Penn State loses QB Drew Allar, beats Wisconsin

Penn State essentially saw Wisconsin down 10 points in the first half, trailed again at halftime, lost its starting quarterback to an apparent knee injury and saw two more starters leave the game with injuries, but still didn’t break ground. And now the stumbling yet undefeated Nittany Lions will host Ohio State with a perfect 7-0 record.

Safety Jaylen Reed returned a third-quarter interception for a touchdown, quarterback Beau Pribula led a critical touchdown drive that lasted more than seven minutes and the Nittany Lions outlasted Wisconsin 28-13 on Saturday night at a sold-out Camp Randall Stadium. The game proved to be another stress test for third-ranked Penn State, which faced more obstacles than it has all season. Still, the Nittany Lions found a way. Pribula and the defense were the difference.

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar leaves the game

Allar had a big day (14-for-18, 148 yards) and led a touchdown drive before Wisconsin turned up the pressure. He looked increasingly frustrated as the second quarter progressed, leading to a critical moment late in the second quarter. After a first-down sack, Allar stood up with a slight limp and gingerly walked away after two subsequent incompletions. Allar started the third quarter on the line, wearing a knee brace, and Beau Pribula took over at quarterback.

This wouldn’t be a repeat of the 2021 Penn State-Iowa game, when Sean Clifford ceded to Ta’Quan Roberson. Pribula was ready.

Beau Pribula takes over the attack

Pribula had some anxious early moments, including a fumbled snap and a delay of game penalty. But then the quarterback dropped the “changeup quarterback” designation in real time. He completed ten straight passes at one point, five for first downs and a smart second-look touchdown pass to Khalil Dinkins. Additionally, Pribula rushed for key first-down conversions that helped open up the rest of Penn State’s offense.

Pribula went 11-for-13, all in the second half, and found rapport with Liam Clifford. The receiver caught three critical passes for 40 yards, including a 23-yarder on Penn State’s final scoring drive. Once again, Tyler Warren was Penn State’s leading receiver, catching seven passes for 46 yards. He also took two Wildcat snaps to set up Pribula’s touchdown pass to Dinkins.

Penn State’s run game is reviving itself

The first half wasn’t pretty. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for 38 yards rushing in the first half, continuing a theme that started with the doubleheader against the California schools. Penn State averaged over 250 yards rushing through its first four games, but combined for just 203 yards against UCLA and USC.

But with Pribula adding his dynamic feet to the running game, Singleton and Allen found more space. They rushed for 97 yards in the second half, with Allen scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a special effect from offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.

Pribula appeared to call a play from the shotgun, but was actually behind left guard Vega Ioane. Allen lined up behind center Nick Dawkins, who snapped directly at Allen and then pulled to his left in the running formation. With exceptional interior blocking, Allen caught a lane for a 24-yard touchdown.

Penn State’s defense closes the third door again

Yes, Penn State’s defense was frustratingly leaky in the first half. Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke led a 10-play, 73-yard scoring drive that gave the Badgers the halftime lead in a series that capitalized on a defensive penalty on the Nittany Lions. However, Penn State allowed just three third-quarter points through its first six games and gave up just three more to Wisconsin. More importantly, the Nittany Lions took the lead in a much-needed defensive play.

With Allar out and the offensive tone gone, Reed intercepted Locke and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown, giving Penn State a 14–10 lead. That play followed a 3-and-out on Wisconsin’s first drive of the quarter. The Badgers produced just 51 yards in the first half, none on the ground.

Penn State swallowed Wisconsin’s run game, allowing just 10 rushing yards in the second half. Defensive tackle Alonzo Ford. generated two tackles for loss in the same series, Zane Durant was a threat inside and Zakee Wheatley made 10 tackles, including a fourth-down stop late.

Penn State’s top injuries

The Nittany Lions left the game with multiple injuries. Allar’s knee will be a major concern this week. But Penn State also lost defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, who played one snap in the second half, and right tackle Anthony Donkoh in the first half. Nolan Rucci, who transferred from Wisconsin to Penn State, took over for Donkoh.

Nicholas Singleton’s acrobatic touchdown catch

Nicholas Singleton didn’t look like his most explosive self against Wisconsin. And he wasn’t the best receiver in his backfield last year. That was Allen. But Singleton spent the offseason upgrading that part of his game, with excellent results.

Singleton made a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch in the second quarter, hauling in a pass that Allar floated into tight coverage. The catch was his second of the half; Singleton closed the first quarter by taking a 27-yard Allar outlet throw to get into the red zone. However, the touchdown catch was an elite receiving play.

Penn State helps Wisconsin to 10 points

Locke went 2-for-7 on Wisconsin’s first series, but a strong throw on 3rd and 15 kept the drive alive. Then came one of the smartest plays you will see from a gambler. Penn State’s Jalen Kimber had a free rush to the block, but Wisconsin’s Atticus Bertrans calmly stopped the ball, reset to kick again and saw an uncovered court. He ran 15 yards on 4th and 9 for the improbable conversion. That set up kicker Nathanial Vakos for a 50-yard field goal, giving the Badgers a 3-0 lead.

Locke tightened up his throwing in the second quarter. He led a 10-play, 73-yard touchdown drive and completed three straight passes, including a pair to Will Pauling, before Tawee Walker scored on a 1-yard run 1:23 before halftime. The scoring drive took advantage of a crucial mistake by Penn State: the Nittany Lions had twelve defenders on the field during a third-down stop before Walker’s touchdown.

Next

Penn State will host Ohio State, perhaps with former President Donald Trump in attendanceon Nov. 2 at Beaver Stadium.

More Penn State football

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is “stoked” for the Penn State game

A huge Gatorade ad featuring Nicholas Singleton debuted this week in State College. Columnist Ben Jones on what it means

James Franklin offers a glimpse into his Coaches Poll Voting Process

Why Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson spoke to the Nittany Lions during the bye week