# 2018 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

The 2018 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach James Franklin and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference.
Penn State, coming off an 11–2, Fiesta Bowl-winning season in 2017, began the year at 10th in the preseason AP Poll. They narrowly escaped an upset in their first game of the year by defeating Appalachian State in overtime. The Nittany Lions won their first four games and entered an anticipated home game against No. 4 Ohio State at No. 9, but lost to the Buckeyes by a score of 26–27. The following week the team was upset by Michigan State on homecoming. The team rebounded with a home win against then-No. 18 Iowa, but was blown out the following week by Michigan 42–7. The Nittany Lions finished the regular season in third in the Big Ten East with a conference record of 6–3. They were invited to the Citrus Bowl, where they lost to Kentucky to finish the year at 9–4.
Senior quarterback Trace McSorley led the team in passing, finishing with 2,530 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns to go along with 12 rushing touchdowns. He was named second team All-Big Ten by both the media and coaches. During the season, McSorley became the all-time school record holder in several categories, including career passing yards, completions, passing touchdowns, and total touchdowns responsible for. Junior running back Miles Sanders finished in second in the conference in rushing with 1,274 yards. On defense, cornerback Amani Oruwariye and lineman Yetur Gross-Matos were named first-team all-conference by the media.

## Offseason
### Staff changes

On November 29, 2017, it was announced that offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Moorhead was hired to be the head coach for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Shortly after, it was reported that running backs coach and special teams coordinator Charles Huff would be joining Moorhead at Mississippi State as his assistant head coach, run game coordinator, and running backs coach. On December 1, 2017, James Franklin announced that tight ends coach Ricky Rahne would replace Moorhead as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. It was also announced that former Maryland offensive line coach Tyler Bowen was hired to coach tight ends and consultant Phil Galiano was hired to coordinate special teams and assist with the defensive line. On January 12, 2018, former Army wide receivers coach David Corley Jr. was hired to the staff as the running backs coach. Corley was hired as the 10th assistant coach because of a new rule change by the NCAA, that expanded staff sizes by one. On January 24, 2018, wide receivers coach Josh Gattis announced that he would be leaving to serve as the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The next day it was announced that former Florida Gators running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider would be joining Penn State in the same capacity and David Corley Jr. would be coaching the wide receivers. It was also announced that defensive line coach Sean Spencer received the title of associate head coach, a title previously held by defensive coordinator Brent Pry.

### Recruiting

The Nittany Lions signed 23 recruits.
US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Justin Shorter WR | Monmouth Junction, NJ | South Brunswick High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 213 lb (97 kg) | Aug 6, 2016 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Pat Freiermuth TE | North Andover, MA | Brooks School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Aug 16, 2016 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Zack Kuntz TE | Camp Hill, PA | Camp Hill High School | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 221 lb (100 kg) | Nov 26, 2016 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Isaiah Humphries S | Sachse, TX | Sachse High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 191 lb (87 kg) | Dec 31, 2016 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Charlie Katshir LB | Mechanicsburg, PA | Cumberland Valley High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Feb 2, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Ricky Slade RB | Woodbridge, VA | C. D. Hylton High School | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Feb 3, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jesse Luketa LB | Erie, PA | Mercyhurst Preparatory School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 238 lb (108 kg) | Feb 3, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Nick Tarburton LB | Perkasie, PA | Pennridge High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 242 lb (110 kg) | Feb 9, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Trent Gordon CB | Manvel, TX | Manvel High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Mar 29, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Nana Asiedu OT | Stafford, VA | North Stafford High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 265 lb (120 kg) | Apr 22, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Bryce Effner OT | Aurora, IL | Metea Valley High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | May 6, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jordan Miner CB | Wesley Chapel, FL | Wiregrass Ranch High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 183 lb (83 kg) | Jul 6, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Judge Culpepper DE | Tampa, FL | Plant High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 256 lb (116 kg) | Jul 14, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Will Levis QB | Middletown, CT | Xavier High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 222 lb (101 kg) | Jul 15, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jake Pinegar K | Ankeny, IA | Centennial High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jul 16, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Daniel George WR | Oxon Hill, MD | Oxon Hill High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Jul 16, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Juice Scruggs C | Erie, PA | Cathedral Preparatory School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | Aug 4, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| P. J. Mustipher DT | Owings Mills, MD | McDonogh School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | Aug 7, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Aeneas Hawkins DT | Cincinnati, OH | Moeller High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 265 lb (120 kg) | Aug 10, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jahan Dotson WR | Nazareth, PA | Nazareth Area High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | Dec 20, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Micah Parsons DE | Harrisburg, PA | Harrisburg High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | Dec 20, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Odafe Oweh DE | Blairstown, NJ | Blair Academy | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 236 lb (107 kg) | Jan 4, 2018 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Rasheed Walker OT | Waldorf, Maryland | North Point High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | Feb 7, 2018 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Penn State Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 21, 2017. "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 21, 2017. |||||||

### 2018 NFL draft

| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Team |
| Saquon Barkley | Running back | 1 | 2 | New York Giants |
| Mike Gesicki | Tight end | 2 | 42 | Miami Dolphins |
| Troy Apke | Safety | 4 | 109 | Washington Redskins |
| DaeSean Hamilton | Wide receiver | 4 | 113 | Denver Broncos |
| Marcus Allen | Safety | 5 | 148 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Christian Campbell | Cornerback | 6 | 182 | Arizona Cardinals |
| Jason Cabinda | Linebacker | UFA | UFA | Oakland Raiders |
| Saeed Blacknall | Wide receiver | UFA | UFA | Oakland Raiders |
| Grant Haley | Cornerback | UFA | UFA | New York Giants |
| Brendan Mahon | Guard | UFA | UFA | Carolina Panthers |
| Curtis Cothran | Defensive tackle | UFA | UFA | Minnesota Vikings |
| Parker Cothren | Defensive lineman | UFA | UFA | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Tyler Davis | Kicker | UFA | UFA | Buffalo Bills |

### Offseason departures

| Player | Class | Position | Hometown | Reason left |
| DaeSean Hamilton | Sr | WR | Stafford, Virginia | Graduated |
| Marcus Allen | Sr | S | Upper Marlboro, Maryland | Graduated |
| Saeed Blacknall | Sr | WR | Manalapan, New Jersey | Graduated |
| Christian Campbell | Sr | CB | Phenix City, Alabama | Graduated |
| Mike Gesicki | Sr | TE | Manahawkin, New Jersey | Graduated |
| Grant Haley | Sr | CB | Atlanta, Georgia | Graduated |
| Troy Apke | Sr | S | Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania | Graduated |
| Jason Cabinda | Sr | LB | Buena Park, California | Graduated |
| Curtis Cothran | Sr | DT | Newtown, Pennsylvania | Graduated |
| Parker Cothren | Sr | DT | Huntsville, Alabama | Graduated |
| Tyler Davis | Sr | K | St. Charles, Illinois | Graduated |
| Brendan Mahon | Sr | G | Randolph, New Jersey | Graduated |
| Saquon Barkley | Jr | RB | Whitehall, Pennsylvania | Declared for NFL draft |
| Crae McCracken | Fr | OL | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Transferred |
| Andre Robinson | So | RB | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Transferred |
| Alex Barbir | Fr | K | Cumming, Georgia | Transferred |
| Corey Bolds | Fr | DT | Paterson, New Jersey | Transferred |
| Manny Bowen | Jr | LB | Barnegat, New Jersey | Dismissed from program |
| Irvin Charles | So | WR | Sicklerville, New Jersey | Dismissed from program |
| Robert Martin | So | OL | Sparta, New Jersey | Retired |

### Returning starters

| Player | Class | Position |
| Trace McSorley | Senior | Quarterback |
| Juwan Johnson | Junior | Wide receiver |
| Ryan Bates | Junior | Offensive tackle |
| Connor McGovern | Junior | Center/Guard |
| Steven Gonzalez | Junior | Guard |
| Will Fries | Sophomore | Offensive tackle |
| DeAndre Thompkins | Senior | Wide receiver |
| Chasz Wright | Senior | Offensive tackle |
| Miles Sanders | Junior | Running back |
| Reference: |||
| Player | Class | Position |
| Kevin Givens | Junior | Defensive tackle |
| Shareef Miller | Junior | Defensive end |
| Koa Farmer | Senior | Linebacker |
| Nick Scott | Senior | Safety |
| Reference: |||
| Player | Class | Position |
| Blake Gillikin | Junior | Punter |
| Kyle Vasey | Senior | Long snapper |
| DeAndre Thompkins | Senior | Punt returner |
| Reference: |||

### Position key

| Back | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB |
| Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E |
| Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K |
| Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB |
| Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB |
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |

## Preseason
### Award watch lists

| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Rimington Trophy | Connor McGovern | C | JR |
| Chuck Bednarik Award | Shareef Miller | DE | JR |
| Maxwell Award | Trace McSorley | QB | SR |
| Davey O'Brien Award | Trace McSorley | QB | SR |
| Doak Walker Award | Miles Sanders | RB | JR |
| John Mackey Award | Jonathan Holland | TE | JR |
| Butkus Award | Koa Farmer | LB | SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Amani Oruwariye | CB | SR |
| Outland Trophy | Ryan Bates | OL | SR |
| Outland Trophy | Connor McGovern | C | JR |
| Ray Guy Award | Blake Gillikin | P/K | JR |
| Wuerffel Trophy | Trace McSorley | QB | SR |
| Walter Camp Award | Trace McSorley | QB | SR |
| Ted Hendricks Award | Shareef Miller | DE | JR |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award | Trace McSorley | QB | SR |
| Manning Award | Trace McSorley | QB | SR |

## Personnel
### Roster

Seniors Trace McSorley and Nick Scott, and junior Blake Gillikin were elected by their teammates as captains. Running Back C. J. Holmes is a transfer from Notre Dame. On August 4, 2018, Linebacker Manny Bowen returned to the program after being dismissed near the end of the 2017 season.

### Depth chart

As of August 28, 2018
Defense :
* FS
* 4 Nick Scott
* 23 Ayron Monroe
* 16 John Petrishen
| WLB | MLB | SLB |
| 7 Koa Farmer | 36 Jan Johnson | 6 Cam Brown |
| 11 Micah Parsons | 13 Ellis Brooks | 9 Jarvis Miller |
| 33 Jake Cooper | 40 Jesse Luketa | 41 Dae'Lun Darien |
* SS
* 17 Garrett Taylor
* 38 Lamont Wade
* 26 Jonathan Sutherland
* CB
* 21 Amani Oruwariye
* 2 Donovan Johnson
* 14 Zech McPhearson
| DE | DT | DT | DE |
| 99 Yetur Gross-Matos | 30 Kevin Givens | 54 Robert Windsor | 48 Shareef Miller |
| 18 Shaka Toney | 53 Fred Hansard | 55 Antonio Shelton | 49 Daniel Joseph |
| 28 Odafe Oweh | 42 Ellison Jordan | 93 P. J. Mustipher | 46 Nick Tarburton |
* CB
* 29 John Reid
* 5 Tariq Castro-Fields
* 19 Trent Gordon
Offense :
* WR
* 84 Juwan Johnson
* 81 Cam Sullivan-Brown
* 86 Daniel George
* WR
* 1 K. J. Hamler
* 12 Mac Hippenhammer
* 5 Jahan Dotson
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT |
| 52 Ryan Bates | 74 Steven Gonzalez | 62 Michal Menet | 66 Connor McGovern | 77 Chasz Wright OR |
| 75 Des Holmes | 73 Mike Miranda | 64 Zach Simpson | 69 C.J. Thorpe | 71 Will Fries |
| 53 Rasheed Walker | 72 Bryce Effner | 70 Juice Scruggs | 79 Charlie Shuman | 51 Alex Gellerstedt |
* TE
* 18 Jonathan Holland OR 80 Danny Dalton
* 83 Nick Bowers
* 87 Pat Freiermuth
* WR
* 3 DeAndre Thompkins
* 10 Brandon Polk
* 85 Isaac Lutz
* QB
* 9 Trace McSorley
* 2 Tommy Stevens
* 14 Sean Clifford
* Special teams
* PK 92 Jake Pinegar
* PK 90 Rafael Checa
* P 93 Blake Gillikin
* P 49 Cade Pollard
* KR 1 K. J. Hamler 32 Journey Brown
* PR 3 DeAndre Thompkins 1 K. J. Hamler
* LS 96 Kyle Vasey
* H 93 Blake Gillikin
* RB
* 24 Miles Sanders
* 8 Mark Allen
* 4 Ricky Slade

### Coaching staff

| Position | Name | Alma mater |
| Head coach | James Franklin | East Stroudsburg (1994) |
| Defensive coordinator/linebackers | Brent Pry | Buffalo (1993) |
| Offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks | Ricky Rahne | Cornell (2002) |
| Tight ends/ Offensive Recruiting Coordinator | Tyler Bowen | Maryland (2010) |
| Safeties/co-Defensive coordinator | Tim Banks | Central Michigan University (1994) |
| Defensive line/Run Game Coordinator/Associate Head coach | Sean Spencer | Clarion (1995) |
| Offensive line | Matt Limegrover | University of Chicago (1990) |
| Cornerbacks/Defensive Recruiting Coordinator | Terry Smith | Penn State (1991) |
| Running backs | Ja'Juan Seider | West Virginia University (2000) |
| Wide receivers | David Corley | College of William & Mary (2002) |
| Special teams coordinator/assistant defensive line | Phil Galiano | Shippensburg University (1999) |
| Strength and conditioning | Dwight Galt | Maryland (1981) |
| Graduate Assistant | Sean Cascarano | University of Virginia (2013) |
| Graduate Assistant | Mark Dupuis | University of Connecticut (2011) |
| Graduate Assistant | Matt Fleischacker | Penn State (2016) |
| Graduate Assistant | Kevin Smith | Urbana University (2014) |

## Schedule
### Spring game

| Date | Time | Spring Game | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| April 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Blue vs. White | Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA | BTN | Blue 21–10 | 71,000 |

### Regular season

The team hosted two of the three non-conference games against the Appalachian State Mountaineers (first ever meeting) from the Sun Belt Conference and the Kent State Golden Flashes from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They traveled to the Pittsburgh Panthers from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
During the 2018 Nittany Lions season, Penn State faced Big Ten conference opponents Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Rutgers and Maryland. Their annual homecoming game was played on October 13. The 2018 regular season schedule consisted of 7 home games and 5 away.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 3:30 p.m. | Appalachian State* | No. 10 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | BTN | W 45–38 $^{OT}$ | 105,232 |
| September 8 | 8:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh* | No. 13 | Heinz FieldPittsburgh, PA (rivalry) | ABC | W 51–6 | 68,400 |
| September 15 | 12:00 p.m. | Kent State* | No. 11 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | FS1 | W 63–10 | 106,528 |
| September 21 | 9:00 p.m. | at Illinois | No. 10 | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | FS1 | W 63–24 | 34,704 |
| September 29 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 4 Ohio State | No. 9 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA (rivalry, College GameDay) | ABC | L 26–27 | 110,889 |
| October 13 | 3:30 p.m. | Michigan State | No. 8 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA (rivalry) | BTN | L 17–21 | 106,685 |
| October 20 | 3:30 p.m. | at Indiana | No. 18 | Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN | ABC | W 33–28 | 41,553 |
| October 27 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 18 Iowa | No. 17 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | ESPN | W 30–24 | 105,244 |
| November 3 | 3:45 p.m. | at No. 5 Michigan | No. 14 | Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI (rivalry) | ESPN | L 7–42 | 111,747 |
| November 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Wisconsin | No. 20 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | ABC | W 22–10 | 105,396 |
| November 17 | 12:00 p.m. | at Rutgers | No. 14 | HighPoint.com StadiumPiscataway, NJ | BTN | W 20–7 | 44,840 |
| November 24 | 3:30 p.m. | Maryland | No. 12 | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA (rivalry) | ABC | W 38–3 | 98,422 |
| January 1, 2019 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. No. 14 Kentucky* | No. 12 | Camping World StadiumOrlando, FL (Citrus Bowl, SEC Nation) | ABC | L 24–27 | 59,167 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after October 30 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### Appalachian State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Appalachian State | 10 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 38 |
| No. 10 Penn State | 7 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
* Date: September 1
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C); cloudy, humid
* Game attendance: 105,232
* Referee: Mark Kluczynski
* TV announcers (BTN): Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen, Lisa Byington
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PSU – Trace McSorley, 12-yard TD run, Jake Pinegar kick good, 12:02 (PSU 7–0)
ASU – Darrynton Evans, 100-yard kickoff return, Chandler Staton kick good, 11:48 (TIE 7–7)
ASU – Staton, 38-yard field goal, 4:10 (ASU 10–7)
Second quarter
PSU – Pinegar, 32-yard field goal, 0:12 (TIE 10–10)
Third quarter
PSU – McSorley, 10-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 9:41 (PSU 17–10)
PSU – Ricky Slade, 27-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 2:41 (PSU 24–10)
Fourth quarter
ASU – Malik Williams, 17-yard TD pass from Zac Thomas, Staton kick good, 13:39 (PSU 24–17)
PSU – Miles Sanders, 2-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 11:17 (PSU 31–17)
ASU – Williams, 24-yard TD pass from Thomas, Staton kick good, 7:40 (PSU 31–24)
ASU – Thomas, 1-yard TD run, Staton kick good, 6:03 (TIE 31–31)
ASU – Jalin Moore, 16-yard TD run, Staton kick good, 1:47 (ASU 38–31)
PSU – K. J. Hamler, 15-yard TD pass from McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 0:42 (TIE 38–38)
Overtime
PSU – Sanders, 4-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, (PSU 45–38)
Top passers
ASU – Zac Thomas – 25/38, 270 yards, 2 TD, INT
PSU – Trace McSorley – 21/36, 230 yards, TD
Top rushers
ASU – Jalin Moore – 18 carries, 88 yards, TD
PSU – Miles Sanders – 19 carries, 91 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
ASU – Corey Sutton – 6 receptions, 87 yards
PSU – K. J. Hamler – 4 receptions, 68 yards, TD
Top defenders
ASU – Anthony Flory – 9 tackles
PSU – Jan Johnson – 11 tackles :

### At Pittsburgh

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 13 Penn State | 7 | 7 | 16 | 21 | 51 |
| Pittsburgh | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Date: September 8
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C); rain
* Game attendance: 68,400
* Referee: John O'Neill
* TV announcers (ABC): Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PSU – K. J. Hamler, 32-yard TD run, Jake Pinegar kick good, 12:14 (PSU 7–0)
UP – Qadree Ollison, 13-yard TD run, 2-point conversion failed, 7:09 (PSU 7–6)
Second quarter
PSU – Hamler, 14-yard TD pass from Trace McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 0:26 (PSU 14–6)
Third quarter
PSU – McSorley, 4-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 8:36 (PSU 21–6)
PSU – safety, offensive holding penalty by Pittsburgh (Stefano Millin) in its endzone, 7:38 (PSU 23–6)
PSU – DeAndre Thompkins, 39-yard punt return for TD, Pinegar kick good, 0:28 (PSU 30–6)
Fourth quarter
PSU – Mac Hippenhammer, 11-yard pass from McSorley, 11:40 (PSU 37–6)
PSU – Mark Allen, 4-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 6:17 (PSU 44–6)
PSU – Brandon Polk, 34-yard TD pass from Sean Clifford, Pinegar kick good, 4:21 (PSU 51–6)
Top passers
PSU – Trace McSorley – 14/30, 145 yards, 2 TD
UP – Kenny Pickett – 9/18, 55 yards, INT
Top rushers
PSU – Miles Sanders – 16 carries, 118 yards
UP – Qadree Ollison – 21 carries, 119 yards, TD
Top receivers
PSU – Brandon Polk – 2 receptions, 45 yards, TD
UP – Shocky Jacques−Louis – 2 receptions, 21 yards
Top defenders
PSU – Kevin Givens – 7 tackles, 2 tackles-for-loss (TFL)
UP – Quintin Wirginis – 9 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL), 1 sack :

### Kent State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kent State | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| No. 11 Penn State | 21 | 7 | 21 | 14 | 63 |
at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
* Date: September 15
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C); cloudy, humid
* Game attendance: 106,528
* Referee: Ron Hudson
* TV announcers (FS1): Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman, Holly Sonders
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PSU – DeAndre Thompkins, 40-yard TD pass from Trace McSorley, Jake Pinegar kick good, 12:51 (PSU 7–0)
KSU – Mike Carrigan, 47-yard TD pass from Woody Barrett, Matthew Trickett kick good, 9:43 (TIE 7–7)
PSU – McSorley, 1-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 5:07 (PSU 14–7)
PSU – McSorley, 2-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 1:09 (PSU 21–7)
Second quarter
KSU – Trickett, 24-yard field goal, 0:35, (PSU 21–10)
PSU – McSorley, 13-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 0:04 (PSU 28–10)
Third quarter
PSU – Mark Allen, 7-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 10:05 (PSU 35–10)
PSU – Ricky Slade, 2-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 7:42 (PSU 42–10)
PSU – Brandon Polk, 41-yard TD pass from McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 2:37 (PSU 49–10)
Fourth quarter
PSU – Daniel George, 95-yard TD pass from Sean Clifford, Pinegar kick good, 6:55 (PSU 56–10)
PSU – Johnathan Thomas, 15-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 1:09 (PSU 63–10)
Top passers
KSU – Woody Barrett – 20/38, 176 yards, TD
PSU – Trace McSorley – 11/22, 229 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
KSU – Dustin Crum – 3 carries, 23 yards
PSU – Miles Sanders – 14 carries, 86 yards
Top receivers
KSU – Antwan Dixon – 5 receptions, 59 yards
PSU – DeAndre Thompkins – 4 receptions, 101 yards, TD
Top defenders
KSU – Dalton Hicks – 12 tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL)
PSU – Cam Brown – 7 tackles, 2 tackles-for-loss (TFL) :

### At Illinois

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 10 Penn State | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 | 63 |
| Illinois | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
* Date: September 21
* Game time: 9:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C); partly cloudy
* Game attendance: 34,704
* Referee: Ron Snodgrass
* TV announcers (FS1): Justin Kutcher, Petros Papadakis, DeMarco Murray
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PSU – Miles Sanders, 14-yard TD run, Jake Pinegar kick good, 9:17 (PSU 7–0)
UI – Reggie Corbin, 2-yard TD run, Chase McLaughlin kick good, 2:16 (TIE 7–7)
Second quarter
PSU – Sanders, 2-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 12:52 (PSU 14–7)
PSU – Pat Freiermuth, 5-yard TD pass from Trace McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 8:11 (PSU 21–7)
UI – Ricky Smalling, 6-yard TD pass from M. J. Rivers II, McLaughlin kick good, 6:47 (PSU 21–14)
UI – McLaughlin, 42-yard field goal, 0:00 (PSU 21–17)
Third quarter
UI – Smalling, 17-yard TD pass from Trenard Davis, McLaughlin kick good, 10:36 (UI 24–21)
PSU – Sanders, 48-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 8:36 (PSU 28–24)
Fourth quarter
PSU – Juwan Johnson, 16-yard TD pass from McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 14:53 (PSU 35–24)
PSU – K. J. Hamler, 21-yard TD pass from McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 14:09 (PSU 42–24)
PSU – Ricky Slade, 61-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 9:58 (PSU 49–24)
PSU – Slade, 1-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 4:24 (PSU 56–24)
PSU – Journey Brown, 6-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 1:56 (PSU 63–24)
Top passers
PSU – Trace McSorley – 12/19, 160 yards, 3 TD, INT
UI – M. J. Rivers – 17/28, 149 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
PSU – Miles Sanders – 22 carries, 200 yards, 3 TD
UI – Reggie Corbin – 11 carries, 87 yards, TD
Top receivers
PSU – Jonathan Holland – 3 receptions, 53 yards
UI – Carmoni Green – 4 receptions, 49 yards
Top defenders
PSU – Jonathan Sutherland – 8 tackles, 1 tackles-for-loss (TFL)
UI – Bobby Roundtree – 12 tackles, 2 tackles-for-loss (TFL), 1 sack :

### No. 4 Ohio State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 4 Ohio State | 0 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 27 |
| No. 9 Penn State | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 26 |
at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
* Date: September 29
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C) clear, cool
* Game attendance: 110,889
* Referee: Daniel Capron
* TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor, Tom Rinaldi
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PSU – Jake Pinegar, 34-yard field goal, 4:58 (PSU 3–0)
Second quarter
PSU – Pinegar, 39-yard field goal, 11:18 (PSU 6–0)
PSU – K. J. Hamler 93-yard TD pass from Trace McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 5:59 (PSU 13–0)
OSU – J. K. Dobbins, 26-yard TD pass from Dwayne Haskins, Sean Nuernberger kick good, 1:50 (PSU 13–7)
Third quarter
OSU – Dobbins, 4-yard TD run, Nuernberger kick good, 10:22 (OSU 14–13)
Fourth quarter
PSU – Pat Freiermuth, 2-yard TD pass from McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 12:22 (PSU 20–14)
PSU – Miles Sanders, 1-yard TD run, 2-point conversion run failed, 8:00 (PSU 26–14)
OSU – Binjimen Victor, 47-yard TD pass from Haskins, Nuernberger kick good, 6:42 (PSU 26–21)
OSU – K. J. Hill, 24-yard TD pass from Haskins, 2-point conversion pass failed, 2:03 (OSU 27–26)
Top passers
OSU – Dwayne Haskins – 22/39, 270 yards, 3 TD, INT
PSU – Trace McSorley – 16/32, 286 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
OSU – J. K. Dobbins – 17 carries, 57 yards, TD
PSU – Trace McSorley – 25 carries, 175 yards
Top receivers
OSU – J. K. Dobbins – 2 receptions, 61 yards, TD
PSU – K. J. Hamler – 4 receptions, 138 yards, TD
Top defenders
OSU – Chase Young – 6 tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss (TFL), 2 sacks
OSU – Tuf Borland – 6 tackles, sack
PSU – Koa Farmer – 8 tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL)
PSU – Garrett Taylor – 4 tackles, INT :

### Michigan State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Michigan State | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| No. 8 Penn State | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
* Date: October 13
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C); cool, cloudy
* Game attendance: 106,685
* Referee: Michael Cannon
* TV announcers (BTN): Kevin Kugler, James Laurinaitis, Lisa Byington
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PSU – K. J. Hamler, 5-yard TD pass from Trace McSorley, Jake Pinegar kick good, 5:03 (PSU 7–0)
Second quarter
MSU – La'Darius Jefferson, 1-yard TD run, Matt Coghlin kick good, 13:25 (TIE 7–7)
PSU – Miles Sanders, 48-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 4:33 (PSU 14–7)
Third quarter
MSU – Felton Davis III, 20-yard TD pass from Brian Lewerke, Coghlin kick good, 6:10 (TIE 14–14)
Fourth quarter
PSU – Pinegar, 20-yard field goal, 9:21 (PSU 17–14)
MSU – Davis, 25-yard TD pass from Lewerke, Coghlin kick good, 0:19 (MSU 21–17)
Top passers
MSU – Brian Lewerke – 24/52, 259 yards, 2 TD, INT
PSU – Trace McSorley – 19/32, 192 yards, TD
Top rushers
MSU – La'Darius Jefferson – 15 carries, 60 yards, TD
PSU – Miles Sanders – 17 carries, 162 yards, TD
Top receivers
MSU – Felton Davis III – 8 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TD
PSU – K. J. Hamler – 5 receptions, 66 yards, TD
Top defenders
MSU – Khari Willis – 9 tackles
PSU – Koa Farmer – 6 tackles
PSU – Garrett Taylor – 6 tackles, INT :

### At Indiana

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 18 Penn State | 7 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 33 |
| Indiana | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
* Date: October 20
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C); sunny
* Game attendance: 41,553
* Referee: John O'Neill
* TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Todd McShay
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PSU – Miles Sanders, 1-yard TD run, Jake Pinegar kick good, 13:00 (PSU 7–0)
IU – Stevie Scott III, 5-yard TD run, Logan Justus kick good, 10:18 (TIE 7–7)
IU – Ronnie Walker Jr., 30-yard TD run, Justus kick good, 1:06 (IU 14–7)
Second quarter
PSU – Pat Freiermuth, 23-yard TD pass from Tommy Stevens, Pinegar kick good, 10:08 (TIE 14–14)
PSU – Pinegar, 27-yard field goal, 6:27 (PSU 17–14)
Third quarter
PSU – Pinegar, 32-yard field goal, 7:16 (PSU 20–14)
IU – Scott, 3-yard TD run, Justus kick good, 4:01 (IU 21–20)
PSU – Trace McSorley, 5-yard TD run, Pinegar kick blocked, 3:41 (PSU 26–21)
Fourth quarter
PSU – McSorley, 4-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 10:25 (PSU 33–21)
IU – J-Shun Harris II, 21-yard TD pass from Peyton Ramsey, Justus kick good, 0:49 (PSU 33–28)
Top passers
PSU – Trace McSorley – 19/36, 220 yards, INT
IU – Peyton Ramsey – 26/36, 236 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
PSU – Trace McSorley – 19 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD
IU – Stevie Scott III – 26 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
PSU – Juwan Johnson – 2 receptions, 72 yards
IU – Luke Timian – 6 receptions, 58 yards
Top defenders
PSU – Yetur Gross-Matos – 10 tackles, 2 tackles-for-loss (TFL), 2 sacks
IU – Marcelino Ball – 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL), 0.5 sacks :

### No. 18 Iowa

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 18 Iowa | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| No. 17 Penn State | 7 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 30 |
at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
* Date: October 27
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C); cloudy, rain
* Game attendance: 105,244
* Referee: Larry Smith
* TV announcers (ESPN): Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Todd McShay
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
UI – Safety, Blake Gillikin punt blocked out of end zone by Dominique Dafney, 14:08 (UI 2–0)
UI – Miguel Recinos, 27-yard field goal, 10:09 (UI 5–0)
UI – Sam Brincks, 10-yard TD pass from Colten Rastetter, Recinos kick good, 5:22 (UI 12–0)
PSU – Pat Freiermuth, 18-yard TD pass from Trace McSorley, Jake Pinegar kick good, 0:27 (UI 12–7)
Second quarter
UI – Safety, snap out of end zone, 13:39 (UI 14–7)
PSU – Tommy Stevens, 3-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 6:45 (TIE 14–14)
UI – Recinos, 49-yard field goal, 4:32 (UI 17–14)
PSU – Pinegar, 45-yard field goal, 0:03 (TIE 17–17)
Third quarter
PSU – McSorley, 51-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 12:10 (PSU 24–17)
PSU – Pinegar, 49-yard field goal, 4:10 (PSU 27–17)
Fourth quarter
UI – Geno Stone, 24-yard interception return, Recinos kick good, 10:00 (PSU 27–24)
PSU – Pinegar, 44-yard field goal, 8:24 (PSU 30–24)
Top passers
UI – Nate Stanley – 18/49, 205 yards, 2 INT
PSU – Trace McSorley – 11/25, 167 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
UI – Mekhi Sargent – 16 carries, 91 yards
PSU – Trace McSorley – 12 carries, 63 yards, TD
Top receivers
UI – T. J. Hockenson – 3 receptions, 63 yards
PSU – K. J. Hamler – 5 receptions, 96 yards
Top defenders
UI – Amani Hooker – 6 tackles
UI – Matt Nelson – 6 tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL)
PSU – Yetur Gross-Matos – 9 tackles, 4 tackles-for-loss (TFL), 2 sacks :

### At No. 5 Michigan

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 14 Penn State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| No. 5 Michigan | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
* Date: November 3
* Game time: 3:45 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C); partly cloudy
* Game attendance: 111,747
* Referee: Jeff Servinski
* TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
UM – Shea Patterson, 1-yard TD run, Quinn Nordin kick good, 8:12 (UM 7–0)
Second quarter
UM – Donovan Peoples-Jones, 23-yard TD pass from Patterson, Nordin kick good, 6:52 (UM 14–0)
Third quarter
UM – Zach Gentry, 7-yard TD pass from Patterson, Nordin kick good, 0:56 (UM 21–0)
UM – Brandon Watson, 62-yard interception return for TD, Nordin kick good, 0:09 (UM 28–0)
Fourth quarter
UM – Karan Higdon, 4-yard TD run, Nordin kick good, 9:49 (UM 35–0)
UM – Chris Evans, 1-yard TD run, Nordin kick good, 7:44 (UM 42–0)
PSU – Tommy Stevens, 8-yard TD run, Jake Pinegar kick good, 1:59 (UM 42–7)
Top passers
PSU – Trace McSorley – 5/13, 83 yards, INT
UM – Shea Patterson – 11/17, 144 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
PSU – Tommy Stevens – 10 carries, 52 yards, TD
UM – Karan Higdon – 20 carries, 132 yards, TD
Top receivers
PSU – Pat Freiermuth – 3 receptions, 51 yards
UM – Donovan Peoples-Jones – 3 receptions, 38 yards, TD
Top defenders
PSU – Jan Johnson – 10 tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss (TFL)
UM – Devin Bush Jr. – 7 tackles :

### Wisconsin

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wisconsin | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| No. 21 Penn State | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 22 |
at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
* Date: November 10
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. ET
* Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C); partly cloudy, windy
* Game attendance: 105,396
* Referee: Jerry McGinn
* TV announcers (ABC): Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Molly McGrath
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
UW – Jonathan Taylor, 71-yard TD run, Rafael Gaglianone kick good, 11:04 (UW 7–0)
PSU – DeAndre Thompkins, 14-yard TD pass from Trace McSorley, Jake Pinegar kick good, 7:41 (TIE 7–7)
PSU – Pinegar, 49-yard field goal, 1:53 (PSU 10–7)
Second quarter
PSU – Miles Sanders, 1-yard TD run, Pinegar kick missed, 8:09 (PSU 16–7)
Third quarter
UW – Rafael Gaglianone, 28-yard field goal, 9:45 (PSU 16–10)
PSU – Pinegar, 42-yard field goal, 4:07 (PSU 19–10)
Fourth quarter
PSU – Pinegar, 23-yard field goal, 7:23 (PSU 22–10)
Top passers
UW – Jack Coan – 9/20, 60 yards, 2 INT
PSU – Trace McSorley – 19/25, 160 yards, TD
Top rushers
UW – Jonathan Taylor – 20 carries, 185 yards, TD
PSU – Miles Sanders – 23 carries, 159 yards, TD
Top receivers
UW – Danny Davis III – 2 receptions, 24 yards
PSU – Jahan Dotson – 2 receptions, 39 yards
Top defenders
UW – T. J. Edwards – 14 tackles
PSU – Micah Parsons – 7 tackles :

### At Rutgers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Penn State | 3 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Rutgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at HighPoint.com Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey
* Date: November 17
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. ET
* Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C); mostly cloudy
* Game attendance: 44,840
* Referee: Michael Cannon
* TV announcers (BTN): Chris Vosters, Shaun O'Hara
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PSU – Jake Pinegar, 22-yard field goal, 2:27 (PSU 3–0)
Second quarter
PSU – Pat Freiermuth, 6-yard TD pass from Trace McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 2:04 (PSU 10–0)
PSU – Pinegar, 19-yard field goal, 0:00 (PSU 13–0)
Third quarter
No scoring
Fourth quarter
PSU – Freiermuth, 18-yard TD pass from McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 13:06 (PSU 20–0)
RU – Raheem Blackshear, 2-yard TD run, Justin Davidovicz kick good, 9:23 (PSU 20–7)
Top passers
PSU – Trace McSorley – 17/37, 183 yards, 2 TD, INT
RU – Giovanni Rescigno – 2/8, 28 yards
Top rushers
PSU – Miles Sanders – 27 carries, 88 yards
RU – Raheem Blackshear – 22 carries, 102 yards, TD
Top receivers
PSU – K. J. Hamler – 5 receptions, 71 yards
RU – Bo Melton – 3 receptions, 29 yards
Top defenders
PSU – Koa Farmer – 8 tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss (TFL)
RU – Deonte Roberts – 10 tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL) :

### Maryland

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Maryland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 15 Penn State | 14 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
* Date: November 24
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
* Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C); rain, freezing drizzle
* Game attendance: 98,422
* Referee: Daniel Capron
* TV announcers (ABC): Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Molly McGrath
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PSU – Trace McSorley, 3-yard TD run, Jake Pinegar kick good, 13:24 (PSU 7–0)
UM – Joseph Petrino, 26-yard field goal, 4:53 (PSU 7–3)
PSU – McSorley, 20-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 1:58 (PSU 14–3)
Second quarter
PSU – Pinegar, 25-yard field goal, 2:06 (PSU 17–3)
Third quarter
PSU – Ricky Slade, 8-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 9:10 (PSU 24–3)
Fourth quarter
PSU – Pat Freiermuth, 5-yard TD pass from McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 12:24 (PSU 31–3)
PSU – Slade, 1-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 6:13 (PSU 38–3)
Top passers
UM – Tyrrell Pigrome – 14/23, 185 yards
PSU – Trace McSorley – 12/22, 230 yards, TD
Top rushers
UM – Javon Leake – 11 carries, 34 yards
PSU – Miles Sanders – 14 carries, 128 yards
Top receivers
UM – Brian Cobbs – 2 receptions, 58 yards
PSU – K. J. Hamler – 3 receptions, 90 yards
Top defenders
UM – Isaiah Davis – 9 tackles
PSU – Cam Brown – 5 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL), 1 sack :

### Vs. No. 16 Kentucky (Citrus Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 13 Penn State | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
| No. 16 Kentucky | 10 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 27 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
* Date: January 1, 2019
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. ET
* Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C); bright sunshine, warm, humid
* Game attendance: 59,167
* Referee: Riley Johnson
* TV announcers (ABC): Dave Flemming, Brock Huard, Laura Rutledge
* ESPN Box Score GoPSUsports.com Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
UK – Miles Butler, 28-yard field goal, 12:23 (UK 3–0)
UK – Lynn Bowden, 58-yard TD punt return, Butler kick good, 0:45 (UK 10–0)
Second quarter
PSU – Nick Bowers, 1-yard TD pass from Trace McSorley, Jake Pinegar kick good, 13:56 (UK 10–7)
Third quarter
UK – Benny Snell, 2-yard TD run, Butler kick good, 12:38 (UK 17–7)
UK – Butler, 28-yard field goal, 3:48 (UK 20–7)
UK – Snell, 12-yard TD run, Butler kick good, 1:35 (UK 27–7)
Fourth quarter
PSU – McSorley, 1-yard TD run, Pinegar kick good, 13:37 (UK 27–14)
PSU – Pat Freiermuth, 18-yard TD pass from McSorley, Pinegar kick good, 9:00 (UK 27–21)
PSU – Pinegar, 32-yard field goal, 4:12 (UK 27–24)
Top passers
PSU – Trace McSorley – 17/33, 246 yards, 2 TD, INT
UK – Terry Wilson – 9/15, 121 yards
Top rushers
PSU – Trace McSorley – 19 carries, 75 yards, TD
UK – Benny Snell – 26 carries, 144 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
PSU – DeAndre Thompkins – 4 receptions, 74 yards
UK – Lynn Bowden – 5 receptions, 84 yards
Top defenders
PSU – Micah Parsons – 13 tackles
UK – Darius West – 10 tackles :

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking т = Tied with team above or below :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 10 | 13 | 11 | 10–T | 9 | 11 | 8 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 17 |
| Coaches | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 17 |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 14 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | Not released |

## Awards and honors

All-Big Ten :
| Player | Position | Coaches | Media |
| Amani Oruwariye | DB | 1 | 1 |
| Yetur Gross-Matos | DL | 3 | 1 |
| Trace McSorley | QB | 2 | 2 |
| Miles Sanders | RB | 2 | 2 |
| Connor McGovern | OG | 3 | 3 |
| Ryan Bates | OT | 3 | 3 |
| Shareef Miller | DL | 3 | 3 |
| K. J. Hamler | WR | HM | HM |
| Pat Freiermuth | TE | HM | HM |
| Steven Gonzalez | OG | HM | HM |
| Garrett Taylor | DB | HM | HM |
| John Reid | DB | HM | HM |
| Robert Windsor | DL | HM | HM |
| K. J. Hamler | PR/KR | HM | HM |
| Micah Parsons | DL | – | HM |
| Nick Scott | DB | – | HM |
| HM = Honorable mention. Reference: ||||

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club |
| 2 | 53 | Miles Sanders | RB | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 4 | 138 | Shareef Miller | DE | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 5 | 146 | Amani Oruwariye | CB | Detroit Lions |
| 6 | 197 | Trace McSorley | QB | Baltimore Ravens |
| 7 | 243 | Nick Scott | S | Los Angeles Rams |