Nebraska 30, Penn State 23: Here’s what happened and what we thought
CDT staff
Follow along as Centre Daily Times writers Parth Upadhyaya and Jon Sauber critique the Penn State vs. Nebraska college football game. Both struggling teams are looking for the chance to turn their seasons around.
Penn State was unable to complete the comeback and lost 30-23 to Nebraska, falling to 0-4 for just the second time in program history.
Here’s what happened:
Franklin, on how he'd evaluate the job that DC Brent Pry has done through four games: "Obviously, we're not doing a good enough job. And that's all of us. And it starts with me."
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Says over the last seven years at PSU, "We've played some pretty good defense around here."
#PennState HC James Franklin says he won't name a starting QB for the remainder of the season now. Will have to watch the tape and discuss with his coaching staff before going with Will Levis or going back to Sean Clifford.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
FINAL: Nebraska 30, Penn State 23.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
The Nittany Lions fall to 0-4 for just the second time in program history and the first time since 2001.
Penn State gives up the sack and will drop to 0-4 with a 30-23 loss to Nebraska.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
Penn State and Nebraska call back-to-back TOs. Nittany Lions facing a 4th-and-goal on the Cornhuskers 13 with 37 secs to go.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Penn State's insistence on throwing fades is...something.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
DE Jayson Oweh drills McCaffrey as he throws and LB Brandon Smith comes up with a BIG interception. Penn State with a short field and a chance to tie the game.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Nittany Lions down seven with 7:39 left in this one.
Devyn Ford punches it in and Penn State is down by seven with 9:20 left in the fourth quarter.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
Will Levis. Wow. Levis rolls left out of the pocket and launches a pass down the field to TE Pat Freiermuth for a 74-yard completion.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Nebraska gets the lead back to 14 with a field goal. Penn State trails 30-16.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
Penn State down 27-16 after three. That quarter was probably the best the Nittany Lions have looked this season.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
Penn State gets stuffed inside the 10-yard-line after (for some reason) running three straight times. Field goal by Jake Pinegar is good, 27-16 Huskers.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
Levis having some fun out there. A couple nice throws on this drive and bulldozing running.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Penn State down to the Nebraska 7 yard line, down 14 with 3:20 left in the 3Q.
That was the first three and out the Penn State defense has forced today. Nittany Lions all of a sudden showing signs of life
— Ben Ferree (@BFerree_) November 14, 2020
Penn State got Nebraska off the field in 1:47 there on that last 3-and-out. Jahan Dotson has a nice return, and the Nittany Lions finally look excited.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Huge possession coming up for the offense.
Ellis Brooks (@ellis_brooks13) gets Penn State's second consecutive sack!
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 14, 2020
Our ball #WeAre pic.twitter.com/c30ygUmh1S
Nice moment from Penn State RB Keyvone Lee, recognizing teammate Journey Brown (who wears No. 4) after his first career rushing TD. pic.twitter.com/Ee3z8RS8tD
— Mark Wogenrich (@MarkWogenrich) November 14, 2020
Keyvone Lee bursts through the hole and runs for 31 yards and a score. Penn State trails Nebraska, 27-13.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
The Nittany Lions forced the Cornhuskers to punt for just the second time today. Will Levis and the offense will get a chance to close the gap on this next drive.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Down 27-6, Penn State chooses to try a 56-yard FG on its first drive of the second half. Jordan Stout's attempt comes up short, and Nebraska took over at their own 34.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Halftime: Nebraska 27, Penn State 6
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
The Nittany Lions have now been outscored 93-26 in their four first halves this season.
PSU defense holds Nebraska to a FG in the red zone for the second time today. Cornhuskers drill a 25-yard attempt and Nebraska will take a 21-point lead into halftime.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Nittany Lions needed that stop so bad. Cornhuskers picked up six on 4th-and-three there.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
59 seconds left until halftime and Nebraska is on the PSU 28.
Levis looked good throwing on the first play of that drive — a 19-yard completion to WR Parker Washington. But he couldn't hit Ford on that 3rd-and-5.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Now Nebraska has the ball inside Penn State territory with a minute and a half to go til halftime.
There's just no fire on the Penn State sideline. None. No anger, no frustration, just, well, nothing.
— Greg Pickel (@GregPickel) November 14, 2020
On that last Penn State drive, the Nittany Lions only threw it twice on 13 plays. Penn State has just 47 passing yards so far today.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
So strange how Penn State leads Nebraska in total yards, 167-140, but is still getting killed.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
PSU OL CJ Thorpe gets another unsportsmanlike conduct call on 3rd and goal from the Nebraska 8. Nittany Lions forced to settle for FG on 4th and 23 — and Jake Pinegar drills the 40-yarder.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Nebraska 24, PSU 6 w/ 5:48 to play til halftime
RB Caziah Holmes breaks free for a 36-yard gain to the Nebraska 30. Penn State goes to Holmes two times after.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
3rd and 1 now from Nebraska's 21.
Will Levis starts the drive at quarterback.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
Based on the sideline, Will Levis is going to be coming in for Sean Clifford at quarterback for Penn State.
— Greg Pickel (@GregPickel) November 14, 2020
Deontai Williams gets the strip sack on Sean Clifford and runs it back 26 yards for a touchdown. 24-3, Nebraska.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
First Will Levis sighting of the day He picks up a few yards on 3rd down to move the chains
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Penn State's defense is just... awful. Offense gets cut some slack because of the challenges with implementing a new offense in a wacky offseason, but the defense being this bad is straight-up baffling.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
LB Brandon Smith gets an unnecessary roughness call, giving up 15 yards. Then, WR Zavier Betts w/ a 45-yard touchdown on a jet sweep.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Nebraska 17, Penn State 3 w/ 14:01 left in 2Q
Clifford didn't see wide-open TE Brenton Strange in the corner of the end zone and ended up throwing it away. Nittany Lions forced to settle for a 33-yard FG.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Nebraska 10, PSU 3 w/ 14:50 left in 2Q
1st Quarter stats pic.twitter.com/PgZ9aYsUCX
— Blue White Illustrated (@BWIonRivals) November 14, 2020
Nittany Lions stringing together a nice drive here — 12 plays so far.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
End of 1Q: Nebraska 10, Penn State 0
Nebraska makes a 22-yard FG.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Cornhuskers 10, Nittany Lions 0 w/ 6:14 left in 1Q
Penn State gets lucky there with the drop on a would-be touchdown by Kade Warner. Nebraska settles for a field goal to go up 10-0.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
Fine, I'll be the one to say it. This was a TERRIBLE throw by Sean Clifford. pic.twitter.com/2s9E9WrxEH
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) November 14, 2020
Wow. Clifford completely misses an open WR Jahan Dotson and pays for it. Nebraska CB Cam Taylor-Britt picks it off and returns it 53 yards.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
PSU did make a switch along the O-line with Caedan Wallace at RT, making his first carer start. Will Fries bumps inside to RG. C.J. Thorpe not in the starting lineup. Rest of the line stays the same.
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 14, 2020
Nebraska looks ready for Penn State's zone read. The Huskers had two defenders waiting for Clifford and Ford on second down.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
Really nice opening drive for Luke McCaffrey and Nebraska.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 14, 2020
Touchdown, @HuskerFBNation!
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 14, 2020
Luke McCaffrey (@mccaffrey_luke) caps off an 11 play, 75 yard opening drive with a score on a QB sneak. pic.twitter.com/eHvXUW828S
The fumble call was overturned, and McCaffrey ran into the end zone for a one-yard TD on a QB sneak. Only the Cornhuskers' fourth TD of the season.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Nebraska 7, Penn State 0 w/ 11:25 left in 1Q
Penn State gets walked down the field by Nebraska. Another really bad start for the Nittany Lion defense. 7-0 Huskers on a Luke McCaffrey sneak.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
Penn State's defense struggling again. McCaffrey's thrown for 32 yards and ran for 23 more — including a 12-yard rush on 3rd-and-10.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
Regardless of it that's ruled a fumble or not, not a good start for the Nittany Lions.
Luke McCaffrey is driving Nebraska down the field almost by himself. He's quick, and Penn State is struggling to contain him.
— Greg Pickel (@GregPickel) November 14, 2020
We're seeing sophomore CB Keaton Ellis and freshman CB Joey Porter Jr. out there so far today. Hadn't seen Ellis earlier this season so notable that he goes from unavailable to looking like he's ready to take on a significant role again.
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 14, 2020
Keaton Ellis gets the start at corner for Penn State.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 14, 2020
It's go time. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/lAzmnV8MJi
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 14, 2020
For Journey. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/RfEaNNQLUb
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 14, 2020
Covering this one from the crib today, so I turned the living room into a press box ♂️
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 14, 2020
About 30 min til PSU-Nebraska kicks off. pic.twitter.com/8AONJwtXev
Nittany Lions are in the .#WeAre pic.twitter.com/et3RrcclFT
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 14, 2020
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This story was originally published November 14, 2020 at 11:41 AM.