MINNEAPOLIS – Fourth-ranked Penn State survived a scare from double-digit underdog Minnesota and moved closer to a College Football Playoff berth with a 26-25 victory Saturday.
The Nittany Lions (7-1, 10-1) overcame two blocked kicks to subdue the Golden Gophers (4-4, 6-5) at Huntington Bank Stadium.
They needed Luke Reynolds’ 32-yard run on a fake punt, one of three fourth-and-1 conversions for Penn State on a game-clinching and game-ending drive that consumed the final 5:48.
Drew Allar sealed it with an 11-yard pass to Tyler Warren to the Minnesota 3 on fourth down in the final seconds. He also picked up a first down on fourth with a 2-yard sneak.
Allar completed 21-of-28 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown.
Nick Singleton carried 13 times for 63 yards and one touchdown and caught six passes for 37 yards for Penn State, which finishes the regular season next week against Maryland at Beaver Stadium.
After trailing at the half, Penn State continued its third-quarter dominance.
The Lions held Minnesota to a field goal and took the lead for the first time on a 57-yard drive after a short punt. Allar completed three straight passes to Warren before Singleton scored on a 12-yard burst with 3:43 to go in the quarter.
Early iIn the fourth quarter, Penn State recovered Max Brosmer’s fumble at the Minnesota 41. The Lions picked up two first downs, the second one at the 15 on a pass to Warren. But they stalled and settled for Ryan Barker’s 32-yard field goal, which made it 26-22.
Minnesota then drove to the Lions’ 8 before their defense stiffened. Dragan Kesich kicked a 26-yard field goal, which cut it to 26-25 with 5:48 left.
Minnesota’s defensive line and two blocked kicks helped the Gophers take a 19-16 lead at halftime. Minnesota sacked Allar twice and limited the Lions to 10 rushing yards on 13 attempts.
The Gophers blocked Riley Thompson’s punt from the end zone late in the second quarter and turned it into Brosmer’s 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jameson Geers.
Trailing 17-10 with 1:03 left in the half, Penn State needed only 44 seconds to answer.
Allar completed 5-of-5 passes for 56 yards and finished the 75-yard drive with a 4-yard TD run. But Jack Henderson blocked Barker’s PAT and Ethan Robinson returned it for two points to give the Gophers the halftime lead.
Allar completed 14-of-18 passes for 159 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown to Omari Evans. Barker also kicked a 45-yard field goal.
Minnesota’s Marcus Major scored on a 20-yard run for the only scoring in the first quarter before Kesich drilled a 48-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
