The Penn State Nittany Lions believe their run game, led by Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, will travel through the College Football Playoff.
Late in the third quarter Saturday, Penn State embarked on a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that all but iced itsover SMU. The Nittany Lions didn’t throw once on the drive, imposing their will on the Mustangs’ defense by running the ball nine straight times.“I think that one drive we ran the ball all the way down the field, which is awesome, and that's what you want to be able to do in a game like that,” Kotelnicki said.
“I think we did a great job blocking it,” Kotelnicki said. “It wasn't always perfect, but as we started getting into the second quarter, you can see those runs started to get a little bit bigger. … If you're running the ball well, gains of two and three in the first quarter turn into gains of four, five and six in the second, and they turn into gains of 10 to 12 in the third and fourth, and that's kind of what happened. I was very pleased with that.
Penn State’s backfield duo has been hot lately. Singleton and Allen combined for 229 rushing yards against Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game, and Singleton rushed for 87 yards and two scores against Maryland. The Nittany Lions are getting significant production on the ground, even against good run defenses like Oregon and SMU. The Mustangs ranked fourth against the run going into Saturday’s game, but Penn State out-muscled SMU’s defense in the second half.
In the Fiesta Bowl against No. 3 seed Boise State, Penn State will face the nation's best running back in Ashton Jeanty and another solid run defense. The Broncos allow 3.6 yards per carry and 115.1 total rushing yards per game, which both rank in the upper half of the nation. Although Glendale’s State Farm Stadium will be much more suitable for Allar and the passing game, expect the Nittany Lions to keep pounding the rock on New Year's Eve.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Penn State Football: Penn State's James Franklin Wants a Word With College Football'I'm concerned for college football right now,' Penn State Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said about the 'no-win' situation quarterback Beau Pribula faced in transferring.
Read more »
Penn State Football: Penn State Unveils Complete 2025 Football ScheduleThe Penn State Nittany Lions will host Oregon and visit Ohio State on its 2025 football schedule.
Read more »
Penn State 2025 Football Schedule: Penn State-Oregon Game Scheduled for 2025Penn State's 2025 football schedule got a sneak peek with the release of the Penn State vs. Oregon game, which also could be the White Out.
Read more »
Penn State Football: Penn State Turns 4th Down Into a Huge Win Over MinnesotaThe Penn State Nittany Lions convert three fourth-down plays, one on a fake punt, to seal a 26-25 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Read more »
Penn State Football: Penn State Makes A Playoff Statement Vs. the MustangsThe Penn State Nittany Lions brought a deep reserve of confidence to their 38-10 win over the SMU Mustangs in the College Football Playoff.
Read more »
Penn State Football: What They Said After Penn State's Win Over MarylandPenn State Nittany Lions coach James Franklin celebrated his team's resilience in reaching the Big Ten Championship Game.
Read more »