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Rapid Reaction: Penn State runs wild on Memphis, takes home Cotton Bowl Classic title
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Final score: #10 Penn State 53 #17 Memphis 39
Brief recap: A clash of styles was on full display in the Cotton Bowl Classic, and both offenses were really able to take advantage. Penn State’s heavy rushing attack was countered by Memphis’ air raid style, resulting in an incredibly entertaining showdown at AT&T Stadium. The two teams went back-and-forth in the first quarter, but the Nittany Lions were able to create some separation in the second quarter, scoring 28 points in 15 minutes to take a 35-23 advantage into the locker room. Three of Penn State’s running backs — Noah Cain, Devyn Ford and Journey Brown all scored a touchdown in that second quarter. Memphis was able to close the gap a bit in the third quarter, making the score 38-36 in the third quarter and getting possession with a chance to take a lead, but a pick-six by Garrett Taylor put Penn State back ahead by two scores at 45-36. Penn State added some insurance late in the contest, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run from Cain to take a two-touchdown lead late in the game. A Marquis Wilson interception sealed the victory on Memphis’ final drive.
Key moment: Taylor’s pick-six in the third quarter really couldn’t have come at a better time. Memphis had a lot of momentum after closing a 15-point deficit to a tow-point game. That interception returned for a touchdown gave the Nittany Lions a little more breathing room and really took a hit on the Tigers’ confidence.
Key stat: Penn State racked up 396 yards on the ground and surrendered just 67 to Memphis. That’s a huge discrepancy. Penn State’s offensive line just completely wore down Memphis’s defensive line. Brown led the way with 202 yards and two touchdowns and Cain added 92 yards and two touchdowns. Ricky Slade also chipped in with 58 yards.
Key player: As good as Brown and the offense was, Micah Parsons was outstanding on the defensive side of the football. He finished the game with 14 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and forced two fumbles. That’s a performance that will go down in Cotton Bowl history.
What it means: For the third time in four seasons, Penn State has won 11 games. That’s only the second time in program history that has been accomplished, with the only other time coming from 1968-71. Not a bad run for James Franklin and company. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Nittany Lions, but instead they flexed their muscle for most of the season. Now, they head into the offseason with several offensive weapons returning for 2020 and a legitimate chance to win a B1G title next fall. There should be plenty of reason for excitement in Happy Valley, and the Cotton Bowl win over Memphis was further proof of that.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB