STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — In a commanding performance on Saturday night, No. 6 Penn State dominated Washington, securing a 35-6 victory at home during their thrilling White Out game.
Tyler Warren was a standout for the Nittany Lions, catching eight passes for 75 yards while also scoring two touchdowns on the ground. Penn State (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) made an explosive start, scoring on their first four possessions to keep their hopes for the College Football Playoff alive.
The scoring began with Beau Pribula’s 8-yard touchdown run, followed by Warren taking direct snaps for two consecutive 2-yard touchdown runs. Just before halftime, quarterback Drew Allar connected with Julian Fleming for an 8-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 28-0 with only 23 seconds remaining in the first half.
On the other hand, the Huskies (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) struggled to capitalize on their opportunities. They made it into Penn State territory during their opening drive but missed a 45-yard field goal attempt by Grady Gross, which hit the upright. Washington managed only two punts in their next three possessions, and midway through the second quarter, Penn State safety Jaylen Reed intercepted the ball at midfield, further stifling the Huskies’ efforts.
Washington finally found the scoreboard in the third quarter when Warren fumbled early on. With Demond Williams Jr. stepping in as quarterback for the Huskies, Gross successfully kicked a 24-yard field goal after an eight-play drive.
Gross added another field goal for Washington with a distance of 35 yards during their next possession. However, Penn State running back Kaytron Allen sealed the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run, concluding a lengthy 16-play drive.
Poll Implications: With this win, Penn State may have an opportunity to climb the rankings, particularly following losses from No. 4 Miami against Georgia Tech and No. 2 Georgia to No. 16 Ole Miss.
The Takeaway: For Washington, the quest to secure consecutive conference victories faltered due to a poor first-half performance, managing only 71 total yards and a mere 13 on the ground by halftime, a significant hindrance in the competitive Big Ten.
In contrast, Penn State bounced back from a previous loss where they failed to score a touchdown and converted only three of eleven third downs against No. 3 Ohio State. Their defense exhibited dominance, yielding just 74 rushing yards and registering five sacks.
Looking ahead, Washington is set to face UCLA at home on Friday, while Penn State will visit Purdue on Saturday.