lions to Indianapolis for the Big Ten conference championship game to challenge No. 1 Oregon in Indianapolis next Saturday.

Penn State running back Nick Singleton scored two touchdowns and Tyler Warren, the Nittany Lions’ record-setting tight end, had another game for the books.

After trailing 7-3 at the end of the first quarter, the Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) found overdrive in the second quarter, scoring four touchdowns before halftime.

Quarterback Drew Allar’s desperate toss behind the line of scrimmage to his left found Warren, who hurdled one tackler, busted through another and kept driving for what registered as a 29-yard run to set up PSU’s third rushing touchdown in a span of barely six minutes to give the Nittany Lions a 24-7 lead with 6:53 left in the half.

Penn State wasn’t done, with Warren catching a 7-yard scoring pass from Allar to make it 31-7 with 1:46 left in the second quarter.

In all, the Nittany Lions scored the game’s final 44 points after spotting the Terrapins an early 7-0 lead.

Allar plowed for a 1-yard touchdown with 10:11 on the clock in the second quarter to make it 17-7, Beau Pribula jogged in from 6 yards out a few ticks under the seven-minute mark, then Penn State took the ball right back. Audavion Collins intercepted MJ Morris to set up Allar’s TD pass to Warren — the tight end’s 17th career touchdown reception (a school record for the position).

Moments after Happy Valley erupted in celebration of the Michigan upset at Ohio State, Maryland took the air out of the stadium.

Maryland forced a fumble on Penn State’s opening play and the Terrapins scored a touchdown on their first offensive snap — a 25-yard pass from Morris to Kaden Prather — to claim a 7-0 lead.

Warren set the Big Ten career record for receptions by a tight end with a catch in the first quarter, which was his 15th gain of 20-plus yards in 2024. The same 13-play drive ended with Penn State’s first touchdown of the game, Singleton’s 2-yard plunge off left guard two minutes into the second quarter. Singleton later broke through for an 18-yard score in the fourth quarter.

Pribula rounded out the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Tyseer Denmark on the game’s final play.

Morris was intercepted three times.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) runs for a touchdown against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

No. 4 Penn State averts upset bid, edges Minnesota

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Nicholas Singleton rushed for a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter and No. 4 Penn State converted a fake punt late in the fourth, helping it secure a 26-25 victory over Minnesota on Saturday in Big Ten play at Minneapolis.

Penn State’s Drew Allar completed 21 of 28 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown.

Omari Evans reeled in a 45-yard scoring strike and Tyler Warren had eight catches for 102 yards for the Nittany Lions (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten), who overcame two blocked kicks to record their third win in a row.

With Penn State nursing a 26-25 lead and in punt formation, upback Luke Reynolds took the snap and rushed 32 yards on a fourth-and-1 play with 3:38 remaining in the fourth quarter. Allar rushed for 2 yards to convert one fourth-down play and completed an 11-yard pass to Warren on another to seal the win.

Minnesota’s Max Brosmer completed 15 of 23 passes for 175 yards and a one touchdown. He also was intercepted once.

Marcus Major rushed for a 20-yard score and tight end Jameson Geers reeled in a touchdown pass for the Golden Gophers (6-5, 4-4), who dropped two in a row following a four-game winning streak.

Minnesota followed up Derik LeCaptain’s blocked punt by converting on the next play, with Brosmer capping a flea flicker by connecting with Geers on a 21-yard touchdown pass. The trick play staked the Golden Gophers to a 17-10 lead with 1:03 remaining in the second quarter.

Penn State answered on the ensuing drive as Allar rushed up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown. The Nittany Lions were denied on their bid to tie the game, as Jack Henderson blocked the extra-point attempt and Ethan Robinson scooped up the ball and raced down the field for the conversion to extend Minnesota’s advantage to 19-16.

Dragan Kesich drilled a 42-yard field goal to increase the Golden Gophers’ lead early in the third quarter before Singleton raced 12 yards for a score to give Penn State a 23-22 advantage.

Kesich answered Ryan Barker’s second field goal with his second of the day.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Beau Pribula (9) breaks up a pass for USC Trojans wide receiver Kyron Hudson (10) in the first half at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

No. 4 Penn State rallies to top USC in OT

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Ryan Barker’s 36-yard field goal in overtime completed No. 4 Penn State’s come-from-behind 33-30 win over Southern California on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Penn State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) never led after falling behind 7-3 until Barker capped the first extra session with the last of his four field goals. The Nittany Lions had to battle back from a two-touchdown halftime deficit, doing so thanks in part to a prolific connection between quarterback Drew Allar and tight end Tyler Warren.

Warren was on the receiving end of 17 of Allar’s 30 completions, hauling in a 32-yard touchdown catch just after the break to ignite Penn State’s rally. Warren’s 224 receiving yards are the second most by any Penn State player, only trailing Jahan Dotson’s 242 against Maryland in 2021.

Allar went 30-for-43 passing for 391 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which was a 14-yard strike to Nicholas Singleton that tied the game at 30 with 2:53 left in regulation. Allar was also picked off three times.

The Trojans (3-3, 1-3) crossed into Penn State territory just after the two-minute warning. But while letting the clock tick down as it tried to get into field-goal range, USC saw its end-game strategy backfire.

Jaylen Reed intercepted Trojans quarterback Miller Moss’ deep pass attempt to keep the contest tied and force overtime. In the extra period, the Penn State defense caused a pair of incompletions and Dani Dennis-Sutton tackled Woody Marks for a loss of 3 yards, making USC kicker Michael Lantz’s field-goal attempt 45 yards.

Lantz missed, opening the door for Penn State to win.

Moss completed 20 of 34 passes for 220 yards and a pair of scores — to Kyron Hudson and Quinten Joyner. Joyner powered USC to its early lead with a monster first half that featured a 75-yard rushing touchdown and a 9-yard TD reception.

Marks rushed for 111 yards on 20 carries in the loss.

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) catches a pass and runs for a two point conversion against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Penn State star RB Nicholas Singleton expected back vs. USC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After a one-game absence due to an undisclosed injury, Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton is expected to return this Saturday against Southern California.

“We’re very, very confident, and I think Nick’s very confident, talking to him Sunday, that he’ll be ready to go,” Penn State coach James Franklin told reporters Monday.

Franklin said Singleton was “very close” to playing for the now-No. 4 Nittany Lions last Saturday against UCLA. Without him, they still won 27-11, with running back Kaytron Allen carrying the load (21 rushes, 78 yards, one TD).

Singleton has gained 408 rushing yards (102 per game) with three touchdowns on 53 carries this year, adding six catches for 74 yards and two more touchdowns.

In three seasons at Penn State, Singleton has appeared in 30 games and rushed for 2,221 yards and 23 touchdowns. He’s also caught 43 passes for 467 yards and five scores.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) warms up before a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Luke Altmyer, No. 19 Illinois out to upend No. 9 Penn State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

It’s not unexpected to see No. 9 Penn State bolt out to a 3-0 start entering Big Ten Conference play.

On the other hand, Illinois getting off to a 4-0 start and earning a No. 19 ranking in this week’s Associated Press poll probably wasn’t on too many bingo cards a month ago.

That makes the teams’ meeting Saturday night in State College, Pa. a big game, particularly for the Fighting Illini. After opening conference play last weekend with a 31-24 overtime victory at Nebraska, they’d love nothing more than to take down one of the preseason favorites.

“When you get into Big Ten play, it’s different, and Illinois has done a really good job,” Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said. “They’re a physical bunch. The quarterback is playing at a high level.”

Which is a big reason why the Illini are surpassing most preseason expectations. Luke Altmyer has thrown for 10 touchdowns in four games after managing just 13 scoring strikes last year. Most importantly, he’s not been intercepted in 105 passes this season after being picked off 10 times in 2023.

Altmyer’s 71.4 percent completion rate is the best of his career and he’s improved his yards per attempt by more than one. Add on a balanced rushing attack and a defense that resembles the one of two years ago that enabled Illinois to contend, and you have a team that fourth-year coach Bret Bielema can believe in.

“Defensively, we get better as the game goes along,” Bielema said.

Case in point: how Illinois ended the win at Nebraska. After Altmyer fired the go-ahead touchdown pass on the Illini’s overtime possession, they sacked Dylan Raiola on first, second and fourth down to seal the outcome.

Now comes, at least on paper, another step up in class. Penn State’s offense has looked much-improved in the early going, getting more big plays to complement what appears to be another solid defense. It rolled to a 56-0 win last week against hapless Kent State, allowing just 66 total yards.

New offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki stressed creating more chunk plays, and that’s what’s happened. Quarterback Drew Allar is averaging a whopping 17.8 yards per completion and running back Nicholas Singleton is averaging a robust 8.5 yards per rush, compiling 314 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“The quarterback can’t work through his progression if we’re not playing well up front,” Franklin said. “That plays a part in the quarterback being able to attack the entire field.”

Franklin said the Illinois pass rush is a concern. The Illini will need to pressure Allar because he has capable receivers all over the field, beginning with tight end Tyler Warren, who’s on pace to catch 64 passes. Wideouts Omari Evans and Harrison Wallace are combining to average nearly 22 yards per catch.

This is Illinois’ first visit to Beaver Stadium since it won an NCAA-record nine-overtime game in 2021 on a two-point conversion pass from Brandon Peters to Casey Washington. The Nittany Lions own a 21-6 lead in the all-time series, winning last year in Champaign 30-13.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) rushes for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Bowling Green Falcons at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Drew Allar paces No. 8 Penn State past Bowling Green

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Drew Allar threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as No. 8 Penn State rallied in the second half to a 34-27 win over Bowling Green on Saturday in State College, Pa.

Allar completed 13 of 20 passes for 204 yards with an interception. He gave the Nittany Lions (2-0) a 27-24 lead with 6:13 left in the third quarter on a 14-yard scoring strike to Nicholas Singleton.

Singleton added the clinching touchdown with 4:09 left in the fourth quarter on a 41-yard touchdown run, the highlight of his 119-yard effort in 13 carries.

Connor Bazelak completed 25 of 39 passes for 254 yards with two scores and two interceptions for the Falcons (1-1). They rolled up 286 yards in the first half but managed just 88 after halftime.

Jackson Kleather nailed a 42-yard field goal with 47 seconds remaining in the game to draw Bowling Green within seven points. But Penn State recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.

Penn State came into the game as a whopping 34-point favorite but Bazelak and Bowling Green served immediate notice that this would not be an easy tuneup. The Falcons scored the first three times they touched the ball.

Bazelak hit Harold Fannin Jr. for a 6-yard touchdown just 2:21 into the game, then led a drive of nearly 5 1/2 minutes that resulted in a 33-yard field goal from Kleather. When Bazelak found Malcolm Johnson Jr. for a 15-yard score at the 12:48 mark of the second quarter, the Falcons led 17-7.

Allar, who rushed for a 5-yard touchdown on the Nittany Lions’ first possession, connected with Omari Evans for a 29-yard strike to make it 17-14 with 11:48 remaining. Penn State tied it with a 43-yard field goal by Sander Sahaydak with 5:28 left.

But Bowling Green regained the lead less than two minutes later on a 41-yard run by Jamal Johnson. Sahaydak hit from 28 with 14 seconds on the clock but the Falcons took a stunning 24-20 edge into halftime.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) celebrates after a stop during the third quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

No. 8 Penn State, proud of improved defense, faces Bowling Green

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Much was made of the improved big-play capability of No. 8 Penn State on offense last week in its season-opening 34-12 win at West Virginia.

But coach James Franklin noted that the Nittany Lions, who host Bowling Green on Saturday in State College, Pa., weren’t too shabby on defense.

“No one is talking about our defense and our defense played really well,” he said Monday. “Better in points per possession, better in explosive plays. Better in total yards allowed, better in rushing yards allowed. Our defense played better, and they played better on the road.”

Penn State won’t have to worry about the road for a while, either. This game starts a stretch of four in a row at home. With a bye week tossed in next week, the Nittany Lions won’t have to travel again until an Oct. 12 trip to Southern California.

Their defense allowed only 246 total yards at West Virginia, including just 85 on the ground, and forced three turnovers. Teamed with an offense that rolled up 457 total yards and created four plays of at least 40 yards, it led to one of the more impressive wins of the opening week.

Quarterback Drew Allar was 11-of-17 passing for 216 yards and three touchdowns — all in the second quarter. Harrison Wallace caught five passes for 117 yards and two scores, including a 50-yarder on the first play of the second quarter and an 18-yarder with six seconds remaining in the first half for a 20-6 lead at intermission.

“We were very intentional on growing that and developing that,” Allar said of the increase in big plays. “It’s fun to be in a system like that, for sure. We really prepared well throughout the week as an offense.”

It wasn’t all passing, though. Penn State also got 114 rushing yards from Nick Singleton, including a 40-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter after a lightning delay of more than two hours.

Meanwhile, Bowling Green also cruised in its season opener on Aug. 29, drilling FCS opponent Fordham 41-17. Justin Pegues returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and Terion Stewart rushed for 161 yards and three scores, including a 73-yarder in the fourth quarter.

The Falcons also got 168 passing yards from Connor Bazelak, who added a rushing touchdown. Bazelak, who previously played at Missouri and Indiana, has thrown for 9,473 yards in his career and will be starting his 42nd career game on Saturday.

Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler said his team will be challenged to communicate in front of a big crowd at Beaver Stadium.

“We got to be on point,” Loeffler said. “We got to know exactly what to do because it’s hard to hear. It is a loud place; the student section will be rocking and rolling. There’s a lot of challenge to it. There’ll be an unbelievable amount of people when you’re just warming up.”

The Falcons have lost both previous matchups with the Nittany Lions, with the last meeting coming in 1998, when Penn State cruised to a 48-3 victory.

–Field Level Media

Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu (74) gets set before a play against West Virginia at Beaver Stadium September 2, 2023, in State College.

Penn State LT Olu Fashanu declares for NFL draft

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Penn State’s Olu Fashanu, considered one of the top offensive tackles in the upcoming class, announced Friday he is entering the 2024 NFL Draft.

Fashanu was seen as a first-round pick in mock drafts for 2023, but he decided to return for another season with the Nittany Lions.

“A year ago I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to declare for the NFL draft,” Fashanu wrote in a social media post. “I am forever grateful that I made the decision to come back and compete with my brothers on last time while also graduating. With that being said, I am proud to announce that I will be declaring fore the 2024 NFL Draft. I look forward to spending time with my teammates and coaches in Atlanta for the Peach Bowl.”

While he plans to travel to Atlanta, it was unclear whether Fashanu will play in the Peach Bowl for No. 10 Penn State (10-2) against No. 11 Ole Miss (10-2) on Dec. 30.

Fashanu, listed at 6-foot-6 and 317 pounds, was a two-year starter at Penn State and was named a first-team All-American in 2023.

–Field Level Media