Penn State Nittany Lions Pull Away Late To Defeat FIU 34-0

You know that feeling when you’re watching your favorite team and they’re playing like they just rolled out of bed? That’s exactly what happened at Beaver Stadium on Saturday when No. 2 Penn State looked about as sharp as a bowling ball against FIU in the first half.

The Nittany Lions eventually woke up from their afternoon nap to steamroll the Panthers 34-0, but not before giving their fans some serious heartburn and a few choice words from the stands. Can the Nittany Lions keep it going?

First Half Blues Leave Fans Scratching Their Heads

Let’s be honest here – Penn State’s first-half performance was more painful to watch than a root canal without novocaine. The offense moved the ball into FIU territory on all six first-half possessions but managed just 10 points. That’s like having six trips to the buffet and coming back with a dinner roll.

Quarterback Drew Allar looked like he was playing catch with invisible receivers, starting the game 1-for-5 and finishing the first half 9-for-17 for a whopping 68 yards. The crowd’s frustration was palpable, with boos raining down during the final three possessions of the half. When you’re getting booed by your home crowd against FIU, you know something’s not clicking upstairs.

The red zone struggles were particularly maddening. Two failed fourth-down conversions and a sack on third-and-8 with under a minute left had even the most optimistic fans wondering if they’d accidentally tuned into a completely different team.

Second Half Magic Finally Arrives

But here’s the thing about college football – sometimes teams just need a good halftime pep talk (or maybe a few choice words from coach James Franklin) to remember they’re supposed to be really good at this sport. Penn State came out of the locker room like they’d been drinking espresso shots mixed with Red Bull.

The turning point came when Allar found his rhythm and launched a beautiful 42-yard touchdown bomb to transfer Wide Receiver Devonte Ross, who made a spectacular grab through pass interference that had everyone in the stadium going, “Did he really just catch that?”

Ross, the speedster from Troy, finally showed why Penn State fans have been so excited about his arrival. This wasn’t another one of those floated deep balls that make you hold your breath – this was a crisp, perfectly placed strike that reminded everyone why Allar is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the country.

Allen and Singleton Deliver the Knockout Punches

Just when FIU thought they might have a chance to hang around, Running Backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton decided to put this game to bed with consecutive touchdown drives that turned a frustrating afternoon into a laugher.

Allen, who looked quicker than he has all season, broke loose for a career-long 67-yard touchdown run that had the Big Ten Network announcers practically jumping out of their seats. The junior finished with a career-high 144 rushing yards, proving that sometimes patience pays off when you’re waiting for those blocking schemes to develop.

Singleton added his own exclamation point shortly after, capping off a dominant rushing performance that reminded everyone why Penn State’s backfield is considered among the best in the conference.

Defense Steps Up When It Matters

While the offense was figuring things out, Penn State’s defense was quietly doing what good defenses do – keeping the other team off the scoreboard and creating opportunities. The return of sixth-year Defensive End Zuriah Fisher was particularly encouraging. After missing the entire 2024 season and the opener against Nevada, Fisher looked fresh and explosive in his first game action since the 2023 Peach Bowl. He may not have filled up the stat sheet, but his presence was felt throughout the afternoon.

Freshman Chaz Coleman made his mark late in the game with a forced fumble that led directly to Singleton’s touchdown, showing that this defense has both veteran leadership and young talent ready to contribute.

Areas Of Concern Moving Forward

Look, a 34-0 win is a 34-0 win, but there are definitely some things that need addressing before Penn State faces stiffer competition. The third-down conversion rate (3-for-12 through most of the game) is concerning, especially on short-yardage situations where the Nittany Lions went just 1-for-5 on attempts of four yards or less.

The offensive line’s protection also needs some work, as evidenced by Allar getting sacked in the red zone when points were at a premium. Against better teams, those missed opportunities in scoring position become the difference between winning and losing.

What This Means For Penn State’s Championship Hopes

Despite the slow start, this game ultimately showed Penn State’s ceiling when they’re firing on all cylinders. The second-half explosion demonstrated the explosive potential of this offense, while the shutout performance by the defense proved they can dominate when needed.

The Nittany Lions now prepare for their final non-conference tune-up against Villanova next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. It’s another opportunity to work out the kinks before Big Ten play begins in earnest. For a team with national championship aspirations, games like this serve as valuable learning experiences. Sometimes you need to struggle early to appreciate what it takes to finish strong – and Penn State certainly finished strong on Saturday.