In a season defined by adversity, coaching changes, and near-misses, Penn State finally found its breakthrough moment.
The Nittany Lions (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten) defeated Rutgers 40-36 at SHI Stadium on Saturday, securing bowl eligibility and capping a three-game winning streak under interim head coach Terry Smith.
The victory didn’t come easy. In a back-and-forth shootout that featured 900+ yards of total offense, it was the defense—specifically linebacker Amare Campbell—that delivered the decisive blow.
The Turning Point
With Rutgers driving for a potential go-ahead score midway through the fourth quarter, Campbell scooped up a fumble forced by Dani Dennis-Sutton and raced 61 yards for a touchdown. The scoop-and-score gave Penn State a 40-30 lead they wouldn’t relinquish, despite a late Scarlet Knights touchdown.
“The defense struggled all night. It was not pretty, but they figured out a way,” Smith said postgame. “That’s football. We ended the game on our terms.”
Singleton and Allen Make History
While the defense provided the winning points, the “LawnBoyz” backfield etched their names into the record books.
Nicholas Singleton, playing perhaps his final regular-season game as a Nittany Lion, was efficient and explosive. He rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries, breaking two of the program’s most prestigious records:
- Career Rushing Touchdowns: Singleton now has 45, surpassing Lydell Mitchell’s long-standing mark.
- Career Total Touchdowns: His 55 total scores are now the most in Penn State history, passing Saquon Barkley.
“It’s an honor, but I’m just glad we got the win,” Singleton said. “We wanted to get Coach Smith to a bowl game.”
Not to be outdone, Kaytron Allen exploded for a career-high 226 rushing yards on 24 carries, consistently gashing the Rutgers defense for chunk plays.
Bowl Bound
The victory completes a remarkable turnaround. Sitting at 3-6 just three weeks ago, the season appeared lost. But wins over Michigan State, Nebraska, and now Rutgers have salvaged the campaign.
Penn State will now await its bowl destination, likely a lower-tier Big Ten tie-in, but for a program that faced total collapse in October, playing in December feels like a championship.
Analysis: The Defensive Stand
While the offense put up points, it was Amare Campbell who saved the season.
- The Play: His 61-yard fumble return touchdown wasn’t just a highlight; it swung the win probability by 40%.
- The Stat Line: Beyond the score, Campbell was an eraser in the middle, recording 14 total tackles (5 solo). His ability to diagnose Rutgers’ run game in the 4th quarter (PFF Run Defense Grade: 81.7) prevented what could have been a disastrous collapse.