Penn State football 34, Indiana 27: What happened and what we thought

By Lauren Muthler

Updated November 16, 2019 8:00 PM

Follow along as Centre Daily Times reporters Josh Moyer and Jon Sauber provide live updates and instant analysis of Penn State football’s game against Indiana live from Beaver Stadium, and photojournalist Abby Drey provides on-field and behind-the-scenes photos. Check back after the game for reaction from players and coaches.

Penn State survived Indiana 34-27 to improve to 9-1 and keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive heading into next week’s matchup with Ohio State.

Here’s what happened:

Will KJ Hamler be OK for next week? James Franklin says, "We're pretty hopeful we'll have him for next week."

Of course, he said something similar about Noah Cain two weeks ago ... and he hasn't made an appearance since MSU. So take that for what it's worth.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Penn State beats Indiana 34-27. Stories, photos, videos to come! pic.twitter.com/SBAVO3C35J
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) November 16, 2019

Watch for the decisive moment of the game, stay for the Sean Clifford celebration pic.twitter.com/IyCrLug80q
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 16, 2019

Penn State football survived Indiana 34-27 to keep its College Football Playoff dreams alive heading into next week's matchup with Ohio State. Here's @JonSauber's takeaway's from today's game:https://t.co/g9WGXLNoqm
— Centre County Sports (@cdt_sports) November 16, 2019

Penn State's College Football Playoff hopes are still alive with the win. https://t.co/gVVr3bxn7u
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) November 16, 2019

FINAL: Penn State 34, Indiana 27 pic.twitter.com/TXxROZjwXy
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Sean Clifford punches it in from a yard out and that should do it. The Nittany Lions lead 34-24 with 1:44 left in regulation. Indiana is out of timeouts. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

Sean Clifford makes it happen with his legs and picks up a crucial Penn State first down. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

Penn State needs to sustain a drive here or Indiana is going to have plenty of time to take the lead. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

For a team that's supposed to be insulated from looking past opponents with its 1-0 mentality, PSU really hasn't fared great last year or this year in rebounding from a letdown.

PSU leads 27-24 w/ 10:45 left in 4Q.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Penn State takes a 27-17 lead into the fourth quarter. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

An Indiana field goal cuts the Penn State lead to 10 with 3:04 left in the third quarter. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

That play kind of epitomized how ugly this game has been. It's a sack -- no, wait! It's a missed tackle. Wideout's open in the end zone for a TD -- no, wait! It's a drop.

Field-goal time. PSU up 27-17 w/ 3:04 in 3Q.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Announced attendance for #PSUvsIU: 106,323
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

The. Worst. https://t.co/0gxMPjOwwI
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) November 16, 2019

IU lined up like 7 dudes on the left sideline, one dude on the right, the snapper, a punter and an up man in the middle.

Snap went to the up man, he faked a pitch to the punter I think? Then tried to run directly into a four-man route with just the long snapper to block... https://t.co/ksJNh85pjY
— Mike Persak (@MikeDPersak) November 16, 2019

Shades of Colts-Patriots in 2015 on the fake punt. The Nittany Lions had the Hoosiers outnumbered by quite a bit on the interior. Penn State gets the stop and makes Indiana pay with a 35-yd rushing TD by Journey Brown. PSU leads, 27-14 with 10:24 left in the 3rd quarter. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

Great block by the official on that play, and Journey Brown runs for a 35-yard TD -- right after IU failed to convert fourth-and-1.

That's your turning point, ladies and gentlemen. PSU up 27-14 w/ 10:24 left in 3Q
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

I'm OK with going for it on 4th-and-1 from the 44 ... but a fake punt? On 4th-and-short?

Oh, Indiana. Punter was lined back so far that even my colleague @JonSauber was saying it was a fake pre-snap. Ugly, ugly play.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Meeting @AlyssaNaeher and @alikrieger is pretty cool but nothing beats a surprise homecoming from your loved one who is in the military. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/JCM283alHZ
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) November 16, 2019

Robert Windsor is playing with a club that's covering up his right wrist and hand. That wasn't there in the first half.
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 16, 2019

Penn State leads Indiana 20-14 at the half. pic.twitter.com/zKB9r0ewFO
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) November 16, 2019

Key stats at the half. PSU leads 20-14:

Clifford 9-of-17, 146 yards, 1 TD
Ramsey 14-of-20, 160 yards, 1 TD

IU sacks: 3
PSU sacks: 1 (Yetur)
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

It took 29 minutes, but PSU has its first sack of the game. Yetur Gross-Matos comes up with a big one, getting Ramsey for a 6-yard loss at the 40.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Penn State is moving the ball downfield well ... and then PSU lines up in the Wildcat with the backup QB in the shotgun and Clifford out wide.

So, uh, OK. Didn't fool IU. Surprise: PSU settles for a FG.

PSU 20-14 w/ 3:30 left in 2Q
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

A tweet for every week! https://t.co/kEW5s4WiLP
— Greg Pickel (@GregPickel) November 16, 2019

Whop Philyor makes his way into the #iufb injury tent after fumbling.

Appeared to get hit in the head.

Tom Allen calls timeout to yell at the officials, likely wants a review for targeting. https://t.co/n9aCkQ7Zpy
— Cameron Drummond (@cdrummond97) November 16, 2019

Oh boy Whop Philyor got lit up, fumbled and didn't really react when the ball was out. Penn State recovers

Philyor goes immediately to the tent and seemed to need some help balancing on the way there.

Tom Allen is furious. Wants targeting, I think.
— Mike Persak (@MikeDPersak) November 16, 2019

This is a sloppy game with a whole lot of passing and not nearly as much defense.

We're also only 20 minutes into this thing. Odd start, for sure. #PSUvsIu
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Indiana gives the ball right back on a fumble by Whop Philyor. Marquis Wilson forces the fumble and gets the recovery for the Nittany Lions. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

Big turnover forced by the IU defense on the strip sack. Penn State was marching down the field and was set to make this a two score game. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

Dotson fielded the punt return and is also in now over Hamler. https://t.co/V1dmmdNX59
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Indiana had six in to block three Penn State defenders and Jayson Oweh still got into the backfield. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

Penn State CB John Reid read that pass the whole way and just missed the INT. 2nd dropped INT today for PSU.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Penn State leads 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

Sean Clifford has some wheels -- just took off for a 38-yard TD run.

But can Penn State's defense step up and slow down IU's aerial attack? Peyton Ramsey is 7-of-9 for 119 yards and a score.

PSU 17-14 w/ 1:03 left in 1Q
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Well, he did fumble -- but PSU recovered. 1st-and-10 at IU 38 for the Nittany Lions. https://t.co/3bKibzfAsx
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Make that 25-29-458-4 TD https://t.co/PS8qkdUWX2
— Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) November 16, 2019

Penn State's defense is not playing well. Ramsey has all day to pass and he's hitting wide open receivers. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

Peyton Ramsey sneaks it in from a yard out and Indiana leads 14-10 with 3:27 left in the first quarter. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

PSU is making the most out of IU's mistakes.

1st drive -- PSU goes 3-and-out, but IU muffs punt, PSU recovers and scores a TD a few plays later

3rd drive (after TD) -- IU commits DPI on third-and-long to keep PSU drive alive. PSU scores FG.

PSU 10-7 w/ 6:22 left in 1Q
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Oh boy ... that TD was way too easy for Indiana. No one was within 5 yards of Fryfogle, who just picked up a 38-yard TD.

And Fryfogle's TD came just a few plays after IU converted on third-and-long with a 24-yard pass.

PSU 7-7 w/ 9:31 left in 1Q.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Sean Clifford finds TE Nick Bowers on a 12-yard TD pass, as PSU goes up 7-0 w/ 12:04 left in the 1Q.

Indiana isn't a good enough team to make silly mistakes and win this game. Hoosiers not off to a good start; PSU gets a big break.

Next up: Can PSU's pass D rebound?
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Penn State goes backward on its first drive ... but IU makes one of the most bone-headed special teams moves I've seen all season -- and PSU gets the ball back at the 27.

Whop Philyor looked like he was going to let the ball go, then had second thoughts and muffed it.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

The Nittany Lions get bailed out on a muffed punt by Whop Philyor for IU. Play is under review.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

Bad start for the PSU offense with a three-and-out. Clifford missed on two passes and Journey Brown was eaten up in the backfield. #PSUvsIU
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 16, 2019

A view from the office today, about 10 minutes before kickoff for #PSUvsIU. pic.twitter.com/wUHR8OUgVB
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Chisena did have a big drop last week, but he's clearly got the speed to make plays down the field. https://t.co/TbPrFpUsFy
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Franklin said Tuesday that Cain was 90% last week, so we'll see. (I mean, Franklin did say last week he expected Cain to go ... and then he didn't. But Cain is in full uniform and again running through drills.) https://t.co/3vEr6KIfjJ
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

It's a brisk morning but Penn State football is at Beaver Stadium prepping for the noon kick against Indiana. Today is also the annual military appreciation game. pic.twitter.com/YgBOSfTJBn
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) November 16, 2019

#PSU pregame reading

5 things to watch: https://t.co/FfFvIS84fl

Clifford: https://t.co/Woif29zvRv

2 key matchups: https://t.co/XH7wqaMNzV

Franklin rant: https://t.co/iTunKKy3d0

What IU said about PSU: https://t.co/JPLH7rRp0Y

Moving on from Minnesota: https://t.co/xQJIJKX4Qr
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Penn State has arrived. #PSUvsIU kicks off in a little more than 2 hours. pic.twitter.com/1xKxq6JB1L
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019

Penn State’s blue buses are set to arrive to Beaver Stadium shortly, ahead of the noon tilt with Indiana. It’s sunny here ... but it’s cold. About 28 degrees right now. pic.twitter.com/bxWqcFwhJN
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) November 16, 2019