Penn State falls to Ole Miss 38-25 in the Peach Bowl

ATLANTA — Penn State meets Ole Miss today in the Peach Bowl. Kickoff is set for Noon ET on ESPN. The Nittany Lions and Rebels are meeting for the first time. And, with a win, Penn State could become the first team to win each New Year’s Six bowl game in college football history.

“We’ve had a great experience,” Lions coach James Franklin said Friday. “Been treated in a first class manner. The hotels have been great. Had a chance to interact with Lane, which has been really good. We have a lot of coaches and friends in common, but we haven’t really spent a ton of time together in the past. We were at the Dodd dinner last night, which was a great event, but we’re excited about playing a really good opponent in SEC country.

“I’ve been a head coach in the SEC as well, so I’m very familiar and got a ton of respect for Ole Miss specifically and the conference as well. And it should be a great game that’s soldout, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Penn State availability report

The Lions will be without multiple starters today. Tackle Olu Fashanu, defensive end Chop Robinson, and cornerbacks Johnny Dixon and Kalen King are all out. Offensive lineman JB Nelson is questionable. But, the team will get a big boost from the return of receiver Harrison “Trey” Wallace III.

“Having Trey back is something the offense needs,” quarterback Drew Allar said. “I think he brings a lot of positivity to that room. He’s a very consistent receiver. Obviously, as we all know, he’s a very explosive receiver vertically.

“I think he just brings a great work ethic to that room again, now that he’s back healthy. But as far as a playing standpoint, that’s a Coach Franklin thing, and I’m not going to — that’s a Coach Franklin and Trey decision, so I don’t have any input on that.”

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Fourth quarter updates

3:53 — The game is over. Penn State loses to Ole Miss 38-25.

3:40 — Pribula hits Singleton for two after Allar hit Wallace III for six. Penn State now trails Ole Miss 38-25 with 4:14 to go.

3:19 — Touchdown, Ole Miss: Jaxson Dart runs in from a few yards out, and the Rebels now lead Penn State 38-17, and many Lions fans are headed for the exits.

3:09 — Alex Felkins’ field goal attempt is blocked. Wrote this week that Ole Miss had two already this year. Now it’s three.

3:05 — Penn State is driving early in the fourth quarter. They have it at the Ole Miss 27 with 12:06 to go in the fourth quarter down 31-17.

Third quarter Penn State-Ole Miss updates

2:55 — Penn State stacks up Judkins on third down. Curtis Jacobs with a big play. After three, it’s Ole Miss 31, Penn State 17. Rebels have 4th and 5 to start the fourth quarter.

2:47 — Drew Allar’s pass to Kaden Saunders, who is only the second receiver to get a target today, falls incomplete. Penn State will punt with 3:17 left in the third quarter.

2:42 — Ole Miss goes for two and gets it. Just a complete breakdown by the Penn State defense on back-to-back plays. Rebels now lead the Lions 31-17 with 4:10 to go in the third quarter.

2:40 — Touchdown, Ole Miss: Dart to Judkins on third down for six. Penn State sent pressure and it didn’t get there, leaving the running back wide open.

2:27 — Penn State will punt on 4th and 1 from its own 34 with 8:45 left in the third quarter.

2:22 — Ole Miss’ 53-yard field goal is good. With 10:48 left in the third quarter, the Rebels lead Penn State 23-17.

2:16 — Penn State quickly goes three and out. Lions play calling these last two drives has been a bit uninspiring.

Second quarter updates

1:50 — Halftime: Ole Miss 20, Penn State 17.

1:45 — Drew Allar is sacked on third down, and Penn State will punt it back to Ole Miss with 45 seconds left in the first half. Lions receivers do not have a catch in the first half and only Trey Wallace has been targeted, and only once at that.

1:42 — Ole Miss will punt on 4th and 9 with 1:34 left in the first half.

1:35 — Touchdown Penn State: Beau Pribula found a wide-open Nicholas Singleton, who raced into the end zone untouched. It’s now 20-17 Ole Miss with 2:45 left in the first half.

1:30 — Touchdown, Ole Miss: It was a Penn State coverage bust and Prieskorn was wide open for a 37-yard score. Rebels now lead the Lions 20-10 with 4:58 left in the first half.

1:25 — Ole Miss goes for it on 4th and 2 and gets it with a pitch. Abdul Carter was hurt on the play for Penn State.

1:18 — Drew Allar’s pass on first down is intercepted by Ole Miss. Omari Evans was barely in the area. Rebels take over at their own 17.

1:10 — Ole Miss makes a field goal. It now leads Penn State 13-10 with 10:33 left in the first half.

1:01 — Touchdown, Penn State: Theo Johnson catches a two yard pass from Drew Allar on 4th and 2. It’s 10-10 with 13:34 left in the first half.

First quarter updates

12:56 — Wow, Drew Allar threw what looked like a very ill-advised pass that ended in Tyler Warren’s arms for a 76-yard gain. Penn State will have first and goal when the second quarter begins.

12:51 — Touchdown, Ole Miss: Prieskorn catches a six yard pass from Dart to give the Rebels a 10-3 lead over Penn State with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

12:42 — Penn State picked up one first down on its latest drive but Drew Allar’s third down pass flew incomplete. The Nittany Lions will punt for the first time today.

12:31 — Ole Miss hits a field goal to tie Penn State at 3-3 with 7:16 left in the first quarter.

12:24 — Penn State takes a 3-0 lead on a field goal by Alex Felkins. There is 9:17 left. James Franklin badly wanted a probably deserved DPI on third down that wasn’t called. There’s 9:17 left in the first quarter.

12:18 — Penn State is driving. The Rebels went three and out. Cam Miller nearly had an interception but it was overturned upon review.

12:11 — We’re underway. Ole Miss won the toss and took the ball.

Pregame updates

11:41 am — Penn State heading into the locker room.

11:40 am — Theo Johnson is also participating in pregame warmups.

11:30 am — Receiver Trey Wallace is warming up and participating.

11 am — Penn State arrived at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 10 a.m. ET. Head coach James Franklin did his regular pregame lap on the field. Chop Robinson is here supporting the team despite being out and off to the NFL.