Nittany Lions Grind Out 26-25 Win at Minnesota
Courtesy of GoPSU Athletics
Penn State finishes the regular season 5-0 in true road games for the first time since 1985
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – No. 4 Penn State (10-1, 7-1) trailed 10-0 early and 19-16 at halftime, but rallied back to earn a 26-25 victory over Minnesota (6-5, 4-4) at Huntington Bank Stadium.
With the win, the Nittany Lions have won their first five true road games of a season for the first time since 1985 and went 4-0 on the road in Big Tengames for the third time in program history, joining the 1994 and 2009 teams.
Penn State reaches 10 wins in a season for the 27th time in program history and 10 regular season wins for the 21st time. The Nittany Lions have won 10 games in three-straight seasons for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 1980-82 (10 wins in 1980; 10 in 1981; 11 in 1982). The Nittany Lions join Oregon and Ohio State as the only FBS teams with 10+ wins in each of the last three seasons (2022, 2023, 2024).
With Penn State leading 26-25, the Nittany Lions held possession of the football for the final 5:48. PSU converted three fourth downs on the drive, highlighted by a 32-yard rush by Luke Reynolds on a fake punt.
The Nittany Lions outgained the Golden Gophers, 361-281, and held Minnesota to just three second-half points. Safety Jaylen Reed led PSU with 10 tackles (4 solo) while defensive tackle Zane Durant paced the group with 2.5 tackles for loss. Penn State had two takeaways, a second quarter interception by linebacker Dominic DeLuca and a fourth quarter fumble recovery by safety Zakee Wheatley.
Offensively, quarterback Drew Allar finished the game going 21-for-28 for 244 yards and one touchdown. Tyler Warren, the best tight end in college football, hauled in eight receptions for 102 yards, and on an 8-yard catch in the third quarter, he broke the Penn State tight end career receiving yards record, surpassing Mike Gesicki (1,481; 2014-17). Wide receiver Omari added a 45-yard touchdown reception.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Penn State opened with a three-and-out, Minnesota put together a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive, resulting in a 20-yard touchdown run by Marcus Major to give the Golden Gophers a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Minnesota had three chunk plays on the drive of 20, 12 and 20 yards, leading to the score.
Following a 48-yard field goal by Minnesota with 12:56 in the second quarter, Penn State’s offense got going on the ensuing drive with a 19-yard pass to Warren to kick things off. Three plays later, Allar found Evans on a 45-yard touchdown pass to make it a 10-7 game in favor of the Golden Gophers.
On the next drive for Minnesota, Max Brosmer’s pass was intercepted by DeLuca and returned for 29 yards to Minnesota’s 23-yard line. Ryan Barker connected on a 45-yard field goal, a career long, off the interception to tie the game up.
Penn State scored on its final possession of the half, constructing a six-play, 75-yard drive in just 44 seconds. The Nittany Lions’ point after attempt was blocked and returned to the end zone by the Golden Gophers, who took a 19-16 advantage into the half.
Minnesota added a field goal on its first drive of the second half, but the Nittany Lions responded and took their first lead of the game on a 12-yard rushing touchdown by Singleton. Penn State traveled 57 yards on five plays for the go-ahead score. The Nittany Lions took a 23-22 advantage at the 3:43mark of the third quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Brosmer fumbled the football and Wheatley hopped on it for the recovery. Penn State advanced the ball to the 15-yard line and Barker connected on a 32-yard field goal to make it a 26-22 game.
After Minnesota hit a 26-yard field goal, Penn State took over leading by one with 5:48 to go. The Lions faced a fourth and one from the its own 34, lined up in punt formation and direct snapped the ball to tight end Luke Reynolds, who took the ball 32 yards down to the Minnesota 32. The Nittany Lions converted two more fourth downs to run the clock out, with the final conversion coming on an 11-yard pass to Warren.
Penn State hosts Maryland on Senior Day next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on BTN.