Penn State came into the pandemic-delayed 2020 season with College Football Playoff hopes. Those dreams might've been dashed after one game.
Indiana QB Michael Penix Jr. stretched out to convert a two-point conversion in overtime Saturday to give his Hoosiers a 36-35 victory and send the Nittany Lions to an 0-1 record to start the season.
There was a lengthy review of a play that will likely be debated as long college football exists, but after officials looked at it, the ruling on the field stood. The win over No. 8 Penn State was Indiana's first over an Associated Press top-10 team since 1987.
Penn State QB Sean Clifford (24 of 35, 238 yards, three touchdowns) finished a 13-play, 64-yard drive with a fourth-and-goal slant pass from the 2-yard line to tight end Pat Freiermuth to give the Nittany Lions a 7-0 advantage early. The drive took 7:59 off the clock as the Nittany Lions offensive line battered the Hoosiers. Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca seemed to be grooving with the playcalling with a nice mix of running and passing in his first game.
But things changed quickly as the Nittany Lions made several errors that stalled drives. When the offensive progress wasn't slowed down by penalties, there were the two crucial interceptions thrown by Clifford. If the interceptions weren't enough, then add the three missed field goals.
There wouldn't have been a 57-yard field-goal attempt by Jordan Stout, which he nearly hit, if the defense would've stopped Penix (19 of 36, 170 yards, touchdown) from leading the Hoosiers down the field with less than two minutes left. That drive wouldn't have happened if Devyn Ford hadn't scored a touchdown when the Nittany Lions held a one-point lead with 1:40 to go. The score put Penn State up by eight. The problem was that Penix is a star and led his team to tie the game.
Penn State did what it was supposed to on that opening drive of overtime. Penix fought back to guide his team to a touchdown, leaving Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen with a decision. He could've slowed the game and kicked the extra point, but Allen took his destiny into his own hands. More like the sturdy legs of Penix.
The Nittany Lions made a lot of mistakes and penalties, and the Hoosiers played them tough, but ultimately Penn State took the loss Saturday due to its poor play.
There won't be any time for the Nittany Lions to lick their wounds. Next Saturday, Ohio State comes to town after pounding Nebraska.
If Penn State wants to salvage its season, it needs to tighten up quickly. The defense will have to play a half without leader Jesse Luketa, who got a costly targeting call on what should've been a fumble, but there were moments like Lamont Wade's interception that kept Penn State alive.
The Nittany Lions needed to be better against Indiana. They'll have to be better to compete with the Buckeyes, much less win.
