STATE COLLEGE − Penn State’s path to the Big Ten Championship Game is all but assured after it routed Maryland on Saturday night, 44-7.
Five sacks, three interceptions, and only 197 allowed offensive yards led the Nittany Lions to their 11th win of the year in convincing fashion. After giving up a touchdown on their first defensive stand of the night, the Lions buckled down and locked the Terrapins out of the red zone for the rest of the evening.
Quarterback Drew Allar went 17-for-26 with 171 passing yards and one touchdown. Nick Singleton put down 87 rushing yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns, and Tyler Warren hauled in Allar’s touchdown pass and clocked out with 68 receiving yards on six catches. Beau Pribula completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Tyseer Denmark to end the game.
Maryland’s only touchdown occurred 14 seconds into the game on a 25-yard reception. Penn State’s defense – led by Abdul Carter’s two sacks and interceptions from Audavion Collins, Dejuan Lane, and Tony Rojas – forced seven punts and took advantage of five turnovers.
With Ohio State’s upset loss to Michigan earlier Saturday afternoon and the rout of Maryland in tow, Penn State has an open route to the Big Ten Championship and a shot at its first Big Ten title since 2016.
Here’s how the game unfolded:
Beau Pribula sends Penn State off with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Tyseer Denmark.
The Lions capped a six-play, 52-yard drive with an 18-yard scoring run from Nick Singleton. That’s his second score of the night, and he leads all rushers with 87 yards on 13 carries.
15 minutes and a whole lot of nothing. Penn State managed just 77 total yards in the third quarter and only converted on one of three third-down attempts. Elsewhere, its defense held Maryland to just 27 yards and put up two more sacks − adding up to five tonight.
Ryan Barker’s 53-yard field goal attempt to close the half was blocked by Maryland’s defense. Penn State has outgained Maryland outgained 259-97, and Terrapins quarterback M.J. Morris has been sacked three times − all in the first quarter. 153 of Penn State’s total yards came on the second quarter alone.
Abdul Carter has been the standout on Penn State’s defense. He’s posted four tackles with a sack. Zion Tracy added another sack, and Zane Durant and Amin Vanover each contributed half a sack. Audavion Collins and Tony Rojas each chipped in an interception.
Allar went 13-for-20 for 140 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter, and both he and fellow quarterback Beau Pribula have a one-yard rushing touchdown. Tyler Warren leads all receivers with 60 yards and a touchdown, and Nick Singleton leads all rushers with 41 yards and a touchdown on nine attempts.
Beau Pribula took over for one play before Allar reentered and fired a seven-yard pass to Tyler Warren. Warren is now leading all players with 35 receiving yards today.
Beau Pribula came in under center for Allar and capped Penn State’s 60-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown carry.
The Lions defense did what it did best and forced a turnover on downs after the Terrapins were stumped on a fourth down conversion attempt. Drew Allar scored on a one-yard keeper after a six-yard run by Kaytron Allen the previous play.
Nick Singleton cashes in a two-yard gain to put the Lions ahead for the first time today. He’s up to 11 yards on six carries thus far.
The Lions are running cold to start the afternoon. They’ve punted away their last two drives and have just 42 total yards through the first quarter. Their defense, with three sacks, has dominated Maryland since its opening score, however.
The Nittany Lions got a 66-yard kick return out of Nick Singleton, but three quick plays without much traction forces them to kick a field goal. Ryan Barker nails the kick from 49 yards out.
Nick Singleton fumbled on the first play of Penn State’s opening drive, and Maryland recovered. Quarterback M.J. Morris completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kaden Prather on the ensuing play to put Maryland ahead early.
Penn State vs. Maryland will be broadcast nationally on the Big Ten Network. Jeff Levering and Jake Butt will call the game from the booth at Beaver Stadium, with Brooke Fletcher reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers free trials to new subscribers.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, Nov. 30
Intervals of clouds and sun and frigid, temperatures only reaching the upper-20s in State College. Westerly winds at 10 to 15 mph.
Aug. 31 at West Virginia, W, 34-12Sept. 7 BOWLING GREEN, W, 34-27Sept. 14 OffSept. 21 KENT STATE, W, 56-0 Sept. 28 ILLINOIS, W, 21-7Oct. 5 UCLA, W, 27-11Oct. 12 at USC, W, 33-30 (OT)Oct. 19 OFFOct. 26 at Wisconsin, W, 28-13Nov. 2 OHIO STATE, L, 13-20Nov. 9 WASHINGTON, W, 35-6Nov. 16 at Purdue, W, 49-10Nov. 23 at Minnesota, W, 26-25Nov. 30 MARYLANDDec. 7 Big Ten Championship (Indianapolis)
Aug. 31 CONNECTICUT, W, 50-7Sept. 7 MICHIGAN STATE, L, 24-27Sept. 14 at Virginia, W, 27-13Sept. 21 VILLANOVA, W, 38-20Sept. 28 at Indiana, L, 28-42Oct. 5 OFFOct. 11 NORTHWESTERN, L, 10-37Oct. 19 USC, W, 29-28Oct. 26 at Minnesota, L, 23-48Nov. 2 OFFNov. 9 at Oregon, L, 18-39Nov. 16 RUTGERS, L, 17-31Nov. 23 IOWA, L, 13-29Nov. 30 at Penn State, 3:30 p.m.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
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