Penn State performance casts doubt on CFP chances, Lions running backs shine, and more of what they're saying

Penn State football is being discussed locally and nationally after surviving an upset bid by Bowling Green on Saturday. Numerous Nittany Lions players are being praised. But, the team overall is being questioned after the 34-27 win at Beaver Stadium.

“That’s Bowling Green, give them credit for their plan and their players,” Lions coach James Franklin said. “And then it’s also us making sure we’re doing a good job with our plan and our players and going out and executing, it’s literally both. It’s no different than last week. I think our defense created some of those problems and issues and caused stress. It’s weird to have a bye week after your second game, but I think it’s going to be important for us, and we’re going to need to maximize this time and then obviously, we’re going to focus on our next opponent.”

Here’s what the national and local media is talking about after after the victory.

Saturday’s result casts doubt on Lions’ CFP aspirations

That’s the take from CBS Sports’ national college football writer Will Backus. He notes that Penn State’s offense struggled to stay on schedule and too often let Bowling Green play exactly how it wanted to on offense. It all still led to a win on this day. But, it might not against better opponents.

“Better teams with more depth than Bowling Green will be able to sustain the production, though,” Backus writes. “The Nittany Lions still have to play a USC team that put 447 yards on the board against LSU and an Ohio State team that should field one of the nation’s most explosive attacks. 

“The rest of Penn State’s schedule, outside of those two games, is manageable. Even then, Saturday’s result cast doubts on the Nittany Lions’ ability to elevate themselves to a championship level, especially in a race that also includes the likes of Oregon.”

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The Lions’ running backs shined

For the first time since late 2023, Penn State running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen both topped the 100-yard mark on the ground. The former ran for 119 and a touchdown and the latter had 101. PennLive reporter Johnny McGonigal focused on those two in his game recap.

“If anyone needed it, Saturday served as a reminder that Penn State has one of the best one-two punches at running back in college football,” McGonigal writes. “On Saturday, fans might not have loved what they saw from Penn State as a whole. But if the Nittany Lions are going to push for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff this year, they’re going to need more performances like that from both Allen and Singleton.”

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Tyler Warren takes on a game-changing role

If not for Penn State senior tight end Tyler Warren, Singleton and Allen would have been the star of the Penn State show on offense. However, he takes the honor after catching eight passes for a program record setting 146 yards for a player at his position. He averaged 18.25 yards per catch and a whopping 62 yards after the catch. SI’s Sam Woloson focused on him in his game recap.

“For all we’ve heard about Penn State’s wide receiver room making strides this offseason, tight end Tyler Warren was the one who dominated against Bowling Green. The senior caught eight passes for 146 yards, coming through time and time again on third down,” Woloson writes.

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Penn State special teams in focus

BWI publisher Sean Fitz covered a lot of ground in his weekly first impressions piece. One note focused on the special teams.

“Penn State rolled with Sander Sahaydak as its field goal kicker despite the miss against West Virginia last week,” Fitz writes. “He bounced back with a pair of second quarter field goals on Saturday, in addition to making each of his four extra points. The 43- and 28-yard makes weren’t anything outside the realm of expectation for a college kicker to convert, but we’re talking baby steps here when it comes to kicking. If this one is to be salvaged, kicks like that can go a long way. Sahaydak was the bright spot of a mediocre day on special teams. Kaden Saunders almost fumbled his only punt return and Gabe Nwosu kicked one out of bounds at a bad time.”

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