MADISON – In the realm of “what if,” Penn State’s 2021 loss to Iowa remains one that’s plagued you, me and James Franklin.
What if Sean Clifford doesn’t get hurt? What if Penn State has a better backup in the game?
On Saturday night in Madison, Penn State found its answer to what if and this time, things did go differently.
Thanks to Beau Pribula’s strong second half after Drew Allar’s apparent leg injury, Penn State and Franklin learned their 2021 lesson, beating Wisconsin 28-13 to remain undefeated in 2024.
For Franklin and for Penn State, it was another in a list of many moments this season where the Nittany Lions overcame something that haunted them in their past, and it’s a clear indicator of what has made this team – so far – feel, well, different too.
That afternoon in Iowa, Clifford – a chip-on-his-shoulder leader – also suffered an injury right before halftime. This evening in Wisconsin, Penn State’s five-star-take-us-to-the-promise-land quarterback seemed to have injured his left leg on a sack in the second half’s final minutes.
Despite his attempts to return, gingerly throwing the ball in a quick second half warmup, Allar and Franklin had a brief conversation as Allar looked to wipe tears away from his eyes. From there, Allar took his helmet off.
And then came in the backup.
Unlike 2021, Pribula was somewhat a proven commodity compared to Ta’Quan Roberson.
Pribula hasn’t just played but also factored in every contest Penn State has played in this season – all a part of Andy Kotelnicki’s keep-the-best-players-on-the-field masterplan. The scrappy No. 9 that yes, does remind me and a lot of other people of another scrappy No. 9 was much more prepared to handle the bright lights of a Big Ten road environment.
In 2021, Penn State’s No. 2 was not ready for the hell that is Kinnick Stadium. Roberson struggled to snap the ball with crowd noise – and never found a rhythm – as the Nittany Lions let a lead and victory slip against Iowa. That game – and more over that season – fell apart like a semi blowing a tire on I-80.
In the weeks after, Franklin vowed to have his backup quarterback more game ready but really since then, we’ve not seen Penn State need the backup like it did in 2024 in Madison.
While Penn State’s offense sputtered a bit initially, Pribula and the rest of Penn State’s offense settled down. A massive part of that came by way of Jaylen Reed’s momentum turning pick-six, the first meaningful one for Penn State in two years.
Pribula confidently led Penn State on a 13-play drive that lasted seven minutes and 35 seconds, resulting in a poised throw to Khalil Dinkins for six.
Despite not going for two to make it a two-possession game, Penn State’s defense held Wisconsin to a 3-and-out before Pribula led another long drive, eating away much of the fourth quarter’s remaining time and resulting in a 24-yard touchdown run from Kaytron Allen. That cemented the two possession game and took too much time for the Badgers to do anything.
Pribula finished with 11-for-13 and 98 passing yards, adding 28 rushing yards to that tally as well.
It was an impressive performance that may have started with a lesson learned in 2021, and then again, that’s what this season has largely been about.
Penn State handled a weather delay of monstrous proportions in West Virginia, confidently sending the memories of Michigan State 2017 down the drain. Two weekends ago in Los Angeles, the Nittany Lions battled back in a fashion against USC that cured the ails of big road game losses it was supposed to win.
Now Penn State has confidence in hand that in 2024, should it need to play with its backup quarterback for a few games, it can do that with one that is reliable and confident.
That’s 11 years of on-the-job training in State College that’s paying off for Franklin too. Penn State heads into its final stretch of the season – even with questions about when the star QB will return – with a large chunk of house money in hand. The injection of confidence also comes right before its biggest game of the season too.
Now, the only “what if” is what if Penn State can beat Ohio State. Where does that put this program? Where is this program headed? And now those questions, for as much anticipation as the matchup with the Buckeyes has brought already, will be answered next.
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