Nittany Lions bounce back
Penn State hands Indiana 6th consecutive defeat
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — No. 16 Penn State showed no signs of malaise after an emotional loss to Ohio State and pounded overmatched Indiana 45-14 on Saturday at wind-whipped Memorial Stadium.
The Nittany Lions (4-2 Big Ten, 7-2) rolled past the Hoosiers (1-5, 3-6) and handed them their sixth consecutive loss despite playing without three regulars on the offensive line: tackles Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace and guard Landon Tengwall.
Penn State gained a measure of revenge for its controversial overtime loss to Indiana in its last trip to Bloomington in 2020.
Sean Clifford started despite calls for coach James Franklin to go with freshman Drew Allar and completed 15 of 23 passes for 229 yards with one interception.
Clifford is now 16 yards from breaking Trace McSorley’s school record for career passing yards. He’ll likely pass McSorley next week against Maryland at Beaver Stadium.
Allar came off the bench midway through the third quarter and threw touchdown passes to wide receiver Trey Wallace and tight end Theo Johnson in the fourth.
Freshmen Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, the former Gov. Mifflin standout, ran the football effectively for Penn State. Allen picked up 86 yards and scored three touchdowns, while Singleton finished with 73 yards and one score.
Drew Shelton, a true freshman from Downingtown West High School, made the first start of his career in place of Fashanu at left tackle and did not allow a sack. J.B. Nelson, a transfer from Lackawanna College, saw significant time at left guard.
Penn State’s defense sacked quarterbacks Jack Tuttle and Brendan Sorsby six times in the first half and held Indiana to 49 rushing yards.
Tuttle left the game in the second quarter with a hand or wrist injury after Dvon Ellies sacked him.
The Hoosiers went to Dexter Williams in the second half without much success. Connor Bazelak, their regular quarterback, missed the game with an undisclosed injury.
The Lions had 16 tackles for 64 yards in losses. Linebacker Kobe King had eight tackles, including 2 ½ for a loss.