Madison, Wisconsin. — Penn State used a 21-3 run in the second half to avoid an upset in a loss at Camp Randall Stadium Wisconsin 28-13 in front of a sold out audience. It was certainly not the Lions’ best victory in a season full of victories, but not always satisfying. This game was of course different from some previous games. Head coach James Franklin’s team had to overcome the loss of its starting quarterback Drew Allarfirst-team defensive end Dani Dennis Suttonand right tackle Anthony Donkoh to take his seventh win of the year.

“A couple of things that jump out at me right away, just a gutsy road win against a team that’s really moving in a really positive direction, and a tough environment to play in,” Franklin said. “Just a courageous victory. You lose your starting quarterback, you lose your starting d-end, you lose your starting offensive tackle. Next man up. No excuses. I just thought it was a courageous culture victory, from my perspective I thought it was too, just look at Beau Pribula; The other thing I noticed is an unselfish team and unselfish players. Here is Beau Pribula in a quarterback battle, waiting for his number to be called, and when his numbers are called, he is able to take advantage and take advantage.

Here’s what’s being said about the Lions locally and nationally on Sunday.

Penn State ‘looks for real’

That’s the opinion of On3 National College Football writer Ari Wasserman. He moved the Nittany Lions to No. 4 in his weekly top 10 poll.

“After a pick-six in the third quarter turned the game around, Pribula and Penn State’s offense added two more scores to turn the game into an easy 28-13 win,” Wasserman wrote. “Penn State looks real even though it lost Allar and the defensive end Dani Dennis Sutton. It has a chance to prove it next weekend when it hosts Ohio State.”

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The Lions face major uncertainty ahead of their biggest game yet

USA Today Matt Hayes started his weekly recap with this obvious angle. Allar’s health will be in the spotlight this week. Beau Pribula will start if the Ohio native obviously can’t. Either way, Penn State finds itself in a less-than-ideal situation ahead of the top-five showdown.

“At some point, Pribula will have to play in the passing game,” Hayes wrote. “That means new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, the heralded addition this season out of Kansas, will have a week to figure out what works for Pribula — and how to attack an Ohio State defense that allows 12.7 points per game. must forfeit the match.

“Even if Allar is available, he will certainly be limited. He was not left out of the second half as a precaution; the Lions trailed 10-7. Kotelnicki will have to get a quarterback (or both) ready to play against a top 10 pass defense that is giving up 172 yards per game. The Buckeyes held Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola to 152 yards receiving a 21-17 victory Saturday with no touchdowns and an interception.

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The Lions are looking forward to their chance to prove they can beat the Buckeyes

PennLive reporter Johnny McGonigal discovered that during post-game interviews. Everyone knows the program’s recent history versus Ohio State. The 2024 version of the Nittany Lions is looking to add a new, more positive chapter to that storybook next weekend.

“Some might argue that the stakes are not as high this time,” McGonigal wrote. “With the twelve-team College Football Playoff, the Nittany Lions could hypothetically lose to Ohio State, win and still get on the field and compete for a national title. Maybe that reality will cause Penn State to subconsciously play looser and feel like the entire season isn’t happening in one afternoon.

“But that’s not how these players will think next weekend. This is a battle-tested group that has fought their way to an undefeated record, and they don’t want to give it up. … This time next Saturday, we’ll know if the Nittany Lions were ready or not.

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Does momentum really exist?

BWI’s Nate Bauer echoed something James Franklin said during his post-game press conference. He said Jaylen Reed’s pick six in the third quarter changed the momentum in the game. He added that “momentum is real.” Will that apply to the Lions’ meeting with Ohio State? Time will tell.

“The Nittany Lions will take on the Buckeyes in one of the most anticipated games of the season, dating back to last summer, and enter November with everything in front of them,” Bauer wrote. “An extended play-off changes the outcome of the match.

“A win puts Penn State in a legitimate conversation as one of the best teams in the country this season. And a loss doesn’t eliminate that possibility. Can the Nittany Lions turn their grimmest survival instinct into opportunism? They will be instructed to do the same in the coming days.”