Tom Allen says Hoosiers maintained ultimate confidence in QB Michael Penix Jr. with game on the line
Tom Allen and the Hoosiers pulled off an unbelievable upset of Penn State.
After leading for much of the afternoon, Indiana needed overtime in what turned out to be a finish for the ages. With the Nittany Lions moving the score to 28-20 late in the game, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. led the Hoosiers on a scoring drive and converted the two-point conversion to force overtime.
Following the win, Allen was asked about Penn State’s late touchdown by Devyn Ford. Though Ford scored it was actually his decision to not run out the clock that allowed Indiana enough time to come back for the touchdown.
Allen admitted it was an intentional decision to try and let Ford score:
#Hoosiers coach Tom Allen on PSU's final TD in regulation: "We have a signal to our defense to let the opposing team score. So we made that call. I was surprised. I was hoping he wouldn’t go down at the 1-yard line. If he did, our chances of winning were pretty much eliminated."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 25, 2020
Allen on the Devyn Ford touchdown: "Fortunately for us, we got the chance. A minute 42 with Michael Penix, I really believed we were gonna tie this thing up." #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 25, 2020
Allen went on to say that everyone on the Hoosiers knows that the team always has a chance if Penix is under center:
Allen: "If there’s any amount of time left on that clock, our guys know, if we’ve got the ball and we’ve got Michael Penix, we’ve got a chance." #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 25, 2020
Allen: "I believe, and we’ve got a long ways to go, but we’re building a football program, in my mind, that wants to win a Big Ten championship. To do that, you’ve got to win games like this." #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 25, 2020
Fortunately, it was Penix under center as he made a number of timely throws. It was also his run and long dive for the pylon that converted the game-winning two-point try.
Now, the Hoosiers will pivot to get ready to face Rutgers next Saturday.
