MINNEAPOLIS | Penn State offensive lineman Nick Dawkins had taken off his helmet and was picking up his iPad when he caught freshman Luke Reynolds “boogieing” along the sideline. “Oooh, okay, please, put your helmet back on,” Dawkins told his fellow linemen.

Reynolds’ fourth-down punt fake, which most Penn State offenses didn’t know was called, cleared the memory of two previous special teams mistakes and proved to be the turning point of the The Nittany Lions 26-25 win over Minnesota. By no means did Penn State play a clean, efficient or even particularly impressive game. But they were effective enough at critical points, particularly in the second half, to improve to 10-1 and maintain their grip on a home game in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

This week’s Penn State report considers Saturday’s entire game and not just the final series, which was nonetheless exceptionally compelling from the Nittany Lions’ perspective.

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VIOLATION: C

Penn State’s offense revived the erratic play of the Ohio State game, especially on a run attempt. Minnesota shut down Penn State’s play in the first half (13 carries, 10 yards) and frustrated quarterback Drew Allar on all but one play: a 45-yard touchdown completion to a forgotten Omari Evans. But as center Nick Dawkins said, Minnesota’s defense “is a little different than a lot of Big Ten teams.” The Nittany Lions found ways to get Nicholas Singleton wide in the second half, finishing with 63 yards. Allar also focused on tight end Tyler Warren, who had another 100-yard receiving game (8 catches, 102 yards).

Allar ran tenaciously at times, especially on his four-yard touchdown in the second half, and converted two huge fourth downs at the end. He made a sneak move on 4th-and-1 and hit Warren 11 yards on another 4th-and-1, the final play of the game. Allar made that play work. He stretched the pockmark just enough to go from his primary read (Singleton) to Warren alone down the left sideline. Allar ran hot at times and avoided a few dangerous spots, but still finished 21-for-28 for 244 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. The big picture wasn’t great: Penn State went 1-for-11 on third down and scored just 6 points when getting the ball in Minnesota territory after two turnovers. But that final run was what Penn State coach Franklin would call a “championship run.”

DEFENSE: B-

Penn State did its best to rally Minnesota’s run game: Darius Taylor and Marcus Major combined for 95 yards, Major danced through a hole for a 20-yard touchdown and the Gophers put together a beautiful trick play to score. But here too, Penn State’s defense made the individual moments count. The Nittany Lions generated two turnovers, including Dom DeLuca’s second interception of the season. In the fourth quarter, Minnesota had a red-zone play call that it loved. But, as Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said, Penn State’s Abdul Carter flanked just wide enough in coverage to force a putaway, and the Gophers settled for a field goal.

But Penn State’s defense continued one major theme, not allowing a third-quarter touchdown for the 11th time this season. Opponents have scored 15 points against Penn State in the third quarter, all on field goals, including Minnesota. And those were the only points the Gophers scored in the second half. All in all, a defensive performance that is better than its components.

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SPECIAL TEAMS: F/A

Have to halve this. Penn State allowed its first blocked point since 2018 and its first blocked extra point since 2022. That combination probably didn’t happen in one season, let alone one half. Still, Minnesota’s Derik LeCaptain beat Luke Reynolds with the kick, and teammate Jack Henderson took advantage of an open lane (a lineman blocked to his left instead of his right) to block the extra point, which Ethan Robinson returned for two points.

But Reynolds got his redemption by going 32 yards on the fake punt that Fleck said was a “great call from James.” Credit also goes to Penn State’s Dominic Rulli, the lineman who reads the opponent’s formation and determines whether the fake is on or off. Rulli also delivered a strong block, with freshman Cooper Cousins, to free Reynolds. The combination of call and execution, with 3:47 left, was perfect. Extra credit to kicker Ryan Barker, who made two field goals, one from 45 yards.

COACHING: C+

Franklin and his staff were given out coaches for the half. Fleck had the right defense in place (except for one play) and called the trick play after the blocked punt in perfect timing. But Penn State has mixed some halftime elixirs this season. The comeback was the fourth and third on the road (also at USC and Wisconsin). Plus, that final series, in which Penn State converted three fourth downs and the clock ran out, was better than some of the team’s touchdown drives this season.

OVERALL: C+

Minnesota has been a thorn in Penn State’s side at times, most notably at Huntington Bank Stadium in 2019. This game went in the same direction. Then the Nittany Lions got their situational act together and executed a 12-play, 72-yard drive that took up the final 5:48 and ended the game. Winning without their best stuff was crucial for the Nittany Lions.