8 hours ago2 min read

Penn State Looks to Avenge 2019 Loss Against Minnesota

Pat Friermuth | TE Penn State — © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

It’s been 1,839 days since the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten Conference) and the Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-4, 4-3 B1G) played a game at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. On Nov. 9, 2019, then-No. 4 Penn State lost 31-26 to Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck’s then-No. 17 Golden Gophers, a team that surprised many that season and finished second in the Big Ten's West Division. For Penn State, this game against Minnesota is the first time since that 2019 meeting that the Nittany Lions have been this close to the College Football Playoff.

Penn State CFP Controversy

The backdrop surrounding this game has many fans around college football questioning why Penn State is ranked so high in the CFP when they haven’t “won a meaningful game." Heading into the season, it was expected that road games against the West Virginia Mountaineers and USC Trojans would hold more weight. Let's not forget the fabled “white-out game” at home for Penn State against the Washington Huskies.

Those games seem to have lost their “luster” with the pundits around college football. Unfortunately, for head coach James Franklin’s Nittany Lions, they have to consistently answer questions about how the team is undeserving of such a high CFP ranking. Franklin and his players have brushed off those questions as they try to prepare for a competitive Minnesota team.

Before Minnesota lost on Nov. 16 to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Fleck’s team was rolling on a four-game win streak. It started with a controversial win against the then-No. 11 USC Trojans and ended with an upset victory against the No. 24 Illinois Fighting Illini.

Minnesota Offensive Outlook

The Nittany Lions’ defense will be tested once again. Minnesota’s offense this season has proved it can move the ball in the same way that Penn State does. Minnesota has a solid running game and a passing game that can complement their run. Quarterback Max Brosmer doesn’t turn the ball over with just four interceptions. On the flip side, the Golden Gophers' defense has totaled 16 INTs throughout the season. For a Penn State offense that crumbled itself against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, this will be another test for Franklin’s Nittany Lions.