MINNEAPOLIS — Drew Allar threw for 244 yards and a touchdown, added a rushing score, and completed a crucial late fourth-down conversion to help No. 4 Penn State secure a narrow 26-25 victory over Minnesota on Saturday. This victory keeps the Nittany Lions in contention for a College Football Playoff berth as they improve to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten. Interestingly, Penn State managed to avoid the upset while three other teams in the anticipated 12-team playoff faced defeats on the same day.
Tyler Warren played a pivotal role for the Nittany Lions, making eight catches for 102 yards. The Gophers, now standing at 6-5 and 4-4 in the conference, made a strong push to close the gap with a field goal by Dragan Kesich with just under six minutes left, bringing the score to 26-25. After a drive that started at first-and-goal from the 7, Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck chose to rely on his defense by opting for a field goal, a decision that nearly paid off thanks to a key play by tight end Luke Reynolds, who executed a 32-yard run on a fake punt, compensating for two earlier special teams mistakes by Penn State.
Allar, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure, converted on a crucial fourth-and-1 keeper just before the two-minute warning. He then connected with Warren for another fourth-and-1 conversion, effectively sealing the victory. Earlier in the game, Nick Singleton had put the Nittany Lions ahead for the first time at 23-22 with a 12-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Max Brosmer, Minnesota’s quarterback, had been impressive until he threw an interception to Dominic DeLuca and lost a fumble on the opening play of the fourth quarter. This turnover allowed Penn State to score again through a field goal by Ryan Barker. Daniel Jackson had a noteworthy performance for Minnesota with six catches for 90 yards and a rushing touchdown from Marcus Major.
In a notable special teams moment, Pennsylvania’s Riley Thompson attempted a punt from his own end zone that was deflected by Derik LeCaptain, stopping at the 21-yard line. The Gophers quickly executed a trick play involving a double reverse pass that ended with Brosmer throwing a wide-open touchdown to tight end Jameson Geers, taking the lead to 19-16 by halftime.
After a rocky start where the Nittany Lions fell behind 10-0, Allar connected with an open Omari Evans for a striking 45-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter, later contributing to a scoring drive that tied the game at 10.
The key takeaway from the match was that Penn State’s offensive approach thrived in no-huddle situations, effectively utilizing Warren’s skills as a versatile tight end. Conversely, Minnesota’s near-upset served as a reminder of their potential, highlighted by the significant impact of Brosmer’s turnovers in deciding the game’s outcome.
Looking ahead, Penn State will finish its regular season at home against Maryland next Saturday, while Minnesota prepares for a matchup at Wisconsin next Friday, with the coveted Paul Bunyan’s Axe on the line.