Harrison Lilley

Photo Editor

hjl5363@psu.edu

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In a highly anticipated matchup, No. 10 Penn State faced off against No. 3 Michigan in a nail-biting football game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, November 11. The Nittany Lions put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell to the Wolverines with a final score of 24-15.

Both teams showcased their formidable defenses, making it a hard-fought battle between two of the best teams in college football. Michigan’s quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, was held to just 60 passing yards and was sacked once by Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton. The Nittany Lions’ defense registered seven tackles for loss as a unit, with Adisa Isaac leading the way with six total tackles, including three tackles for loss.

Penn State’s quarterback, Drew Allar, played a pivotal role in both of the team’s touchdowns. He contributed an 11-yard touchdown run, which followed a crucial fourth-down pass from running back Kaytron Allen. Allar also threw a late fourth-quarter touchdown pass to tight end, Theo Johnson, as the Nittany Lions attempted a comeback.

On the ground, Kaytron Allen led the rushing attack, carrying the ball 12 times for 72 yards, while Nicholas Singleton contributed 43 rushing yards on 13 carries.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Penn State welcomed a record crowd of 110,856 fans to Beaver Stadium, making it the largest crowd of the 2023 season and the second-largest in the venue’s storied history.

The game’s progression saw Penn State taking an early lead with a 20-yard field goal by Alex Felkins. Michigan answered with two rushing touchdowns, taking a 14-3 lead before the Nittany Lions closed the gap to 14-9 with Allar’s 11-yard touchdown run just before halftime.

Michigan extended its lead in the second half, capitalizing on a Penn State fumble and converting a 22-yard field goal to make it 17-9. The Wolverines secured the victory with a late 30-yard rushing touchdown by Blake Corum, bringing the score to 24-15. Penn State responded with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Johnson but failed to complete the comeback.

Following the game, Penn State head coach James Franklin emphasized the need for transparency and honesty in addressing the team’s performance. He acknowledged the challenges of facing top-ranked opponents and expressed the team’s determination to finish the season on a positive note.

The Nittany Lions, with a record of 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten, will now focus on their upcoming matchups as they aim to rebound from the losses to Michigan and Ohio State earlier in the season.