No. 13 Penn State fumbles a 10-point second-half lead to lose to Wisconsin in Big Ten opener
Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph found tight end Jacob Harris for a 72-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to give the Nittany Lions their first loss of the season.
Despite holding a 10-point lead at the end of the third quarter, it was all downhill from there in No. 13 Penn State’s Big Ten opener against Wisconsin.
Despite three interceptions, the Badgers took home a 24-20 win at Beaver Stadium on Saturday after quarterback Colton Joseph found tight end Jacob Harris for a 72-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
An inconsistent Penn State offense was coupled with a defense that couldn’t keep up its great start after three straight three-and-outs on the other side of the ball.
Cornerbacks step up
Penn State’s cornerback room was the most stable following an offseason of transfer portal exits and additions, with eight corners from last year’s squad returning this season.
Josiah Zayas and sophomore Daryus Dixson recorded interceptions on back-to-back drives in the second quarter, resulting in a 14-point swing for the Nittany Lions in just over two minutes. Zayas, the true freshman, returned his for a touchdown, while Dixson’s set Penn State up at the Badgers’ 11-yard line.
On Zayas’ pick-six, he read the screen perfectly, amounting to only green grass in front of him once the ball was in his hands. The play was eerily similar to his pick-six in the Penn State’s Blue-White Game, which was the first time fans saw what he’s capable of.
Redshirt senior Audavion Collins got involved as well with three pass breakups, two of which were crucial late in the fourth quarter. Zayas also had a pass breakup in the third quarter.
Linebacker Tony Rojas tacked on a third interception for the Nittany Lions in the fourth quarter.
Offensive struggles
Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s first time calling plays in the Big Ten didn’t go as he probably hoped it would.
Without top pass-catcher Koby Howard, the passing game struggled. Quarterback Rocco Becht threw his first interception of the season after his ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage and fell right into the hands of Wisconsin defensive end Charles Perkins.
Becht finished 12-for-29 with 129 yards and an interception. He had multiple bad misses, whether they were high, behind, or underthrown.
The run game couldn’t find the consistency it had last week, with running backs Carson Hansen, Quinton Martin Jr., Cam Wallace and James Peoples all seeing the field in the first quarter in an effort to get something going.
Peoples ended up being the featured back as the game continued, heavily out-carrying the rest of the group. The Ohio State transfer had 67 yards on 14 attempts by the final whistle, good for 4.8 yards per carry.
There were a few questionable run calls in third-and-long situations, none of which resulted in a first down, and two fumbled snaps.
Up next...
Penn State heads to Northwestern for its first Friday game since 2023. The matchup will be the first in the Wildcats’ brand new Ryan Field and is set to kick off at 8 p.m. on Fox.
Northwestern defeated the Nittany Lions 22-21 last season in what wound up being James Franklin’s last game at Penn State.
