Penn State remains unbeaten with 'prettiest and ugliest' victory

By Nate Bauer

MADISON, Wis. — Penn State football’s perfect game has to wait another week. Shortly after emerging from a first-half deficit to bury the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday night, head coach James Franklin was willing to endure it.

Winners of a 28-13 decision, the No. 3-ranked Nittany Lions improved to 7-0 on the 2024 season. And, with No. 4 Ohio State up next (noon, FOX), Penn State will be eager for the opportunity, no matter the path taken to get there.

“I think sometimes we’re too close to it as coaches and fans. I know we want all the wins to be pretty. That was one of the prettiest and ugliest wins we’ve had,” said Franklin. “But that’s the beauty. If you really watch college football and just don’t study Penn State, you’re going to have to find different ways to win games throughout a season. Our guys were able to do that today. So, I’m very proud of them.”

Coming out of the performance, Franklin met with reporters to detail the Nittany Lions’ latest win. Here is a look at the major points to emerge from the postgame media availability:

1) Honesty’s the best policy

Drew Allar had completed 14 of 18 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown in the first half. He also was gobbled up by a 3-yard sack in the last minute of action.

Whether incurred on that or another play, the result was an injury that prevented him from continuing on. And, as Franklin detailed, that decision was made by Allar himself after a thorough conversation demanding transparency. 

“I asked him to be very, very honest with me. And he just didn’t feel like he was going to be able to move well enough to go,” said Franklin. “Even at the end of the half, you saw, even throwing was challenging.”

An injury that appeared to be to Allar’s left knee, the quarterback returned from the locker room with a brace on. But, after jogging out to midfield and throwing a few passes, the Nittany Lions were forced to turn to backup Beau Pribula for the game’s remaining 30 minutes. 

While Pribula helped to deliver the come from behind win, completing 11 of 13 passes, the question of Allar’s immediate future is now in focus. Franklin put it in terms that cast doubt on the notion of a particularly severe circumstance.

“I’m not going to get into a whole lot of medical stuff right now, especially when I don’t have a whole lot of information,” said Franklin. “(The question) was, is he going to be mobile enough to give us a chance to run the offense the way we need to run the offense? And it really came down to Drew, once he came out.”

2) “Culture win”

Pretty or not, Franklin and the Nittany Lions wouldn’t trade the outcome for anything. They also wouldn’t trade what the win says about their collective ability to push through less-than-ideal circumstances.

Traveling for a second road game in as many tries, this time at a famed, historic venue, Penn State lost its starting quarterback, starting defensive end, and starting right tackle to injuries. In the process, the Nittany Lions battled without them to finish the game with a 21-3 run. 

“Just a gutsy win on the road against a team that’s really trending in a real positive direction. Tough environment to play in. Just a gutsy win,” said Franklin. “Next man up. No excuses. I just thought it was a gutsy, culture win.”

3) “Momentum is a real thing.”

With one throw, set up by an ever-tightening grip of Penn State’s defense, Wisconsin’s advantage disappeared. Braedyn Locke connected squarely with Jaylen Reed late in the third quarter, the Nittany Lion safety sprinted 19 yards into the end zone, and the visitors took a 14-10 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. 

On the back side of it, Penn State allowed one explosive pass on a spectacular grab, but buckled down to force a 32-yard field goal. And, in its aftermath, the Nittany Lions went back-to-back with 13- and 9-play touchdown drives, respectively, to seal the game. 

“I don’t know if it necessarily was the lead. I would say probably more momentum,” said Franklin. “Momentum is a real thing. And I think that was a big play in the game to switch the momentum. And I think from that point on, we were really able to take control of the game, specifically on offense.”

The question for Penn State is whether the concept applies more broadly. 

Set to take on the Buckeyes in one of the season’s most anticipated games, dating back to last summer, the Nittany Lions enter November with everything in front of them. An expanded playoff changes the complexion of the game’s outcome. 

A win propels Penn State into a legitimate conversation as one of the country’s best teams this season. And, a loss doesn’t eliminate that possibility. 

Can the Nittany Lions channel their grittiest survival instincts into one of opportunism? They’ll be tasked with doing as much in the coming days.

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