#6 Penn State 35, Washington 6
With an uncharacteristically quick start after Washington’s doinked field goal on its opening drive, the Penn State Nittany Lions scored twenty-eight points in the first half and coasted to victory. The west coast opponents, said to have the second-best pass defense in the nation allowed 220 passing yards, which along with a strong PSU ground game that produced 266 yards on 40 rushes, contributed to the victory.
Shout-out to the offensive line, which provided protection for Drew Allar as well as great run support. Their performance against the vaunted Husky defense enabled the Nittany Lions to convert seven out of seven third downs in the first half, certainly a welcome change from what has become the norm for this squad. Penn State finished the game ten for thirteen.
Individuals who enjoyed enormous success include Allar, Tyler Warren, and Kaytron Allen on offense, and Abdul Carter and Jaylen Reed on defense. This was a team effort, though, and they ain’t no “I” in team. Penn State won the “stat battle”, shutting out the Huskies in the first half and allowing only two measly field goals in the second.
What Else?
Penn State’s #6 CFP ranking should improve, as more space was created above by #4 Miami’s loss to Georgia Tech and #3 Georgia’s decisive loss to Ole Miss. Meanwhile, tOSU kicked Purdue’s sorry asses up and down the field and Indiana edged Michigan. So, #2 will remain #2, but expect #8 Indiana to move up. I would expect Texas to move into the #3 slot after their resounding victory over the Gators. So, Penn State maybe is given the gift of #4, followed by Tennessee, Indiana, Miami, and Georgia. My guess is that Notre Dame and Alabama will hop over BYU into the ninth and tenth slots. Eleven and twelve are up for grabs, but Ole Miss could possibly make an appearance there. Possibly, maybe, perhaps.
So, I’m wishy-washy this morning, but I fell asleep trying to write this last night. Anyway, it is always fun to write about this stuff even if everyone has already reviewed the game elsewhere six ways to Sunday. And now, it’s Sunday.
Next week, Big Ten knockaround Purdue. See you mid-week with an assessment of that one.
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Big Al says
OK I’ve finally jumped on the bandwagon – this year’s team really is different. Unlike previous editions, they’re not going to lose to any teams that have inferior talent like the Derps or the Auric Rodents, Finishing 11-1 and getting a bid to the playoffs is a virtual lock.
And they have a decent chance to win a 1st round playoff game as long as they don’t have to play Oregon, O$U, or any SEC team. They might even get in the B1G championship game if OSU beats Indiana and then loses to Michigan. (which might hurt their playoff seeding after Oregon beats them by 3 scores.)
The Nittany Turkey says
I will agree with you only if by season’s end, they manage to learn how to put two good halves together. They now understand how useful Tyler Warren can be in goal line situations. I hope they don’t forget.
A first-round bye in the playoffs would be a good start, but they ain’t gonna beat Oregon if they make it to the Big Ten Championship.
So, they might wind up with the likes of Ole Miss, Alabama, or Georgia in the first round, all other things being equal, which I dount they could survive. Too early to speculate, with a lot of season left.
However, like you, I am encouraged. (That could easily flip with a shitty performance against Purdue).
—TNT