Watch James Franklin's postgame press conference following Penn State's win over Rutgers
Penn State won its ninth game of the season Saturday, defeating Rutgers 27-6. Following head coach James Franklin’s decision to fire offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich on Sunday, many wondered what the Nittany Lions would look like offensively this week against a solid defense for the Scarlet Knights.
It ended up being a heavy dose of the run, especially after quarterback Drew Allar left the game in the third quarter with an injury. With backup quarterback Beau Pribula taking over, the Nittany Lions threw the ball just once in the final 25 minutes. In the end, it did work out, however, with Penn State scoring 17 unanswered points, including two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
For the game, the Nittany Lions finished with 234 yards on 39 carries. That’s the most against a Power Five opponent this season. Penn State totaled 315 yards on 60 carries against Delaware early in the season. Pribula led the team with 71 yards on eight carries. Kaytron Allen led the running backs with 16 rushes for 69 yards and two touchdowns.
“With Drew getting banged up, Beau Pribula really did a great job, specifically with his legs.” Franklin said. “[Pribula] gave us a little bit more diversity in the running game, which I think was helpful for us.”
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Defensively, Penn State held Rutgers to just 229 yards on the day. The Knights put together two drives in the first half, including a 14-play, 61-yard drive that lasted more than 9 minutes to open the game. However, Rutgers was only able to get a field goal. Middle linebacker Kobe King played one of his best games statistically, leading the team in tackles with 10. The Nittany Lions also totaled seven tackles for loss and three sacks, with Chop Robinson totaling two tackles for loss.”
“Chop continues to play lights out. He has thrived, really since coming here. KJ Winston really played well all year long, but that interception was significant. I thought Kobe King has really put together a really nice year. But overall, [I’m] pleased with the step we took today against a really good Rutgers team.”
Penn State will now hit the road for its final game of the 2023 season against Michigan State. The game was moved back in the spring to Ford Field in Detroit and will be played on Friday, Nov. 24. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. ET and will air on NBC.
Nittany Lion fans can watch Franklin’s complete postgame press conference above.
