Iowa 41, Penn State 21: What happened and what we thought
CDT staff reports
Follow along as Centre Daily Times writers Parth Upadhyaya and Jon Sauber critique the Penn State vs. Iowa college football game, and photographer Abby Drey provides sideline photos and video. Both struggling teams are looking for the chance to turn their seasons around.
Penn State fell 41-21 to Iowa, dropping to 0-5 for the first time in program history.
Here’s what happened:
Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth will miss the rest of the season.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 22, 2020
More here:https://t.co/Nmbh773MuC
James Franklin said besides Pat Freiermuth, Penn State did not have CB Tariq Castro Fields, TE Zack Kuntz or LB Charlie Katshir available. And lost RB Devyn Ford after 1st series.
— Richard Scarcella (@nittanyrich) November 22, 2020
All for undisclosed injuries.
#PennState HC James Franklin announces that TE Pat Freiermuth will have season-ending shoulder surgery for an injury he suffered during the Ohio State game.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 22, 2020
Yet another hit to the Nittany Lions' depth.
Disappointed Penn State and quarterbacks after 41-21 loss to Iowa. pic.twitter.com/bwo62mviRk
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) November 22, 2020
#PennState football falls 41-21 to Iowa, dropping to 0-5 for first time in program history https://t.co/aIZmmNMqeG
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 22, 2020
My takeaways from Penn State's 41-21 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes:https://t.co/Odlqc1lKAA
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
For the first time in program history, Penn State is 0-5. The Nittany Lions lose to Iowa, 41-21.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Anddd Clifford is picked off, again. Hawkeyes defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon snags the ball and returns it 71 yards for a TD.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Iowa 41, Penn State 21 w/ 1:58 to go in the game
Penn State waves the white flag down 13 with just over three minutes left by punting.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Clifford's pass is deflected and intercepted. Iowa took over at PSU's 23.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
RIP to the Nittany Lions' comeback hopes.
@seancliff14 with the DIME to @H55ZY @PennStateFball takes another one back! pic.twitter.com/mAGEy0tIcU
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 21, 2020
And Clifford throws for a touchdown again, hitting WR Jahan Dotson in stride for a 68-yard TD. PSU converts the 2-point conversion that follows.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Iowa 31, Penn State 21 w/ 7 secs left in the 3Q https://t.co/stoJBjmZKA
Sean Clifford has thrown two passes for two touchdowns. Penn State will go for two, down 12.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
PSU's extra point was blocked.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Iowa 31, Penn State 13 w/ 4:01 left in 3Q https://t.co/R2vkSd9Cxa
Iowa fumbled and PSU S Lamont Wade recovered. Nittany Lions took over from the Hawkeyes' 28-yard line.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Then, redshirt junior Sean Clifford came back in at QB to throw it to a wide-open TE Brenton Strange for a TD. What a sequence.
Penn State's defensive front gets blown off the ball and Iowa makes it 31-7 on a QB sneak from three yards out.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Penn State gets the three-and-out to start the second half, but Levis fumbles to start the PSU drive. Iowa takes over at their own 46 after yet another miscue by the Nittany Lions.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Devyn Ford did not come out with the rest of his teammates to start the second half, according to the BTN broadcast. He hasn't played since early in the first quarter.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Iowa is leading Penn State 24-7 at the half. pic.twitter.com/rDA8fcabA6
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) November 21, 2020
HALF: Iowa 24, Penn State. 7
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
This is the fourth consecutive game that the Nittany Lions have trailed by 10 points or more at the break — down 21 at halftime against Nebraska and Maryland, 15 points against Ohio State and 10 points against Indiana.
Iowa's Sargent finds the end zone again. This time on a one-yard run. He's now up to 52 yards and two scores on seven carries.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Iowa 24, Penn State 7 w/ 11 secs left in 1st half
Iowa's Sargent finds the end zone again. This time on a one-yard run. He's now up to 52 yards and two scores on seven carries.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Iowa 24, Penn State 7 w/ 11 secs left in 1st half
A little late on this, but I can't believe Penn State tried to throw a jump ball near the sideline on 4th-and-2 (I absolutely can believe it).
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Iowa stuffs PSU RB Caziah Holmes for a loss of a yard on 3rd-and-1, then Levis overthrows his target on 4th-and-2. Another turnover on downs for the Nittany Lions.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Hawkeyes take over at PSU's 49 w/ a little less than a min to go in the 1st half.
DE Shaka Toney drops Petras for a loss of nine yards on a sack on 3rd-and-14 and the Nittany Lions force the punt to get the ball back before halftime.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Penn State chose to go for it on 4th-and-one from the Iowa 40. Levis tried to ram his way past the first down marker, but the Hawkeyes held their ground.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Turnover on downs w/ 4:16 left in the 1st half.
Mekhi Sargent takes the toss for the easy touchdown. Penn State's defense is getting carved up. 17-7, Iowa.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Levis with a bad pitch to RB Keyvone Lee on a lateral and the Nittany Lions fumble. Iowa recovers the ball at the PSU 41.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Much better drive from Penn State's defense. The Nittany Lions force a three-and-out to get the ball back to Levis and the offense.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
PSU LB Brandon Smith now being helped off the field after being down for a few seconds following the Nittany Lions' punt. Not putting any weight on his left leg.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Tyler Goodson gets the lead back for Iowa. Penn State has to be better against the run or the Hawkeyes are going to walk up and down the field in this one. 10-7, Iowa.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Six carries for 65 yards for Iowa through the first quarter. Penn State leads, 7-3, at the end of one with the Hawkeyes near the goal line.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
PSU finishes a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a six-yard TD by freshman RB Keyvone Lee.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Nittany Lions 7, Hawkeyes 3 w/ 2:12 left in Q1
Penn State takes the lead with a run by Keyvone Lee from six yards out. 7-3, Nittany Lions.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Freshman tight end Theo Johnson with his first career catch. Follows that up with his second on the next play. Johnson has a ton of talent and could be an important piece in the near future.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Nittany Lions moving the ball nicely. Levis is 6-7 through the air for 38 yards and has carried five times for 28 yards.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Fourth consecutive game that Penn State allowed its opponent to score on an opening drive. Only three points here, though https://t.co/1wrsNCHGzB
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
That's a good stop to hold Iowa to three early for Penn State. Still getting gashed too often but the Nittany Lions have done plenty worse to open games.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Iowa not having much problem moving the ball early here. Hawkeyes QB Spencer Petras throws for back-to-back completions of 16 and 11 yards before RB Tyler Goodson breaks a run of 25 yards.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Iowa on PSU's 23-yard line now on 3rd down.
The Nittany Lions' first drive lasted only six plays before they were forced to punt, but Levis looked calm and collected on that 3rd-and-12 to move the chains.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Will Levis' hits Parker Washington for a first down on his first pass attempt of the game on 3rd-and-12. Looked calm in the pocket.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 21, 2020
Let's see if I can get all of this in one place:
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 21, 2020
-Will Levis is taking first-team QB reps
-No TE Pat Freiermuth
-No TE Zack Kuntz
-No No. 3 QB Ta'Quan Roberson
-No reseve OL Des Holmes
-CB Tariq Castro-Fields is in uniform after warming up but not playing last week.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth is in street clothes. Kick off in a few here at Beaver Stadium against Iowa pic.twitter.com/kufiLtFyO3
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) November 21, 2020
Penn State football to start Will Levis at QB over Sean Clifford against Iowa https://t.co/cBecc75pqQ
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) November 21, 2020
Penn State football’s star TE Pat Freiermuth not playing in Saturday’s matchup with Iowa https://t.co/sxyzm1MrLw
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) November 21, 2020
No huge surprise here: #PennState redshirt sophomore QB Will Levis named the starter today against Iowa. pic.twitter.com/rf2G1doEu7
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
Pat Freiermuth is on the sideline, not warming up ahead of Penn State's game against Iowa
— Collegian Football (@psufootblog) November 21, 2020
Penn State’s Will Levis (7) pumps up the offense as they come out for warmups. We still don’t know who the starting QB will be today, Levis or Clifford. pic.twitter.com/Mk0hchr6UV
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) November 21, 2020
Yup, the "Generations of Greatness" uniforms still look awesome pic.twitter.com/9SLW3Aay1S
— Onward State (@OnwardState) November 21, 2020
Back at it again. pic.twitter.com/8kqG9RMnqP
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 21, 2020
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This story was originally published November 21, 2020 at 3:04 PM.