The Penn State-Minnesota game was up for grabs – for both sides – late in the fourth quarter on Saturday in Minneapolis.

It could have been the Golden Gophers’ signature win of the season. Or it could have been another Penn State win.

It was James Franklin’s 10-1 Nittany Lions who made the big play at crucial time in a 26-25 victory.

A successful fake punt. A huge touchdown-saving tackle by PSU safety Jaylen Reed.

And what about that final push by the Lions to run out the clock? Penn State converted three fourth-down chances on that possession.

There were many exciting moments for the Penn State coaching staff, the players and the team’s fan base.

And the next question/comment from the PSU text subscriber of the day is about Franklin’s bold decisions with the game on the line.

Some comments have been edited for clarity.

From Davey:

The naysayers will never agree, but James Franklin may have chased away some demons against Minnesota. He made successful and calculated play calls. Penn State overcame a dismal third-down game (1-for-11), as well as terrible special teams play. Give Minnesota credit, the Golden Gophers played above their profile.

Davey, I agree with your summary of Penn State’s one-point road win at Minnesota. When you think about all the adversity the Lions had to overcome along the way – the third-down problems, the terrible special teams play in the first half, etc. – it was a great win for a PSU team that needed a win. to stay in the college playoff hunt.

The Lions finished 5-0 in regular season road games, another feather in the cap of the players and coaching staff. James Franklin and his team played unafraid on that incredible final offensive possession.

Luke Reynolds’ 32-yard run on a fake punt, Drew Allar’s successful fourth-down sneak and Allar’s 11-yard throw to Tyler Warren to convert the final fourth-down attempt to run out the clock in a competition team from Minnesota.

If Franklin’s decision-making against Minnesota doesn’t quiet some of his critics, I think it says a lot about some of his critics. He coached to put Penn State in the best position to win a game it had to win. Period.