The Penn State Nittany Lions showcased their strength with a convincing 37-10 victory against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday evening at Beaver Stadium.
In evaluating the performance of the team, the quarterback position receives an A grade. Ethan Grunkemeyer continued to improve, completing 11 of 12 passes for 181 yards and throwing one touchdown.
The running backs also earned an A, with Kaytron Allen achieving a career-high 160 rushing yards and scoring two touchdowns. Nick Singleton contributed significantly as well, accumulating 95 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns during this record-setting night.
Wide receivers also excelled, receiving an A grade as five different players caught passes of at least 20 yards, highlighted by Andre Rappleyea“s first touchdown reception.
The offensive line deserves an A for their superior blocking, outperforming their previous game against Michigan State and allowing the Lions to amass 412 total yards while averaging nearly six yards per carry.
On the defensive side, the defensive linemen were graded B. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, and Yvan Kemajou combined for all three sacks, and the defense held Nebraska to just 79 rushing yards following an early 52-yard run.
The linebackers received a B as well, with Dominic DeLuca, Amare Campbell, and Alex Tatsch totaling 21 tackles, including a crucial fourth-down stop by Campbell near the goal line.
The defensive backs earned a B for effectively limiting Nebraska”s receivers until the Lions had established a significant lead, restricting the Cornhuskers to an average of 5.3 yards per pass attempt.
Special teams were marked with a C. Although Ryan Barker improved his field goal percentage to 13 out of 14 attempts, he did miss his first extra point attempt. Additionally, kickoff coverage was less than satisfactory.
The coaching staff received an A. Over the last three games, Penn State has developed a clear identity, focusing on a strong ground game and effective quarterback pressure, complemented by a successful fake punt.
