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Rapid Reaction: Penn State’s defense shines as Nittany Lions upset Wisconsin on the road
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Final Score: Penn State 16, Wisconsin 10
Brief recap: The first half of this game was either a masterpiece or a disaster, depending on if you prefer defense or offense on your Saturday mornings. Penn State and Wisconsin both failed to score in the first, which set things up for a classic second half between two ranked B1G foes. The Nittany Lions managed just 43 yards of offense in the first half, but they came out with a different game plan after the break. Mike Yurcich’s offense exploded for 16 second-half points, including a long TD from Sean Clifford to Jahan Dotson.
Key player: Who else? Jahan Dotson continues to be Penn State’s obvious bright spot offensively. His 5 catches for 102 yards proved to be Penn State’s most effective method of moving the ball. Most of that production came in the second half as the Nittany Lions took control of the game.
Key moment: Wisconsin had a chance to take the lead in the final two minutes of the game, but quarterback Graham Mertz was picked off by Jaquan Brisker near the goal line. That effectively sealed the win for the Nittany Lions. Wisconsin ended up with another chance in the final seconds, but Mertz threw another INT.
Key stat: Penn State got its passing offense going after halftime to the tune of 207 yards. That may not seem like an exceptionally high number, but PSU’s ability to pass the ball completely changed the game in the second half. Sean Clifford finished 18-of-33 for 247 yards and 1 touchdown.
What it means moving forward: For Penn State, this is a massive victory. The Nittany Lions started last season with an 0-5 record. Winning this one on the road prevents any sort of backsliding into a losing streak to start off 2021. It also means Penn State could end up in a position where it is playing for the Big Ten East Championship vs. Ohio State later this year. For Wisconsin, this is a huge missed opportunity. The Badgers needed to win this one at home to build up a potential College Football Playoff résumé for later in the year. They should still be considered favorites to win the Big Ten West, though.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.